Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

Two test series simulating the hazards associated with the accidental release of hydraulic fluid near to a source of ignition have been carried out with six hydraulic fluids; mineral oil, organic ester, phosphate ester, water in oil emulsion and two polyglycols in water solution. In one of the test series the fluids were sprayed (1-4 kg min^-1) through different nozzles at various hydraulic pressures in to a diffusion flame under a semi-open hood which collected all the combustion gases; thus the rates of generation of smoke and gases (0 2, CO, C02) could readily be measured. In the other test series the fluids were sprayed (7-30 kg min^-1) through various nozzles at various hydraulic pressures into a diffusion flame or against a hot metal plate in a large fire hall. The flame length, temperature and radiation and the auto-ignition temperature were measured. The correlation between the two test series regarding rates of heat release between 1 and 20 MW was very good. As a result a test method is proposed. In this test method the flammability hazard of hydraulic fluid spray fires is measured in terms of their combustion efficiency, net heat of combustion, radiant fraction and smoke and toxic rate of production.