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Fire dynamics, fire generated pollutants, and acute health implications: A scaling law analysis of heavy-fuel-oil pool fires.

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Title: Fire dynamics, fire generated pollutants, and acute health implications: A scaling law analysis of heavy-fuel-oil pool fires.
Authors: Tsai, Kuang-Chung1 (AUTHOR) tsaikc@nkust.edu.tw, Cheng, Li-Hsin1,2 (AUTHOR) pl033@fy.edu.tw, Yeh, Chi-Fu3 (AUTHOR) wastonyeh@gmail.com, Tseng, Tzu-Yan1 (AUTHOR) tsengty@nkust.edu.tw, Tseng, Tzu-Ping2 (AUTHOR) zj955@fy.edu.tw, Huang, Li-Jen2 (AUTHOR) pl025@fy.edu.tw, Yeh, Shu-Hsing4 (AUTHOR) do001@fy.edu.tw, Hsu, Hui-Tsung5 (AUTHOR) hthsu@mail.cmu.edu.tw, Lin, Ching-Ho6 (AUTHOR) pl018@fy.edu.tw, Lai, Chin-Hsing6 (AUTHOR) pl011@fy.edu.tw, Brimblecomb, Peter7 (AUTHOR) pgbrim@gmail.com, Chen, Ming-Jen1,2 (AUTHOR) chenmj2000@yahoo.com
Source: Fuel (0016-2361). Feb2025:Part A, Vol. 381, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Health risk assessment, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Volatile organic compounds, Oil storage tanks, Chemical industry
Abstract: [Display omitted] • Fire dynamic parameters (FDP S) and fire-generated pollutants (FGP S) of heavy fuel oil depend on the pool-fire scale called oil pan diameter (D). • FDP S and FGP S are approximately proportional to D 0.5 and D 1.0 at medium-scale pool fires but approaching saturated values at large-scale pool fires. • FGP S comprise PM, VOC S , PAH S and DIOXIN S , where PM 2.5 , benzene and CO levels at large-scale pool fires can lead to acute health hazards. To assess effective acute health risks for people exposed to fuel–oil pool fires, one has to gain a detailed knowledge of how the pool-fire scale, referred to as a circular oil pan diameter (D), determines fire behaviour and associated fire-generated pollutants (FGP S). However, a lack of quantitative data relating to the effects of D on fire dynamic parameters (FDP S) and FGP S must be improved. A series of pilot-scale pool test fires of low-sulfur #6 fuel oil (LSFO6) were conducted using 1 MW and 10 MW calorimetry measurement systems for medium-scale pool (MSP, D =0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 m) and large-scale pool (LSP, D =1.1, 1.2 and 1.5 m) fire tests, respectively. During the steady-state burning phase, the time-averaged FDP S and FGP concentrations (C FGPs) were proportional to a power law of pool-fire scale (∝ D n) at MSP fires but approaching saturated values at LSP fires. The power values were n ≈ 0.5 for FDP S and n ≈ 1.0 for C FGPs. The released FGP mass was in the order: particulate matter (PM) > volatile organic compounds (VOC S) > polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH S) > dioxin-like congeners (DIOXIN S). Eighteen carcinogens were identified from FGP S. According to the reported estimates for acute airborne toxicants, people exposed to the levels of PM 2.5 (202 ± 44 mg m−3), benzene (13.9 ± 7.6 mg m−3) and CO (112 ± 21 mg m−3) at LSP fires may likely contract acute toxicity hazards. Despite the limited acute clinical evidence of PAH S and DIOXIN S , their potential hazards in gas and PM-bound phases are worth noting. Our results show a practical application using pilot-scale pool fire tests through a pool-fire scaling law analysis to estimate the quantitative relationships between D in FDP S and FGP S for actual oil tank fires. This study demonstrates a pollutant linkage concept in terms of the relationship between the fuel–oil FGP source, the acute exposure pathway and the potential health risks of the receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
Description
Abstract:[Display omitted] • Fire dynamic parameters (FDP S) and fire-generated pollutants (FGP S) of heavy fuel oil depend on the pool-fire scale called oil pan diameter (D). • FDP S and FGP S are approximately proportional to D 0.5 and D 1.0 at medium-scale pool fires but approaching saturated values at large-scale pool fires. • FGP S comprise PM, VOC S , PAH S and DIOXIN S , where PM 2.5 , benzene and CO levels at large-scale pool fires can lead to acute health hazards. To assess effective acute health risks for people exposed to fuel–oil pool fires, one has to gain a detailed knowledge of how the pool-fire scale, referred to as a circular oil pan diameter (D), determines fire behaviour and associated fire-generated pollutants (FGP S). However, a lack of quantitative data relating to the effects of D on fire dynamic parameters (FDP S) and FGP S must be improved. A series of pilot-scale pool test fires of low-sulfur #6 fuel oil (LSFO6) were conducted using 1 MW and 10 MW calorimetry measurement systems for medium-scale pool (MSP, D =0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 m) and large-scale pool (LSP, D =1.1, 1.2 and 1.5 m) fire tests, respectively. During the steady-state burning phase, the time-averaged FDP S and FGP concentrations (C FGPs) were proportional to a power law of pool-fire scale (∝ D n) at MSP fires but approaching saturated values at LSP fires. The power values were n ≈ 0.5 for FDP S and n ≈ 1.0 for C FGPs. The released FGP mass was in the order: particulate matter (PM) > volatile organic compounds (VOC S) > polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH S) > dioxin-like congeners (DIOXIN S). Eighteen carcinogens were identified from FGP S. According to the reported estimates for acute airborne toxicants, people exposed to the levels of PM 2.5 (202 ± 44 mg m−3), benzene (13.9 ± 7.6 mg m−3) and CO (112 ± 21 mg m−3) at LSP fires may likely contract acute toxicity hazards. Despite the limited acute clinical evidence of PAH S and DIOXIN S , their potential hazards in gas and PM-bound phases are worth noting. Our results show a practical application using pilot-scale pool fire tests through a pool-fire scaling law analysis to estimate the quantitative relationships between D in FDP S and FGP S for actual oil tank fires. This study demonstrates a pollutant linkage concept in terms of the relationship between the fuel–oil FGP source, the acute exposure pathway and the potential health risks of the receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00162361
DOI:10.1016/j.fuel.2024.133210