Abstract
Parameters that control the burning efficiency of in-situ burning of crude oil on water were identified by studying the influence of the initial slick thickness, vaporization order, oil slick diameter, weathering state of the oil, heat losses to the water layer and heat flux to the fuel surface on the burning efficiency for light and heavy crude oils. These parameters were studied in several small scale and intermediate scale experimental setups. The results showed that the
heat losses to the water layer increase with increasing burning time because the components in a crude oil evaporate from volatile to non-volatile. Due to the relatively low heat feedback (reradiation and convection, in kW/m2) to the fuel surface of small scale pool fires, as compared to large scale pool fires, these heat losses were shown to limit the burning efficiency in small scale experiments. By subjecting small scale crude oil pool fires to an incident heat flux, the burning efficiency of a light crude oil could be increased from 48% to 90%. Similarly, increasing the diameter from 0.1 to 1.1 m, which thus increased the heat feedback to the fuel surface, increased the burning efficiency from 41% to 84% for a light crude oil. It can be concluded that the pool fire diameter is the key parameter that determines the burning efficiency of crude oil fires on water, which was partially attributed to the increasing heat flux (in kW/m2) to the fuel surface with increasing diameter. Increasing the heat flux to the fuel surface through external radiation resulted in an increase of the burning efficiency in small scales experiments. The burning efficiencies were, however, still lower than the ≥ 90% burning efficiencies observed in large scale fires of crude oil on water. It is therefore probable that other factors also increase the burning efficiency as the burning diameter increases.
heat losses to the water layer increase with increasing burning time because the components in a crude oil evaporate from volatile to non-volatile. Due to the relatively low heat feedback (reradiation and convection, in kW/m2) to the fuel surface of small scale pool fires, as compared to large scale pool fires, these heat losses were shown to limit the burning efficiency in small scale experiments. By subjecting small scale crude oil pool fires to an incident heat flux, the burning efficiency of a light crude oil could be increased from 48% to 90%. Similarly, increasing the diameter from 0.1 to 1.1 m, which thus increased the heat feedback to the fuel surface, increased the burning efficiency from 41% to 84% for a light crude oil. It can be concluded that the pool fire diameter is the key parameter that determines the burning efficiency of crude oil fires on water, which was partially attributed to the increasing heat flux (in kW/m2) to the fuel surface with increasing diameter. Increasing the heat flux to the fuel surface through external radiation resulted in an increase of the burning efficiency in small scales experiments. The burning efficiencies were, however, still lower than the ≥ 90% burning efficiencies observed in large scale fires of crude oil on water. It is therefore probable that other factors also increase the burning efficiency as the burning diameter increases.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 40th AMOP Technical Seminar on Environmental Contamination and Response |
| Publication date | 2017 |
| Pages | 817-832 |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
| Event | 40th AMOP Technical Seminar on Environmental Contamination and Response - Calgary, Canada Duration: 3 Oct 2017 → 5 Oct 2017 Conference number: 40 |
Conference
| Conference | 40th AMOP Technical Seminar on Environmental Contamination and Response |
|---|---|
| Number | 40 |
| Country/Territory | Canada |
| City | Calgary |
| Period | 03/10/2017 → 05/10/2017 |