{
  "id": 298913,
  "title": "Texas A&M fire whirl burns crude oil 40% faster and cuts soot 40%",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/texas-a-m-fire-whirl-burns-crude-oil-40-faster-and-cuts-soot-40",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-08T06:36:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/texas-am-researchers-built-a-17-foot-fire-whirl-over-crude-oil-on-water-it-burned-40-faster-cut-soot-40-and-consumed-up-to-95-of-the-fuel/articleshow/133030838.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An experimental fire whirl over crude oil proved to burn the fuel 40% faster than traditional oil spill fires, while also cutting soot emissions by 40%, according to researchers from Texas A&M University and the University of California, Berkeley. The study was conducted at Texas A&M's Brayton Fire Training Field, where they created a nearly 17-foot-tall rotating flame over floating crude oil.\n\nIn-situ burning is a method commonly used to respond to oil spills, where the oil is ignited while still on the water's surface. While this approach can remove large amounts of oil quickly, it often produces thick black smoke and partially burned residues. The scientists aimed to improve this process by shaping the flame into a rotating vortex, instead of allowing it to spread across the water's surface.\n\nThe fire whirl experiment consisted of a three-sided triangular structure that guided and twisted the air around a central pool of crude oil. When ignited, the flame rose nearly 17 feet into the air, rotating upward and drawing in air from multiple directions. This air intake, combined with its upward motion, made the fire burn more efficiently, consuming up to 95% of the fuel and reducing soot emissions by 40%.\n\nThe researchers believe that a controlled fire whirl could be a more efficient and environmentally friendly response to oil spills at sea, minimizing the impact on marine life, coastal habitats, and surrounding ecosystems. However, they acknowledge that the technology is still in the experimental stage and would require further testing to ensure its effectiveness and safety in various marine conditions.",
  "summary": "Researchers at Texas A&M University and the University of California, Berkeley conducted a large-scale experiment to explore the potential benefits of using fire whirls to combat oil spills at sea. By creating a nearly 17-foot-tall fire whirl over crude oil floating on water, the team was able to demonstrate that the spinning flame burned the oil about 40% faster than a conventional oil-spill fire. Additionally, the fire whirl reduced soot emissions by 40% and consumed up to 95% of the fuel, making it a potentially more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional in-situ burning methods. The researchers believe that controlled fire whirls could offer an improved response to oil spills, reducing environmental costs associated with burning crude oil while maintaining the effectiveness of the emergency response.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}