Publication Citation

NIST Authors in Bold

Author(s): William D. Walton; D. D. Evans; Kevin B. McGrattan; Howard R. Baum; W H. Twilley; Daniel Madrzykowski; Anthony D. Putorti Jr; Ronald G. Rehm; H Koseki; E J. Tennyson;
Title: In Situ Burning of Oil Spills: Mesoscale Experiments and Analysis (NIST SP 995)
Published: March 01, 2003
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.
Citation: NIST SP - 995
Volume: 2
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
Research Areas: Building and Fire Research
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