ASTM F1990-07(2013)
(Guide)Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide describes the requirements for igniting oil for the purpose of in-situ burning. It is intended to aid decision-makers and spill-responders in contingency planning, spill response, and training, and to aid manufacturers in developing effective ignition devices.
4.2 This guide describes criteria for the design and selection of ignition devices for in-situ burning applications.
4.3 This guide is not intended as a detailed operational manual for the ignition and burning of spilled oil.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide relates to the use of in-situ burning of spilled oil. The focus of the guide is in-situ burning of oil on water, but the ignition techniques and devices described in the guide are generally applicable to in-situ burning of oil spilled on land as well.
1.2 The purpose of this guide is to provide information that will enable oil-spill responders to select the appropriate techniques and devices to successfully ignite oil spilled on water.
1.3 This guide is one of four related to in-situ burning of oil spills. Guide F1788 addresses environmental and operational considerations. Guide F2152 addresses fire-resistant booms, and Guide F2230 addresses burning in ice conditions.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. In particular, the storage, transport, and use of ignition devices may be subject to regulations that will vary according to the jurisdiction. While guidance of a general nature is provided herein, users of this guide should determine regulations that apply to their situation.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation: F1990 − 07 (Reapproved 2013)
Standard Guide for
In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1990; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope F2230Guide for In-situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water: Ice
Conditions
1.1 Thisguiderelatestotheuseofin-situburningofspilled
oil.Thefocusoftheguideisin-situburningofoilonwater,but
3. Terminology
the ignition techniques and devices described in the guide are
3.1 Definitions:
generally applicable to in-situ burning of oil spilled on land as
3.1.1 fire point—the lowest temperature at which a speci-
well.
men will sustain burning for 5 s. (Test Method D92)
1.2 The purpose of this guide is to provide information that
3.1.2 flash point—the lowest temperature corrected to a
will enable oil-spill responders to select the appropriate tech-
barometric pressure of 101.3 kPa (760 mm Hg), at which
niques and devices to successfully ignite oil spilled on water.
application of a test flame causes the vapor of a specimen to
1.3 This guide is one of four related to in-situ burning of oil
ignite under specified conditions of test. (Test Method D92)
spills. Guide F1788 addresses environmental and operational
considerations. Guide F2152 addresses fire-resistant booms,
4. Significance and Use
and Guide F2230 addresses burning in ice conditions.
4.1 Thisguidedescribestherequirementsforignitingoilfor
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
the purpose of in-situ burning. It is intended to aid decision-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
makers and spill-responders in contingency planning, spill
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
response, and training, and to aid manufacturers in developing
priate safety and health practices and to determine the
effective ignition devices.
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. In
4.2 Thisguidedescribescriteriaforthedesignandselection
particular, the storage, transport, and use of ignition devices
of ignition devices for in-situ burning applications.
may be subject to regulations that will vary according to the
jurisdiction. While guidance of a general nature is provided
4.3 This guide is not intended as a detailed operational
herein, users of this guide should determine regulations that
manual for the ignition and burning of spilled oil.
apply to their situation.
5. Overview of the Requirements for Igniting Spilled Oil
2. Referenced Documents
on Water
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.1 The focus of this section is on the in-situ combustion of
D92Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland
marine oil spills.
Open Cup Tester
5.2 Successful ignition of oil on water requires two compo-
D975Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils
nents:heatingtheoilsuchthatsufficientvaporsareproducedto
F1788Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water:
support continuous combustion, and then, providing an igni-
Environmental and Operational Considerations
tion source to start burning. The temperature at which the oil
F2152Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Fire-
produces vapors at a sufficient rate to ignite is called the flash
Resistant Boom
point.Atatemperatureabovetheflashpoint,knownasthefire
point, the oil will produce vapors at a rate sufficient to support
continuous combustion.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F20 on Hazardous
Substances and Oil Spill Responseand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
5.3 For light refined products, such as gasoline and some
F20.15 on In-Situ Burning.
unweathered crude oils, the fire point may be in the range of
Current edition approved April 1, 2013. Published July 2013. Originally
ambient temperatures, in which case, little if any, preheating
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as F1990–07. DOI:
10.1520/F1990-07R13.
would be required to enable ignition. For other oil products,
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and particularly those that have weathered or emulsified, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
both, the fire point will be much greater than ambient
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. temperatures, and substantial preheating will be required.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1990 − 07 (2013)
5.4 The energy required to raise the temperature of the setting backfires during forest-fire control operations. These
surface of an oil slick to its fire point depends on the slick devices emit a stream of gelled fuel, generally gasoline or a
thickness. While the oil is being heated by an igniter, heat is mixture of gasoline, diesel, or crude oil, or a combination
being conducted and convected to the underlying water. If the thereof.As the gelled fuel leaves the device, it is lighted by an
slick is sufficiently thick to insulate against these heat losses electrically-ignitedpropanejet.Theburninggelledfuelfallsas
andallowthesurfacelayerofoiltoheattoitsfirepoint,theoil a stream that breaks into individual globules before hitting the
will start to burn in the vicinity of the igniter. The minimum slick. The burning globules produce an 800°C flame for up to
ignitable thickness for most oils is about 2 to 3 mm (see Guide 6 min. Tank capacities for the gelled fuel mixture range from
F1788). 110 to 1100 L (30 to 300 gal).
5.5 Aside from oil type, other factors that can affect the
7. Ignition Device Test
ignitability of oil on water include the wind speed and the
emulsification of the oil. Secondary factors include ambient 7.1 Thefollowingisintendedasasimpletesttoevaluatethe
temperature and waves. The effect of these factors can be
abilityofanignitiondevicetoigniteathickslickofweathered
summarized as follows: oil.Theignitiontestdoesnotconsideroperabilityfactors,such
5.5.1 The maximum wind speed for successful ignition for as safe operation of the device, accuracy of deployment, and
large burns has been estimated to be approximately 10 m/s (20
reliability of ignition components.
knots) (1, 2) .
7.2 The test parameters are intended to reflect minimum
5.5.2 For more rapid flame spreading, slicks should be
conditions for acceptable performance. More stringent
ignited at the upwind edge.
conditions, such as higher wind speed or the use of weathered
5.5.3 Weathered oils require a longer ignition time.
or emulsified oils, may be considered for some ignition
5.5.4 The effect of water content is similar to that of
devices.
weathering, more ignition time being required to ignite a slick
7.3 Test Apparatus—The ignition test is carried out in an
of emulsion. Once an emulsified slick is ignited, heat from the
approximately square test container. The test container must
fire may break the emulsion and overcome this problem.
have a surface area that is the greater of ten times the area
Emulsion-breaking chemicals can be used to aid in initial
coveredbytheignitiondevice,or1m .Atypicaltestcontainer
ignition attempts.
would be a steel pan of the required dimensions. To minimize
5.5.5 Emulsions are difficult, if not impossible, to ignite
wind-shielding by the walls of the container, the fluid level
without the use of emulsion-breaking chemicals.
must be within 25 mm of the top of the test container.
6. Overview of Available Ignition Devices
7.4 Test Slick—The ignition test is carried out on a layer of
oil with a maximum thickness of 10 mm and with a minimum
6.1 Simple Ignition Techniques:
underlyingwaterdepthof200mm.Theoilfortheignitiontest
6.1.1 Propane or butane torches, or weed burners, and rags
is Diesel Fuel Grade No. 2, which has a minimum flash point
or sorbent pads soaked in fuel have been used to ignite oil on
of 60°C (see Specification D975).
water. Propane torches tend to blow thin oil slicks away from
the flames and are most applicable to thick contained slicks.
7.5 Test Conditions—At the start of the ignition test, the oil
Dieselismoreeffectivethangasolineasafueltosoaksorbents
and water temperature must be no higher than 10°C. Through-
orragsbecauseitburnsmoreslowly,andhence,suppliesmore
outthetest,thewindspeedmustbe5m/s(10knots)orgreater.
preheating to the oil.
7.6 Initial Ignition Tests—The test is initiated by activating
6.1.2 Another effective surface-based igniter is gelled fuel.
the ignition device and deploying it into the test slick. It is
Gellingagentscanbeusedwithgasoline,diesel,orcrudeoilto
recommended that initial tests be conducted by simply placing
produce a gelled mixture that is ignited and placed in an oil
the ignition device on the test slick.The ignition test would be
slick.
considered successful when flame is observed independent of
6.2 Hand-Held Igniters—A variety of igniters have been
the igniter, with flame covering the majority of the area of the
developed for use as devices to be handthrown, either from
test container.
ground level or from helicopters. These igniters have used a
7.7 Tests for Air-Deployed Ignition Devices—For igniters
variety of fuels, including solid propellants, gelled kerosene
intended for deployment from helicopters, additional tests
cubes, reactive chemical compounds, and combinations of
should be carried out to simulate air-deployment. These tests
these. Burn temperatures for these devices range from 700 to
need not include ignition of oil but should include deployment
2500°C, and burn times range from 30 s to 10 min. Most
ofthedevicefromaheightof10m(minimum,measuredfrom
hand-held igniters have delay fuses that provide sufficient time
the device to the ground) to confirm that the device functions
to throw the igniter and allow it and the slick to stabilize prior
as intended during deployment. Tests should include deploy-
to ignition.
ment and operation of the device from a helicopter to ensure
6.3 Helicopter-Slung Ignition Systems—Thesesystemshave
that the device can function in the presence of the helicopter’s
beenadaptedfromdevicesusedforburningforestslashandfor
downwash.
7.8 Test Record—The test record must include the time for
successful ignition, the actual container dimensions, the initial
Theboldfacenumbersinparenthesesrefertothelistofreferencesattheendof
this standard. oil layer thickness, the underlying water depth, the air and
F1990 − 07 (2013)
water temperature at the start of the test, the wind speed, and 8.5 Wind Conditions—The ignition device should function,
any general observations of igniter performance. including deployment and operation from a helicopter, in wind
conditions up to 10 m/s (20 knots).
7.9 Optional Additional Tests—In addition to the perfor-
mance tests listed, consideration should be given to additional
9. Safety
testing to address the following items depending on the
intended application of the device:
9.1 Unintended Activation—The device should include pro-
7.9.1 The estimated accuracy of deployment of the ignition
tection against accidental activation.
device on a target oil slick,
9.2 Delay UponActivation—Forhand-heldignitiondevices,
7.9.2 The resistance to damage of the device during
uponactivationoftheigniter,thereshouldbeaminimumdelay
deployment,
of 20 s between the time the device is activated and it begins
7.9.3 The performance in shallow pools (less than 100 mm
firing. It should be noted that excessive delay times may be
deep) on solid ice,
troublesome in allowing the igniter to drift away from the
7.9.4 The dependence on orientation of the igniter for
target slick.
proper performance,
7.9.5 Splash effects during impact with oil and water,
9.3 Jettisoning of Equipment—Forhelicopter-slungdevices,
7.9.6 Effect on performance of temporary submergence of
provision shall be made for jettisoning of the device, including
the igniter upon impact, and
rapid disconnect of any power or control couplings.
7.9.7 Sensitivity to wind, rain, and sea state during ignition.
9.4 Operation—Some ignition devices require an open
8. Operability flame or spark for activation, that may not be desirable or safe
in certain applications, for example, for hand-held devices to
8.1 Operating Instructions—Operating instructions shall be
be deployed from helicopters.
suppliedwiththedeviceandshouldincludeadescriptionofthe
following items where applicable: safe operating procedures;
10. Storage
required preparations of the igniter, or application system, or
both, from storage to field use; type and amount of debris after
10.1 Shipping and Storage Regulations—The manufacturer
use; training requirements; disposal requirements for spent
of the device should specify shipping, handling, and storage
igniters; and, retrieval and handling requirements for igniters
instructions, and should note any limits on extreme
that have misfired.
temperatures, or humidity during storage, or both.
8.2 Licensing for Transport and Use—The ignition device
10.2 Resistance to Degradation—The device should func-
mustbeapprovedfortransportviacargoaircraft.Approvals,or
tion after exposure to temperature and humidity extremes and
pilot certifications, or both, may be required for devices
vibrationthatmaybeexperiencedduringstorageandshipping.
intended for operation and deployment by helicopter. Users
10.3 Shelf-Life—The device should have a minimum shelf-
should note that pyrotechnic materials are not commonly
life of five years.
transported by air and that such shipments often are rejected at
thepointofloadingattheprerogativeofthecarrierdespiteany
10.4 Maintenance—Operating instructions should specify
licensing or approvals.
any routine maintenance requirements, and should note com-
ponents of the igniter that are subject to degradation, their
8.3 Stability During Flight—For helicopter-slung devices,
provision shall be made for stabilizing the device when carried expected shelf-life, and the procedure for refurbishment or
replacement of parts following the normal shelf-life.
by a swivel-hook helicopter. Any such stabilizing apparatus
shall not impair the ability to jettison the device in the event of
an emergency (see 9.3). 11. Keywords
8.4 Temperature Range—The ignition device should func- 11.1 ignition; in-situ burning; oil-spill burning; oil-spill
tion over an ambient temperature range of –10 to 30°C. disposal
F1990 − 07 (2013)
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. BRIEF HISTORY OF IGNITER DEVELOPMENT
X1.1 ThisAppendix is intended to p
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