Analysis of Fire-Induced Ruptures of 400-L Propane Tanks

1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Kielec ◽  
A. M. Birk
Keyword(s):  
Complex Function ◽  
Measured Data ◽  
Fire Tests ◽  
Pool Fires ◽  
Boiling Liquid ◽  
Catastrophic Failures ◽  
Failure Severity ◽  
Vapor Explosions

A series of fire tests were conducted to study the thermal rupture of propane tanks. The tests involved 400-L ASME automotive propane tanks filled to 80 percent capacity with commercial propane. The tanks were brought to failure using torches and pool fires. The resulting thermal ruptures varied in severity from minor fissures, measuring a few centimeters in length, to catastrophic failures where the tank was flattened on the ground. The catastrophic failures would typically be called boiling liquid expanding vapor explosions (BLEVEs). The objective of this work was to develop a correlation between the failure severity and the tank condition at failure. The deformed propane tanks were measured in detail and the extent of deformation was quantified. The tank failure severity was found to be a complex function of a number of tank and lading properties at failure. This paper presents the measured data from the tanks and a step-by-step description of how the correlation was determined.

Towards an Exergy-Based Explosion Energy Model for Boiling-Liquid Expanding-Vapor Explosions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan C. Ramirez ◽  
Suzanne A. Smyth ◽  
Russell A. Ogle
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Ambient Pressure ◽  
Maximum Energy ◽  
Explosion Energy ◽  
Superheated Liquid ◽  
Boiling Liquid ◽  
Dead State ◽  
Vapor Explosions ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Definition Of

A boiling liquid, expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) occurs when a pressure vessel containing a superheated liquid undergoes a catastrophic failure, resulting in a violent vaporization of the liquid. The exposure of a pressure vessel to a fire is a classic scenario that can result in a BLEVE. The thermomechanical exergy of a pressure vessel’s contents provides — by definition — an upper bound on the work that can be performed by the system during the explosion. By fixing the values of ambient pressure and temperature (i.e., the dead state), exergy can be interpreted as another thermodynamic property. This rigorous and unambiguous definition makes it ideal to estimate the maximum energy of explosions. The numerical value of exergy depends on the definition of the dead state. In this paper we examine the effect of different definitions for the dead state on the explosion energy value. We consider two applications of this method: the contribution of the vapor head-space to the explosive energy as a function of the fractional liquid fill of the vessel, and the effect of the vessel burst pressure.

Small Scale Experiments on Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosions: Supercritical BLEVE

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Laboureur ◽  
Jean-Marie Buchlin ◽  
Patrick Rambaud
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Reservoir Temperature ◽  
Boiling Liquid ◽  
Blast Overpressure ◽  
Fluid Behavior ◽  
Rupture Pressure ◽  
New Type ◽  
Vapor Explosions ◽  
Surface Reservoir

The most dangerous accident that can occur in LPG storage is the boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE). To better understand the rupture of the reservoir and the blast wave characteristics, small scale BLEVE experiments are performed with cylinders of 95 ml, filled at 86% with propane, laid horizontally and heated from below. A weakening of the reservoirs on the upper part allows better reproducibility of the rupture. High speed visualization, blast overpressure and surface reservoir temperature are measured. Internal pressure measurement shows that the rupture pressure and temperature are well above the critical point. The fluid is then supercritical and there is no distinction anymore between liquid and gas prior rupture. This kind of reservoir rupture is significant of a new type of BLEVE, a supercritical BLEVE. The experiments also show that the fluid behavior during rupture differs with the size of the weakened part and therefore with the rupture pressure. Finally, the measured peak overpressures are compared with literature models.

Court Cases Show that Storage Battery Explosions are BLEVEs, Part I

1989 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry S. Dixon
Keyword(s):  
Circuit Breaker ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Storage Battery ◽  
Court Cases ◽  
Acid Electrolyte ◽  
Boiling Liquid ◽  
Fourth Case ◽  
Vapor Explosions ◽  
The U.S

A fourth case confirms that the explosions are BLEVEs (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosions) rather than hydrogen explosions. There are approximately 15,300 explosions annually in the U.S. with attendant spouting acid electrolyte or flying solid parts that cause injuries. It is recommended that temperature sensitive fuses or a circuit breaker be incorporated in the battery to prevent these BLEVE accidents.

From the Oort cloud to Halley-type comets

1999 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 327-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.A. Fernández ◽  
T. Gallardo
Keyword(s):  
Total Population ◽  
Complex Function ◽  
Dynamical Evolution ◽  
Oort Cloud ◽  
Capture Process ◽  
Influx Rate ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Dynamical Properties ◽  
Orbital Periods ◽  
Probability Of Capture

AbstractThe Oort cloud probably is the source of Halley-type (HT) comets and perhaps of some Jupiter-family (JF) comets. The process of capture of Oort cloud comets into HT comets by planetary perturbations and its efficiency are very important problems in comet ary dynamics. A small fraction of comets coming from the Oort cloud − of about 10−2− are found to become HT comets (orbital periods < 200 yr). The steady-state population of HT comets is a complex function of the influx rate of new comets, the probability of capture and their physical lifetimes. From the discovery rate of active HT comets, their total population can be estimated to be of a few hundreds for perihelion distancesq <2 AU. Randomly-oriented LP comets captured into short-period orbits (orbital periods < 20 yr) show dynamical properties that do not match the observed properties of JF comets, in particular the distribution of their orbital inclinations, so Oort cloud comets can be ruled out as a suitable source for most JF comets. The scope of this presentation is to review the capture process of new comets into HT and short-period orbits, including the possibility that some of them may become sungrazers during their dynamical evolution.

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