In Situ Burning of Oil Spills: Mesoscale Experiments and Analysis.
In Situ Burning of Oil Spills: Mesoscale Experiments
and Analysis.
(5626 K)
Walton, W. D.; Evans, D. D.; McGrattan, K. B.; Baum, H.
R.; Twilley, W. H.; Madrzykowski, D.; Putorti, A. D.,
Jr.; Rehm, R. G.; Koseki, H.; Tennyson, E. J.
NIST SP 995; Volume 2; March 2003.
Environment Canada. Arctic and Marine Oil Spill Program
Technical Seminar, 16th. Volume 2. June 7-9, 1993,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Environment Canada, Ottawa,
Ontario, 679-734 pp, 1993.
Keywords:
oil spills; experiments; crude oil; water; instruments;
burning rate; particle size distribution; temperature;
carbon dioxide; plumes; visibility; mathematical models;
equations; in situ burning; regression rate
Abstract:
A series of six mesoscale and one large laboratory fire
experiments were performed to measure the burning
characteristics of Louisiana crude oil on water in a
pan. These included one - 6 m square and five - 15 m
square mesoscale burns and one - 1.2 m diameter
laboratory burn. Results of the measurements for burning
rate and smoke emissions are compared to those from
previous burns of various scales. The burning rate as
indicated by the regression rate of the oil surface was
found to be 0.062 + 0.003 mm/s for both the 6 m and 15 m
square pan fires and 0.046 mm/s for the 1.2 m diameter
fire. Smoke particulate yields from both the 15 m
square and 1.2 m diameter fires were found to be
approximately 11% of the oil burned on a mass basis.
Predictions of smoke plume trajectory and particulate
deposition at ground level from the Large Eddy
Simulation (LES) model developed as part of this
research effort are presented. LES is a steady-state
three-dimensional calculation of smoke plume trajectory
and smoke particulate deposition based on a mixed finite
difference and Lagrangian particle tracking method.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899