Biodiesel oil pool fire under air crossflow conditions: Burning rate, flame geometric parameters and temperatures

Abstract

The replacement of fossil fuels with renewable ones is an irreversible worldwide trend. More specifically, biodiesel made either from animal fat residue or vegetable oil is being increasingly used. Biodiesel storage tanks are as prone to hazardous fires as other fuel tanks. In this article we present the results of an experimental investigation of biodiesel B100 pool fires in reduced scale submitted to an air crossflow. Regular and infrared images were used to obtain flame geometric parameters and temperature fields for conditions ranging from quiescent air to crossflow velocities of up to 4.0 m/s. Mass burning rates were also obtained for the same air flow conditions. Results were compared with a previous study of regular diesel pool fires conducted with the same experimental apparatus and correlations from literature. It was shown that, compared to diesel fires, biodiesel fires presented longer flames and higher temperatures both in the flame and plume regions as well as downstream of the pool. This indicates that biodiesel storage devices are likely more prone to dangerous fire events than diesel ones.