Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fires of insulations on tank exteriors

  • Published:
Fire Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents a method for calculating radiative heat transfer to an adjacent tank from fire involving insulation on tank exteriors. An approximate method for calculating the radiative flux from an ignition source is also provided. The results are generalized to allow convenient estimates of safe separations for a range of tank sizes, fire intensities, and critical ignition fluxes. Wind effects are not considered in the present study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A :

bounding surface area of tank fire, orA=(D+1)2+H 2, or area of ignition source fire, m2

B :

(D-1)2+H 2

D :

nondimensional distance from tank center

d :

distance, m

F :

view factor

H :

nondimensional height of tank

h :

tank height, m

k :

gray flame absorption-emission coefficient of tank fire, m−1

l :

average mean beam length, m

:

burning rate per unit area, g/(m2·s)

N :

radiance, kW/(m2·sr)

:

radiative flux, kW/m2

:

power output per unit area of tank fire, kW/m2

T :

temperature, °K

t :

mean thickness of flames in a tank fire, m

V :

flame volume in a tank fire, m3

ΔH c :

heat of combustion of fuel in the source fire, kJ/g

∈ s :

surface emissivity of polyurethane

σ:

Stefan-Boltzmann constant 56.7×10−12 kW/(m2·K4)

χ:

radiative fraction (≃0.4)

1:

tank fire

2:

source fire

s :

polyurethane surface, or source fire

·:

per unit time, s−1

″:

per unit area, m−2

References

  1. Orloff, L., Modak, A. T., and Alpert, R. L., “Burning of Large-Scale Vertical Surfaces”,16th Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, 1977, p. 1345.

  2. Orloff, L., Modak, A. T., and Markstein, G. H.,17th Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, 1979, p. 1029.

  3. de Ris, J.,17th Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, 1979, p. 1003.

  4. Alpert, R. L., “Potential for Fire Spread on Insulated Wine Storage Tanks,” Factory Mutual Research Corporation Internal Memorandum to R. B. Boyd, July 5, 1979.

  5. Louis, E., and Swithenbank, J., “Fire Hazards in Oil Tank Arrays in a Wind”,17th Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, 1979, p. 1087.

  6. Markstein, G. H.,17th Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, 1979, p. 1053.

  7. Modak, A. T. and Croce, P. A.,Combustion and Flame, Vol. 30 (1977), p. 251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Modak, A. T.Combustion and Flame, Vol. 29 (1977), p. 177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Felske, J. D. and Tien, C. L.,Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 7 (1973), p. 25.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Modak, A. T.,Fire Research, Vol. 1 (1979), p. 339.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Modak, A. T., “The Burning of Large Pool Fires,” Western States Section Meeting, The Combustion Institute, Paper 79-43, Berkeley, California (October 1979).

  12. Grosshandler, W. L., “Radiation from Nonhomogeneous Fires,” Factory Mutual Research Corporation Technical Report, OAOE6.BU-4, RC79-BT-9 (September 1979).

  13. Hottel and Sarofim,Radiative Transfer, Chapter 7, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1967, p.278.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Orloff, L., “Lip Effects in Pool Fires,” Paper No. 33, Canadian Section of the Combustion Institute, Kinston, Ontario, May 1979. Factory Mutual Research Corporation Technical Report to be published.

  15. Modak, A. T. inFire Phenomena Data Book, Data Sheet 10-A, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Research Division.

  16. Orloff, L., de Ris, J., and Markstein, G. H., “Upward Turbulent Fire Spread and Burning of Fuel Surfaces,”15th Symposium (International) on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, 1975, p. 183.

  17. Hamilton, D. C. and Morgan, W. R., “Radiant-Interchange Configuration Factors,” NACA Technical Note 2836 (December 1952), pp. 24, 36, 57.

  18. Dayan, A. and Tien, C. L.,Combustion Science and Technology, Vol. 9 (1974), p. 41.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Yumoto, T.,Journal of Fire and Flammability, Vol. 8 (1977), p. 494.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Fang, J. B.,Journal of Fire and Flammability, Vol. 7 (1976), p. 358.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Tewarson, A. Private communication, September 1979.

  22. Blinov, V. I. and Khudiakov, G. N., “Certain Laws Governing the Diffusive Burning of Liquids,”Academia Nauk SSSR Doklady, Vol. 113 (1957), p. 1094. Reviewed by H. C. Hottel inFire Research Abstracts and Reviews, Vol. 1 (1959), p. 41.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Burgess, D. S. and Hertzberg, M.,Heat Transfer in Flames, Scripta Book Co., 1974, p. 413.

  24. Burgess, D. S., Grumer, J. and Wolfhard, H. G., “Burning Rates of Liquid Fuels in Large and Small Open Trays”,International Symposium on the Use of Models in Fire Research, November 1959 Publication 786, National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Washington, 1961, p. 68.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rasbash, D. J., Rogowski, Z. W., and Stark, G. W. V., “Properties of Fires of Liquids”,Fuel, Vol. 35 (1956), p. 94.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Tewarson, A., Lee, J. L., and Pion, R. F., “Fire Behavior of Transformer Dielectric Insulating Fluids,” Factory Mutual Research Corporation Technical Report J. I. OEON2.RC (September 1979).

  27. Tewarson, A., inFire Phenomena Data Book, Data Sheet 8, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Research Division.

  28. Anon., “Fire Behavior of Rigid Cellular Plastics Insulation for Use in Storage Tank Exteriors Part I: History of Tank Fire Incidents,” Factory Mutual Research Corporation Report 26450 (March 15, 1977).

  29. Orloff, L., Memorandum to file, Basic Research Department, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, March 7, 1978.

  30. NFPA 30,Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, National Fire Protection Association, Boston, 1977.

  31. Anon., “Storage Tanks for Flammable and Combustible Liquids,” Factory Mutual Data Sheet 7–88, July 1976.

  32. Anon., “Fire Behavior of Rigid Cellular Plastics Insulation for Use in Storage Tank Exteriors: Part II Fire Test Program”, Factory Mutual Report 26450, to be issued.

Download references

Authors
  1. Ashok T. Modak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Orloff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Factory Mutual Research Corporation

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Modak, A.T., Orloff, L. Fires of insulations on tank exteriors. Fire Technol 16, 118–132 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02351804

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02351804

Keywords

Search

Navigation