Experimental study of LPG storage tank BLEVE in unconfined space under fire

DUAN Renwu; LI Zhan; YAN Haichun; FANG Qin

doi:10.11883/bzycj-2023-0057

Volume 43 Issue 12

Dec. 2023

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Explosion And Shock Waves > 2023 > 43(12): 125402

DUAN Renwu, LI Zhan, YAN Haichun, FANG Qin. Experimental study of LPG storage tank BLEVE in unconfined space under fire[J]. Explosion And Shock Waves, 2023, 43(12): 125402. doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2023-0057

Citation:

DUAN Renwu, LI Zhan, YAN Haichun, FANG Qin. Experimental study of LPG storage tank BLEVE in unconfined space under fire[J]. Explosion And Shock Waves, 2023, 43(12): 125402. doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2023-0057

Citation:

PDF( 8064 KB)

Experimental study of LPG storage tank BLEVE in unconfined space under fire

doi: 10.11883/bzycj-2023-0057

State Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention & Mitigation of Explosion & Impact, Army Engineering University of PLA, Nanjing 210007, Jiangsu China

Received Date: 2023-02-23
Rev Recd Date: 2023-05-06

Available Online: 2023-10-16

Publish Date: 2023-12-12

Abstract

Abstract

Ten batches of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank explosion tests under fires were conducted to investigate the overpressure load characteristics and blast wave propagation of LPG tank boiling liquid expansion vapor explosion (BLEVE) in unconfined space. Five different LPG tanks were considered in the tests with the variations of filters, LPG mass and tank shape. The explosion process and overpressure load of BLEVE were recorded by high-speed camera and overpressure sensors. The effects of filters, LPG mass, tank shape on the overpressure loads of BLEVEs were revealed and discussed. The empirical models of BLEVE overpressure loads are reviewed and the predictions of the simplified models are compared with the data of multi-scale BLEVE tests. The limitation and suggestion of the simplified empirical models are proposed. It is found that the existence of filters during explosion tests brings about the secondary gas cloud explosion of LPG tank BLEVE and the effect of secondary vapor cloud explosion on overpressure loads of BLEVE in unconfined space is limited due to the specific testing conditions. Typically, the overpressure loads of BLEVE have two positive phases and one negative phase, which is significantly different from the loads of TNT and gas explosions. The peak value of BLEVE overpressure loads decreases with the increase of distance and the decrease of LPG mass. Among the existed empirical models, the Brode model is the most conservative in predicting the BLEVE overpressure loads and the Planas model can predict the large scale BLEVE reasonably. The Birk model shows good predictions for large, medium and small scale tests, while the results are prone to danger. With the increase of scaled distance, the peak value of BLEVE overpressure loads decays exponentially. Moreover, the performance of the Baker-Tang blast curve method is better than that of the TNT equivalent method in the prediction of BLEVE loads.
- LPG,
- BLEVE,
- overpressure load,
- simplified empirical model,
- muti-scale

FullText(HTML)

References(20)

References

[1]	侯淑雅, 王智, 栾笑阳, 等. 浙江温岭槽罐车爆炸事故分析 [J]. 南京工业大学学报(自然科学版), 2021, 43(2): 144–149. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-7627.2021.02.002. HOU S Y, WANG Z, LUAN X Y, et al. Analysis of tank truck explosion accident in Wenling, Zhejiang Province [J]. Journal of Nanjing University of Technology (Natural Science Edition), 2021, 43(2): 144–149. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-7627.2021.02.002.
[2]	LABOUREUR D, HEYMES F, LAPEBIE E, et al. BLEVE overpressure: multiscale comparison of blast wave modeling [J]. Process Safety Progress,, 2015, 33(3): 274–284. DOI: 10.1002/prs.11626.
[3]	STAWCZYK J. Experimental evaluation of LPG tank explosion hazards [J]. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2003, 96(2/3): 189–200. DOI: 10.1016/S0304-3894(02)00198-X.
[4]	BIRK A M, POIRIER D, DAVISON C. On the response of 500gal propane tanks to a 25% engulfing fire [J]. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 2006, 19(6): 527–541. DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2005.12.008.
[5]	BIRK A M, VANDERSTEEN J D J. On the transition from non-BLEVE to BLEVE failure for a 1.8 m³ propane tank [J]. Journal of Pressure Vessel Technology, 2006, 128(4): 648–655. DOI: 10.1115/1.2349579.
[6]	BIRK A M, DAVISON C, CUNNINGHAM M. Blast overpressures from medium scale BLEVE tests [J]. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 2007, 20(3): 194–206. DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2007.03.001.
[7]	胡昆, 陈国华, 周志航, 等. 爆炸冲击波作用下化工设备易损性研究评述 [J]. 化工进展, 2019, 38(4): 1634–1645. DOI: 10.16085/j.issn.1000-6613.2018-0756. HU K, CHEN G H, ZHOU Z H, et al. Review of the vulnerabilityofchemical equipment subjected to blastwave [J]. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress, 2019, 38(4): 1634–1645. DOI: 10.16085/j.issn.1000-6613.2018-0756.
[8]	BRODE H L. Blast wave from a spherical charge [J]. Physics of Fluids, 1959, 2(2): 217–229. DOI: 10.1063/1.1705911.
[9]	SMITH J M. Introduction to chemical engineering thermodynamics [M]. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996.
[10]	PRUGH R W. Quantitative evaluation of “BLEVE” hazards [J]. Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, 1991, 3(1): 9–24. DOI: 10.1177/104239159100300102.
[11]	SAFETY C F C P . Guidelines for vapor cloud explosion, pressure vessel burst, BLEVE, and flash fire hazards [M]. 2nd ed. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. , 2010.
[12]	PLANAS-CUCHI E, SALLA J M, CASAL J. Calculating overpressure from BLEVE explosions [J]. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 2004, 17(6): 431–436. DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2004.08.002.
[13]	CASAL J, SALLA J M. Using liquid superheating energy for a quick estimation of overpressure in BLEVEs and similar explosions [J]. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2006, 137(3): 1321–1327. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.05.001.
[14]	SALLA J M, DEMICHELA M, CASAL J. BLEVE: a new approach to the superheat limit temperature [J]. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 2006, 19(6): 690–700. DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2006.04.004.
[15]	GENOVA B, SILVESTRINI M, TRUJILLO F J L. Evaluation of the blast-wave overpressure and fragments initial velocity for a BLEVE event via empirical correlations derived by a simplified model of released energy [J]. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 2008, 21(1): 110–117. DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2007.11.004.
[16]	孔维轩, 刘宁, 林煦淏等. 国内通用水压试验标准内容对比分析 [J]. 环境技术, 2023, 41(7): 153–158. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-7204.2023.07.030. KONG W X, LIU N, LIN X H, et al. Comparative analysis of domestic general hydraulic test standards [J]. Environmental Technology, 2023, 41(7): 153–158. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-7204.2023.07.030.
[17]	KINNEY G F, GRAHAM K J. Explosives shocks in air [M]. 2nd ed. Berlin: Springer, 1985.
[18]	BAKER W E, COX P A, WESTINE P S, et al. Explosion hazards and evaluation [M]. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2012.
[19]	HEMMATIAN B, PLANAS E, CASAL J. Comparative analysis of BLEVE mechanical energy and overpressure modelling [J]. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2017, 106: 138–149. DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2017.01.007.
[20]	BUBBICO R, MARCHINI M. Assessment of an explosive LPG release accident: a case study [J]. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2008, 155(3): 558–565. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.11.097.