Dynamic Assessment Of Fireball Geometry And Heat Flux From Large Scale Gasoline Releases In Storage Installations

Abstract

Accidental release and ignition of gasoline in large storage tanks can result in devastating fireball events with significant thermal consequences. This study presents a dynamic modeling approach to assess fireball behavior and its associated heat flux under large-scale hydrocarbon storage scenarios. Using the Roberts Method, key fireball parameters—such as maximum diameter, duration, burning rate, and surface emitting power—were quantitatively determined for a 7389 m³ gasoline storage tank filled to 65% capacity. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to compute maximum and actual surface emitting power, followed by heat flux estimation at varying distances using view factor theory and atmospheric transmissivity. The fireball reached a diameter of 889.09 meters with a burn duration of 68.98 seconds and a maximum surface emitting power of 333.985 kW/m². Heat flux values exceeded 80 kW/m² within 100 meters, indicating severe thermal hazard zones. These findings serve as critical input for safety zoning, emergency planning, and fire protection design in petroleum storage facilities. The study emphasizes the necessity of predictive modeling tools for identifying high-risk areas and implementing mitigation strategies in flammable liquid storage environments.