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Experimental study on the flame length and burning behaviors of pool fires with different ullage heights

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  • Zhao, Jinlong
  • Zhang, Xiang
  • Zhang, Jianping
  • Wang, Wei
  • Chen, Changkun

Abstract

Floating-roof tanks are widely used in chemical parks and in case of fires, it is common to form pool fires with varying ullage height. This paper is aimed at examining experimentally and analytically the effects of ullage height on the burning and flame behaviors of heptane pool fires. A series of pool fire tests with four fuel tray sizes (D = 20–35 cm) and five ullage heights (h = 3 cm, 5 cm, D/2, D, 2D) was conducted. The flame characteristics (length and position) and mass burning rate were measured. Experimental results indicate that the total flame length can be divided into (i) a down-reaching flame length, (Lf,down), and (ii) an upper flame length (Lf,upper). The data shows that Lf,down increases as the ullage height increases whereas Lf,upper shows an opposite trend. For the tests with very large ullage heights (h/D = 1.93), it was found that the flame fluctuated periodically and, in some cases, self-extinguishing of the flame occurred due to lack of oxygen inside the fuel tray. A theoretical model is developed to calculate the total flame length by considering the influence of ullage height on air entrainment and heat feedback and subsequently validated against the experimental data.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Jinlong & Zhang, Xiang & Zhang, Jianping & Wang, Wei & Chen, Changkun, 2022. "Experimental study on the flame length and burning behaviors of pool fires with different ullage heights," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:246:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222003000
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.123397
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Deng, Lei & Tang, Fei & Wang, Xinkai, 2021. "Uncontrollable combustion characteristics of energy storage oil pool: Modelling of mass loss rate and flame merging time of annular pools," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    2. Yu, Longxing & Wan, Huaxian & Gao, Zihe & Ji, Jie, 2021. "Study on flame merging behavior and air entrainment restriction of multiple fires," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    3. Chen, Jian & Tam, Wai Cheong & Tang, Wei & Zhang, Chao & Li, Changhai & Lu, Shouxiang, 2020. "Experimental study of the effect of ambient pressure on oscillating behavior of pool fires," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    4. Guo, Fangyi & Ding, Long & Gao, Zihe & Yu, Longxing & Ji, Jie, 2020. "Effects of wind flow and sidewall restriction on the geometric characteristics of propane diffusion flames in tunnels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    5. Ji, Jie & Gong, Changzhi & Wan, Huaxian & Gao, Zihe & Ding, Long, 2019. "Prediction of thermal radiation received by vertical targets based on two-dimensional flame shape from rectangular n-heptane pool fires with different aspect ratios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 644-652.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tang, Zhenhua & Wang, Zhirong & Zhao, Kun, 2023. "Flame stabilization characteristics of turbulent hydrogen jet flame diluted by nitrogen," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    2. Zhang, Shaohua & Zhao, Jinlong & Hu, Zhenqi & Zhang, Jianping & Jiang, Huiling, 2025. "Study on the evolution of flame morphology and burning rate of pool fires under the combined influence of crosswind and ullage height," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    3. Xiao, Qiuping & Zhang, Zhiwei & Shen, Xiaobo & Cai, Chenren & Ma, Pan & Li, Yuehua & Chen, Wanghua, 2023. "Combustion characteristics and reactions of stacked wet pulverized magnesium," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    4. Chen, Yuhang & Miao, Yanli & Tao, Shangqing & Li, Quan & Yuan, Yilin & Zhang, Xiaolei & Hu, Longhua, 2024. "Flame structure and dynamics in pool fires of different geometries: Experimental and numerical investigation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    5. Deng, Lei & Shi, Congling & Mcnamee, Margaret & Tang, Fei, 2024. "Experimental study on the burning rate and flame dynamics of oil reservoir pool fire under cross-wind: Effect of lip height," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).

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