Experimental Study of Initial Fuel Temperature on the Burning Rates of Kerosene Pools in Cold Environment

Oil spill cleanup in Arctic is usually done by in-situ burning. The fuel oil will have a very low initial temperature as well as cold boundaries. This study focuses on the variation of the mass burning rate of the fuel with varying initial temperatures of the fuel, which is kept in a metal bowl surrounded by ice. Kerosene is chosen as the fuel. The bowl diameters have been varied from 30 mm to around 50 mm. The fuel bowl is kept surrounded in an ice bath and is ignited after it attains a particular temperature. The initial temperature of the fuel is varied from 4oC to 16oC. Experiments are carried out for 5 minutes after which the flame is quenched. The results show that with increase in the initial temperature of the fuel the mass burning rate also increases. The mass burning rate also increases as the fuel bowl diameter increases. The surface temperature of the fuel, just after quenching, increases with an increase in the initial temperature of the fuel. The ignition time of the fuel is reduced with increase in initial temperature of the fuel and with increase in bowl diameter. The flame height variations are also recorded.