A Fire Risk Assessment for Bio Ethyl Tert-Butyl Ether (ETBE)

The present article deals with a fire risk assessment for bio ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE). The fire risk has been assessed based on the heat release rate (HRR) and the carbon monoxide (CO) yield, using a cone calorimeter in accordance to testing procedure documented in ISO 5660-1:2002, which has been modified in order to enable the testing of flammable liquids. The research focuses on bio-ETBE used as bio component in automobile petrol (analytically pure ETBE was not a subject of this research). The sample weight used for a single testing was 100 g at 745.1 kg.m-3 density. The sample was ignited with a spark igniter, avoiding additional heat radiation effect from the cone emitter. The following values were measured under the testing conditions: maximum HRR (2796 kW.m-2), average HRR 876 kW.m-2, average specific mass loss rate (SMLR) 23.08 g.m-2.s-1 and the CO yield 10 g.kg-1. Equations for the statistical dependence of HRR and specific CO production rate (SCPR) on SMLR were compiled from the obtained values. Further, the SMLR for ETBE burning in an infinite size pool 165.42 g.m-2.s-1 was calculated. Substituting the calculated SMLR values (for pool fire in an infinite size pool) into the statistical dependence equations, HRR 6356 kW.m-2 and SCPR 2.57 g.m-2.s-1 were calculated for pool ETBE fire under realistic conditions (pool diameter exceeding 3.5m). The calculated SCPR accounted for a CO yield of 15.54 g.kg-1.