- Author
- Putorti, A. D., Jr.
- Title
- Application of the Critical Radiative Ignition Flux Methodology to High Viscosity Petroleum Fractions.
- Coporate
- Worcester Polytechnic Inst., MA
- Report
- Thesis, May 1994, 85 p.
- Keywords
- radiative ignition | viscosity | petroleum | crude oil | ignition | ignition time | oils | oil spills | petroleum products | weather effects | in situ burning
- Abstract
- In situ burning is one effective technique for rapid removal of crude oil and petroleum fractions from the surface of water. While fresh spills are usually easily ignited, ignition of weathered oils is less certain. This study investigates the prediction of ignition time of petroleum oils heated by radiant flux in the ASTM E1354 apparatus. The petroleum fuels ignited consist of Alaskan North Slope crude oil, SAE 30, and SAE 50 lubrication oils. Temperatures within the liquid are measured during heating with thermocuoples. Ignition models developed for solids are applied to liquids, ignition time is predicted, and compared to measurements. The effects of convective flows and in-depth radiation absorption, as well as the applicability of semi-infinite solid modeling are explored. The temperature profile within the fluids is found to be similar to those of a semi-infinite solid. Simplified semi-infinite solid ignition models are found to accurately predict the ignition times of high viscosity hydrocarbon fuels. Heat losses at the surface of the liquid are found to be dominated by convection. The study serves as a basis for the prediction of ignition of petroleum spills by primer burns via imposed heat flux under quiescent conditions.