Experimental study of burning rate in hydrocarbon pool fires

Experimental results on hydrocarbon pool fires are reported. Experiments on gasoline and diesel oil pool fires with diameters of 1.5, 3, and 4 rn were carried out and burning rate was determined through the measurement of the variation in fuel level as the fire proceeded. The instantaneous value of burning rate was thus established as a function of time. This allowed the analysis of the transient periods at the beginning (fire development) and end (fire extinction) of the whole process, as well as the determination of the average burning rate during steady-state fire as a function of pool-fire diameter. The effect of wind speed on burning rate was also studied. Finally, a set of conclusions were drawn from experimental results. (C) 2001 by The Combustion Institute.