A new model for organic peroxide fireballs

Organic peroxides are capable to form fireballs with explosive violence. Only fireball models for liquid hydrocarbon fuels are available for the assessment of the thermal radiation properties. Because the development of such fireballs usually differ from those of organic peroxides the properties need to be characterized by modified equations. In this study liquid organic peroxide fireballs from 16 kg to 155 kg substance masses are characterized and compared to selected existing correlations. Flame characteristics and irradiances are measured with infrared cameras and heat flux sensors. All fireballs are consequences of simulated worst case scenarios where filled steel drums are engulfed by fire with varying heat impact. The differences of the given semi-empirical equations and the presented experimental work are explained. A new model is proposed for organic peroxide fireballs by modifying the constants of the known equations. The thermal radiation impact and safety distances are calculated and compared.