Thermal Radiation Modeling and the Formulation of Active and Passive Fire Protection Strategies for Mass Hydrocarbon Storage

Abstract

Dealing with the handling and bulk storage of hydrocarbons, common incidents like fires and explosions frequently occur, severely impacting human life, property, and the environment. Spillage of liquid or liquefied gases often happens at these facilities, and if an ignition source is present, the spill can instantaneously catch fire, leading to life-threatening pool fires. Recent research on the combustion characteristics of large petroleum fires highlights the necessity of large-scale experiments to understand real tank fire behavior. Although these experiments are highly costly and require massive open spaces, worldwide collaboration is vital to advance pool fire research, fire safety design, and firefighting engineering. Radiated heat from a pool fire plays a crucial role as one of the prominent factors driving the spread of fire to nearby tanks or objects. Because radiated heat alone causes many secondary accidents and threatens life and property, it is imperative to quantify the heat transferred to objects situated at a distance. Determining this heat transfer rate is essential for taking effective measures to prevent fire propagation. Furthermore, it suggests a safe minimum distance for firefighters to operate and helps establish Acceptable Separation Distances (ASD) between storage tanks to ensure structural integrity. This thesis evaluates these heat transfer mechanisms—specifically thermal radiation—involved in open-air pool fires at mass storage facilities. The heat transfer values are calculated utilizing standard analytical approaches, including the MUDAN method, t² models, one-zone and two-zone models, alongside the Point Source Model and the Solid Flame Model. Through these models, critical parameters such as Heat Release Rate (HRR), mass burning rate, geometric view factors, and atmospheric transmissivity are evaluated for practical scenarios like LPG and gasoline tank fires. The analytical results are then utilized to recommend comprehensive fire mitigation strategies. These encompass passive fire protection measures, such as structural fire insulation and fire partitions, and active suppression systems, including Rim Seal Fire Protection, Medium Velocity Water Spray (MVWS), High Velocity Long Range (HVLR) monitors, and foam systems. Ultimately, this research provides a vital framework for optimizing facility layout, improving emergency response planning, and mitigating the catastrophic impacts of hydrocarbon pool fires