Texas A&M fire whirl burns crude oil 40% faster and cuts soot 40%

Representative imageA giant, tornado-like flame may offer a cleaner and faster way to respond to oil spills at sea. In a large-scale experiment, researchersfrom Texas A&M University and the University of California, Berkeley created a nearly 17-foot-tall fire whirl over crude oil floating on water. The spinning flame burned the oil about 40% faster than a conventional oil-spill fire, reduced soot emissions by 40% and consumed up to 95% of the fuel.The unusual experiment was designed to address a difficult problem that emergency crews face after an offshore oil spill: whether to let the oil spread or ignite it in place. Traditional “in-situ burning” can stop an oil slick from reaching sensitive coastlines, but it also produces thick smoke and may leave behind unburned oil and toxic residue.