In situ burning of oil spills: Mesoscale experiments and analysis

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. Predictions of smoke plume trajectory and particulate deposition at ground level from the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model developed as part of the 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.