The Numerical Investigation on Oil Slick Behavior behind the Oil Boom

Kai Gong, Pavel Tkalich, Haihua Xu

Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore City, Singapore.

DOI: 10.4236/jep.2014.58075                

Abstract

The dynamics of contained oil spills is investigated based on multiphase CFD (Computational Fluid Mechanics) model. The oil slick shape behind the oil boom under water current is studied. The velocity field in the oil slick is compared with the velocity field in pure water flow. The thickness of the oil slick is studied quantitatively. It is found that there is a fixed linear relationship between the oil slick relative thickness and the Froude number for different oil, different current velocity, different boom draft and different volume of oil.

Keywords

Oil Spill, Oil Boom, Oil Slick, CFD, VOF (Volume of Fluid), Multiphase Flow

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Amini, A., Bollaert, E., Boillat, J.-L. and Schleiss, A.J. (2008) Dynamics of Low-Viscosity Oils Retained by Rigid and Flexible Barriers. Ocean Engineering, 35, 1479-1491. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2008.06.010
[2]	Chebbi, R. (2009) Profile of Oil Spill Confined with Floating Boom. Chemical Engineering Science, 64, 467-473. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2008.10.001
[3]	Delvigne, G.A.L. (1989) Barrier Failure by Critical Accumulation of Viscous Oil. Oil Spill Conference, San Antonio, 13-16 February 1989, 143-148.
[4]	Cross, R.H. and Hoult, D.P. (1971) Collection of Oil Slicks. Journal of the Waterways, Harbors, and Coastal Engineering Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 97, 313-322.
[5]	Cross, R.H. and Hoult, D.P. (1972) Oil Booms in Tidal Currents. Journal of the Waterways, Harbors, and Coastal Engineering Division, Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 98, 25-34.
[6]	Leibovich, S. (1976) Oil Slick Instability and the Entrainment Failure of Oil Containment Booms. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 98, 98-103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.3448229
[7]	Milgram, J.H. and Van Houten, R.J. (1978) Mechanics of a Restrained Layer of Floating Oil above a Water Current. Journal of Hydronautics, 12, 93-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/3.63119
[8]	Lee, C.M. and Kang, K.H. (1997) Prediction of Oil Boom Performance in Currents and Waves. Spill Science & Technology Bulletin, 4, 257-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1353-2561(98)00022-X
[9]	Violeau, D., Buvat, C., Abed-Meraim, K. and De Nanteuil, E. (2007) Numerical Modeling of Boom and Oil Spill with SPH. Coastal Engineering, 54, 895-913. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coastaleng.2007.06.001
[10]	Johnston, A.J., Fitzmaurice, M.R. and Watt, R.G.M. (1993) Oil Spill Containment: Viscous Oils. Oil Spill Conference, Tampa, 10 August 1993, 89-94.
[11]	Tkalich, P. and Chan, E.S. (2001) A High Resolution Oil Spill Model. Proceedings of International Conference on Port and Maritime R&D and Technology, Singapore, 29-31 October 2001, 647-652.
[12]	Tkalich, P. (2002) Oil Spill Modelling with a CFD Approach. Proceedings of 6th International Marine Environmental Modelling Semina, Trondheim, 2-4 September 2002, 255-274.
[13]	Tkalich, P., Huda, M.D.K. and Gin, K.Y.H. (2003) A Multiphase Oil Spill Model. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 41, 115-125. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221680309499955
[14]	Goodman, R.H., Brown, H.M., An, C.-F. and Rowe, R.D. (1996) Dynamic Modelling of Oil Boom Failure Using Computational Fluid Mechanics. Spill Science & Technology Bulletin, 3, 213-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1353-2561(97)00015-7
[15]	Brown, H.M., Goodman, R.H., An, C.-F. and Bittner, J. (1997) Boom Failure Mechanisms: Comparison of Channel Experiments with Computer Modelling Results. Spill Science & Technology Bulletin, 3, 217-220.
[16]	Launder, B.E. and Spalding, D.B. (1974) The Numerical Computation of Turbulent Flows. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 3, 269-289. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0045-7825(74)90029-2