ASTM F1990-99
(Guide)Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
Standard Guide for In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
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 several related to in-situ burning. Other standards cover specifications for fire-containment booms and the environmental and operational consideration for burning.
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.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:F1990–99
Standard Guide for
In-Situ Burning of Spilled Oil: Ignition Devices
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1990; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 fire point—the lowest temperature at which a speci-
men will sustain burning for 5 s. D92
1.1 This guide relates to the use of in-situ burning of spilled
3.1.2 flash point—the lowest temperature corrected to a
oil.Thefocusoftheguideisin-situburningofoilonwater,but
barometric pressure of 101.3 kPa (760 mm Hg), at which
the ignition techniques and devices described in the guide are
application of a test flame causes the vapor of a specimen to
generally applicable to in-situ burning of oil spilled on land as
ignite under specified conditions of test. D92
well.
1.2 The purpose of this guide is to provide information that
4. Significance and Use
will enable oil-spill responders to select the appropriate tech-
4.1 Thisguidedescribestherequirementsforignitingoilfor
niques and devices to successfully ignite oil spilled on water.
the purpose of in-situ burning. It is intended to aid decision-
1.3 This guide is one of several related to in-situ burning.
makers and spill-responders in contingency planning, spill
Other standards cover specifications for fire-containment
response, and training, and to aid manufacturers in developing
booms and the environmental and operational considerations
effective ignition devices.
for burning.
4.2 This guide describes criteria for the design and selection
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
of ignition devices for in-situ burning applications.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
4.3 This guide is not intended as a detailed operational
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
manual for the ignition and burning of spilled oil.
priate safety and health practices and to determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. In particu-
5. Overview of the Requirements for Igniting Spilled Oil
lar, the storage, transport, and use of ignition devices may be
on Water
subject to regulations that will vary according to the jurisdic-
5.1 The focus of this section is on the in-situ combustion of
tion. While guidance of a general nature is provided herein,
marine oil spills, which, relative to land spills, have been of
users of this guide should determine regulations that apply to
greater interest in oil-spill response.
their situation.
5.2 Successful ignition of oil on water requires two compo-
nents:heatingtheoilsuchthatsufficientvaporsareproducedto
2. Referenced Documents
2 support continuous combustion, and then, providing an igni-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tion source to start burning. The temperature at which the oil
D92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland
produces vapors at a sufficient rate to ignite is called the flash
Open Cup
point.At a temperature above the flash point, known as the fire
D 975 Specification for Diesel Fuel Oils
point, the oil will produce vapors at a rate sufficient to support
F 1788 Guide for In-Situ Burning of Oil Spills on Water:
continuous combustion.
Environmental and Operational Considerations
5.3 For light refined products, such as gasoline and some
3. Terminology unweathered crude oils, the fire point may be in the range of
ambient temperatures, in which case, little if any, preheating
3.1 Definitions:
would be required to enable ignition. For other oil products,
and particularly those that have weathered or emulsified, or
both, the fire point will be much greater than ambient tempera-
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-20 on Hazardous
tures, and substantial preheating will be required.
Substances and Oil Spill Response and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
5.4 The energy required to raise the temperature of the
F20.15 on In-Situ Burning.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1999. Published February 2000.
surface of an oil slick to its fire point depends on the slick
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
thickness. While the oil is being heated by an igniter, heat is
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
being conducted and convected to the underlying water. If the
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. slick is sufficiently thick to insulate against these heat losses
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F1990–99
and allow the surface layer of oil to heat to its fire point, the oil slick. The burning globules produce an 800°C flame for up to
will start to burn in the vicinity of the igniter. The minimum 6 min. Tank capacities for the gelled fuel mixture range from
ignitable thickness for most oils is about 2 to 3 mm (see Guide 110 to 1100 L (30 to 300 gal).
F 1788).
7. Ignition Device Test
5.5 Aside from oil type, other factors that can affect the
7.1 Thefollowingisintendedasasimpletesttoevaluatethe
ignitability of oil on water include the wind speed and the
ability of an ignition device to ignite a thick slick of weathered
emulsification of the oil. Secondary factors include ambient
oil.The ignition test does not consider operability factors, such
temperature and waves. The effect of these factors can be
as safe operation of the device, accuracy of deployment, and
summarized as follows:
reliability of ignition components.
5.5.1 The maximum wind speed for successful ignition for
7.2 The test parameters are intended to reflect minimum
large burns has been estimated to be approximately 10 m/s (20
conditions for acceptable performance. More stringent condi-
knots) (1, 2) .
tions, such as higher wind speed or the use of weathered or
5.5.2 For more rapid flame spreading, slicks should be
emulsified oils, may be considered for some ignition devices.
ignited at the upwind edge.
7.3 Test Apparatus—The ignition test is carried out in an
5.5.3 Weathered oils require a longer ignition time.
approximately square test container. The test container must
5.5.4 The effect of water content is similar to that of
have a surface area that is the greater of ten times the area
weathering, more ignition time being required to ignite a slick
covered by the ignition device, or 1 m .Atypical test container
of emulsion. Once an emulsified slick is ignited, heat from the
would be a steel pan of the required dimensions. To minimize
fire may break the emulsion and overcome this problem.
wind-shielding by the walls of the container, the fluid level
Emulsion-breaking chemicals can be used to aid in initial
must be within 25 mm of the top of the test container.
ignition attempts.
7.4 Test Slick—The ignition test is carried out on a layer of
5.5.5 Emulsions are difficult, if not impossible, to ignite
oil with a maximum thickness of 10 mm and with a minimum
without the use of emulsion-breaking chemicals.
underlying water depth of 200 mm.The oil for the ignition test
6. Overview of Available Ignition Devices
is Diesel Fuel Grade No. 2, which has a minimum flash point
of 60°C (see Specification D 975).
6.1 Simple Ignition Techniques:
7.5 Test Conditions—At the start of the ignition test, the oil
6.1.1 Propane or butane torches, or weed burners, and rags
and water temperature must be no higher than 10°C. Through-
or sorbent pads soaked in fuel have been used to ignite oil on
outthetest,thewindspeedmustbe5m/s(10knots)orgreater.
water. Propane torches tend to blow thin oil slicks away from
7.6 Initial Ignition Tests—The test is initiated by activating
the flames and are most applicable to thick contained slicks.
the ignition device and deploying it into the test slick. It is
Diesel is more effective than gasoline as a fuel to soak sorbents
recommended that initial tests be conducted by simply placing
or rags because it burns more slowly, and hence, supplies more
the ignition device on the test slick. The ignition test would be
preheating to the oil.
considered successful when flame is observed independent of
6.1.2 Another effective surface-based igniter is gelled fuel.
the igniter, with flame covering the majority of the area of the
Gelling agents can be used with gasoline, diesel, or crude oil to
test container.
produce a gelled mixture that is ignited and placed in an oil
7.7 Tests for Air-Deployed Ignition Devices—For igniters
slick.
intended for deployment from helicopters, additional tests
6.2 Hand-Held Igniters—A variety of igniters have been
should be carried out to simulate air-deployment. These tests
developed for use as devices to be handthrown, either from
need not include ignition of oil but should include deployment
ground level or from helicopters. These igniters have used a
of the device from a height of 10 m (minimum, measured from
variety of fuels, including solid propellants, gelled kerosene
the device to the ground) to confirm that the device functions
cubes, reactive chemical compounds, and combinations of
as intended during deployment. Tests should include deploy-
these. Burn temperatures for these devices range from 700 to
ment and operation of the device from a helicopter to ensure
2500°C, and burn times range from 30 s to 10 min. Most
that the device can function in the presence of the helicopter’s
hand-held igniters have delay fuses that provide sufficient time
downwash.
to throw the igniter and allow it and the slick to stabilize prior
7.8 Test Record—The test record must include the time for
to ignition.
successful ignition, the actual container dimensions, the initial
6.3 Helicopter-Slung Ignition Systems—These systems
oil layer thickness, the underlying water depth, the air and
have been adapted from devices used for burning forest slash
water temperature at the start of the test, the wind speed, and
and for setting backfires during forest-fire control operations.
any general observations of igniter performance.
These devices emit a stream of gelled fuel, generally gasoline
7.9 Optional Additional Tests—In addition to the perfor-
or a mixture of gasoline, diesel, or crude oil, or a combination
mance tests listed, consideration should be given to additional
thereof.As the gelled fuel leaves the device, it is lighted by an
testing to address the following items depending on the
electrically-ignited propane jet.The burning gelled fuel falls as
intended application of the device:
a stream that breaks into individual globules before hitting the
7.9.1 The estimated accuracy of deployment of the ignition
device on a target oil slick,
7.9.2 The resistance to damage of the device during deploy-
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
this standard. ment,
F1990–99
7.9.3 The performance in shallow pools (less than 100 mm 9. Safety
deep) on solid ice,
9.1 Unintended Activation—The device should include pro-
7.9.4 The dependence on orientation of the igniter for
tection against accidental activation.
proper performance,
9.2 Delay Upon Activation—For hand-held ignition de-
7.9.5 Splash effects during impact with oil and water,
vices, upon activation of the igniter, there should be a mini-
7.9.6 Effect on performance of temporary submergence of
mum delay of 20 s between the time the device is activated and
the igniter upon impact, and
it begins firing. It should be noted that excessive delay times
7.9.7 Sensitivity to wind, rain, and sea state during ignition.
may be troublesome in allowing the igniter to drift away from
the target slick.
8. Operability
9.3 JettisoningofEquipment—Forhelicopter-slungdevices,
8.1 Operating Instructions—Operating instructions shall be
provision shall be made for jettisoning of the device, including
suppliedwiththedeviceandshouldincludeadescriptionofthe
rapid disconnect of any power or control couplings.
following items where applicable: safe operating procedures;
9.4 Operation—Some ignition devices require an open
required preparations of the igniter, or application system, or
flame or spark for activation, that may not be desirable or safe
both, from storage to field use; type and amount of debris after
in certain applications, for example, for hand-held devices to
use; training requirements; disposal requirements for spent
be deployed from helicopters.
igniters; and, retrieval and handling requirements for igniters
10. Storage
that have misfired.
8.2 Licensing for Transport and Use—The ignition device 10.1 Shipping and Storage Regulations—The manufacturer
mustbeapprovedfortransportviacargoaircraft.Approvals,or
of the device should specify shipping, handling, and storage
pilot certifications, or both, may be required for devices instructions, and should note any limits on extreme tempera-
intended for operation and deployment by helicopter. Users
tures, or humidity during storage, or both.
should note that pyrotechnic materials are not commonly 10.2 Resistance to Degradation—The device should func-
transported by air and that such shipments often are rejected at
tion after exposure to temperature and humidity extremes and
the point of loading at the prerogative of the carrier despite any vibration that may be experienced during storage and shipping.
licensing or approvals.
10.3 Shelf-Life—The device should have a minimum shelf-
8.3 Stability During Flight—For helicopter-slung devices, life of five years.
provision shall be made for stabilizing the device when carried
10.4 Maintenance—Operating instructions should specify
by a swivel-hook helicopter. Any such stabilizing apparatus any routine maintenance requirements, and should note com-
shall not impair the ability to jettison the device in the event of
ponents of the igniter that are subject to degradation, their
an emergency (see 9.3). expected shelf-life, and the procedure for refurbishment or
8.4 Temperature Range—The ignition device should func-
replacement of parts following the normal shelf-life.
tion over an ambient temperature range of –10 to 30°C.
11. Keywords
8.5 Wind Conditions—The ignition device should function,
including deployment and operation from a helicopter, in wind 11.1 ignition; in-situ burning; oil-spill burning; oil-spill
conditions up to 10 m/s (20 knots). disposal
APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. Brief History of Igniter Development
X1.1 ThisAppendixisintendedtoprovideabriefhistorical success was reported in burning unemulsified oil in pools
review of the uses of ignition devices for the in-situ burnin
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.