title: Small-scale experiments of self-sustaining decomposition of NPK fertilizer and application to events aboard the Ostedijk in 2007.
abstract: Small-scale experiments to investigate the self-sustaining decomposition (SSD) behaviour of NPK 16.16.16 fertilizer have been undertaken. These experiments show that this material will undergo self-sustaining decomposition and are used to give insight into the behaviour of the reaction. A three-step decomposition process is observed leading to a self-sustained reaction reaching temperatures of 200-350°C. The measured heat of reaction is 0.73-1.8 MJ/kg. Measurements are applied to the events that occurred aboard the ship Ostedijk in 2007 in which a SSD reaction occurred. The mass loss rate from the cargo was calculated to range from 0.5 kg/s on the first day to 12 kg/s on the last day. From this measurement, the maximum fire size was estimated to be in the range 5.8-29 MW.
authors.affiliation: BRE Centre for Fire Safety Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rory M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hadden
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rein
mesh_terms: D005308:Fertilizers; D012767:Ships
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers