Simulation of Oil Tank Fires.
Simulation of Oil Tank Fires.
(1680 K)
Baum, H. R.; McGrattan, K. B.
Volume 2;
Interscience Communications Ltd.; National Institute of
Standards and Technology; Building Research
Establishment; and Society of Fire Protection Engineers;
Swedish National Testing and Research Institute.
Interflam 1999. (Interflam '99). International
Interflam Conference, 8th Proceedings. Volume 2. June
29-July 1, 1999, Edinburgh, Scotland, Interscience
Communications Ltd., London, England, 1117-1128 pp,
1999.
Keywords:
fire science; fire safety; oil tanks; tank fires;
simulation; industrial fires; fire models; mathematical
models; storage tanks; containment
Abstract:
A methodology for simulating the dynamics of large
industrial fires in an outdoor environment is presented.
The large eddy simulation techniques developed by the
authors and their collaborators are used to simulate
fire scenarios involving a large oil storage tank
adjacent to several neighboring tanks. Two scenarios
are considered; a fire on a tank top and a fire in the
containment trench surrounding the tank. A radiative
transport model based on the emission of radiant energy
from localized burning Lagrangian elements is
introduced. Energy is absorbed by smoke generated as
part of the combustion processes occurring within the
burning elements. The model is used to estimate the
radiative heat transfer to the tanks as a function of
the fire location and the ambient wind field. These
examples are used to outline the issues that must be
addressed in order to make a realistic assessment of the
hazards generated by large industrial fires.
