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Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Experimental Procedure for Laboratory Studies of In Situ Burning : Flammability and Burning Efficiency of Crude Oil
Published on: May 1, 2018
Thin-layer boilover in diesel-oil fires: Determining the increase of thermal hazards and safety distances
Fabio Ferrero1, Miguel Muñoz, Josep Arnaldos
1Centre d'Estudis del Risc Tecnològic (CERTEC), Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Diagonal 647, 08028 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. fabio.ferrero@upc.edu
Abstract:
A study of the effects of thin-layer boilover on large hydrocarbon fires was carried out. In the experiments, diesel-oil was burned in pools with diameters ranging from 1.5 to 6m. Previous models used to predict emissive power during the stationary state were analysed and successively modified in order to accurately predict thermal hazard during the water ebullition phase. It was discovered that the increase in emissive power during thin-layer boilover is greater when the pool diameter is smaller. Furthermore, the required increases in safety distances in the case of accidents involving this dangerous phenomenon are provided.
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