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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Incendiary devices for the in-situ combustion of crude oil slicks

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5688335

This report summarizes the development of incendiary devices for the in-situ combustion of confined crude oil slicks in a remote environment. Several design parameters characterizing a suitable incendiary device for this purpose are discussed, both in qualitative and quantitative terms. Three prototype incendiary devices are described in detail, with particular attention being given to the processing and testing of the pour-castable incendiary composition employed in these devices. These compositions are based on an ammonium perchlorate oxidizer, a metal powder fuel, and a polymeric binder. A comprehensive testing program of the prototype designs is reported, leading to the selection of the peripheral-burning design as the most promising candidate. This incendiary device, incorporating its own pyrotechnic delay igniter and containing some 1.6 kg of incendiary composition (56% NH4 Cl04, 25% Al, 18% binder, 1% thixotropic agent), provides a 1700 degree C burn for over two minutes, dissipating a sufficient quantity of heat to bring about a self-sustaining combustion of thin weathered crude oil slicks.

Research Organization:
Defence Research Establishment Valcartier, Courcelette, Quebec (Canada)
OSTI ID:
5688335
Report Number(s):
AD-A-125782/3; DREV-R-4282/83
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English