Behavior of liquefied natural gas tanks in a point of fire origin

Introduction. The paper substantiates the importance of investigations of LNG tanks behaviour during fires. The most dangerous mode of their destruction (BLEVE, boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion), is mentioned. The relevance of the article is conditioned by the need to analyze the BLEVE phenomenon to prevent it and to miti­gate its consequences. The purpose of the paper is to present fundamentals of this phenomenon and to analyze advanced relevant research findings, including the analysis of recent accidents. The main focus is on liquefied natural gas.

General regularities of BLEVE. The BLEVE phenomenon was analyzed using p–V and p–T diagrams (p is pressure, V is volume, and T is temperature). Liquid boils at critical overheat temperature in the mode of homogeneous nucleation followed by BLEVE. Experimental data on critical overheat temperatures are presented for some liquefied gases and flammable liquids.

Brief analysis of BLEVE accidents involving LNG tanks. Major BLEVE accidents, involving LNG tanks, are considered. These events occurred in Tivissa (Spain, 2002), Zarzalico (Spain, 2011), and Shansi (China, 2019), and each involved road tanks for LNG transportation. Dimensions of hazardous thermal radiation zones, that emerged as a consequence of fireballs, blast waves and vessel fragments, reached 100–200 m.

Experimental and theoretical investigations of BLEVE and fireballs that emerged at LNG tanks. The most interesting experimental studies in this area are analyzed. Hazardous factors (the fireball diameter, time frame, height of elevation, and thermal radiation intensity) were determined using a 5 m3 tank. The empirical correlation, connecting the above mentioned parameters with the LNG mass in the tank, were obtained. Large-scale experiments were carried out to determine characteristics of fireballs that emerged when LNG was flowing out of the pipeline and when the resulting oversaturated cloud was on fire.

Conclusions. The main patterns of BLEVE and fireball accidents, involving LNG tanks, were analyzed. Their patterns are similar to those typical for LPG tanks. However, the surface radiation from LNG tank fireballs (nearly 500 kW/m2) is much higher than the surface radiation from LPG tanks (nearly 350 kW/m2).

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