Abstract: To study the combustion characteristics of small?scale oil pool fires of liquid fuels in confined spaces in high plateau areas of China, a test platform for oil pool fires in confined spaces was built under high plateau conditions at Kangding Airport. Three types of typical liquid fuels (aviation paraffin, aviation gasoline and n-heptane) were selected for combustion tests, and the changes in flame height, flame temperature and smoke composition were measured to study the behaviour of small?scale oil pool fires in confined spaces on high plateaus. The results show that: the average flame height model for the stable stage of n-heptane in the plateau region is derived: L/D=k+0.254Q^(2/5)/D , the relationship between flame height and pressure is L/D~p^(-2/9); the maximum flame temperature of all three fuels exceeds 600 ℃, the plume axis temperature rise and flame height is -5/3 exponential relationship; the ambient pressure dependence of smoke production rate is:v~p^(-1/3).

Key words: confined space in high plateau, oil pool fire, flame height, flame temperature, gas components