Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026
12:34
Experimental Procedure for Laboratory Studies of In Situ Burning : Flammability and Burning Efficiency of Crude Oil
Published on: May 1, 2018
13.1K
In Situ Burning of Oil Spills
D D Evans1, G W Mulholland1, H R Baum1
1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8640.
Summary
NIST research advanced understanding of burning oil on water, informing guidelines for in situ burning. New software, ALOFT, models smoke plumes and particulate concentrations for oil spill response.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Fire Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- NIST has researched burning oil on water for over a decade.
- This research is crucial for developing national guidelines for intentional burning.
- In situ burning is a key method in oil spill response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To understand, measure, and predict key features of burning oil on water.
- To develop user-friendly software for modeling smoke plume impacts.
- To support oil spill response teams in assessing intentional burning risks.
Main Methods:
- Conducted extensive research on pool fire burning rates, smoke yield, and particulate characteristics.
- Collected data on crude and fuel oil fires up to 17.2 m effective diameter.
- Developed and validated the ALOFT software for smoke plume and particulate concentration modeling.
Main Results:
- Provided data on burning rates, smoke yield, particulate size, aging, and PAH content.
- The ALOFT software accurately quantifies large-scale smoke plume features and trajectory.
- ALOFT predictions were successfully validated against large-scale test data.
Conclusions:
- NIST research and measurements have significantly contributed to establishing in situ burning as a primary oil spill response method.
- The ALOFT software provides a valuable tool for assessing the environmental impact of intentional burning during oil spills.
- Continued use of ALOFT by response teams aids in informed decision-making for oil spill management.
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