Albrecht Michael Birk

We are interested in accidental fire impingement of HazMat pressure vessels. Want to develop improved models for predicting time to failure or empty (if PRV present). We are still trying to properly predict pressurization and time to first PRV activation due to liquid temperature stratification for a range of fire scenarios (Full and partial engulfing pool fire, jet fires, with roll over, with TP defects, etc.)

CFD and lumped parameter models are available in the literature for the analysis of pressure tanks under fire exposure. The first type of models allows for a detailed representation of the phenomena occurring in the tank, providing accurate results in terms of pressurization rate and temperature distribution. However, they are computationally expensive and are currently unable to simulate PRV opening. Lumped parameter models run in very short time, but may lead to not conservative results. The present contribution provides an overview of the strengths and limitations of both approaches, highlighting the new challenges posed by the development of models for the analysis of cryogenic tanks exposed to fire.

The ground force generated by a BLEVE is a hazard that has been seldom studied, even though BLEVE has been source of many research works in the past decades. However, emergency responders have been asking questions the risk and consequences of a BLEVE on a bridge and other critical infrastructures for a while, with no answer so far. Moreover, a tank truck accident in Bologna in August 2018 has shown that bridge collapse may result from such scenario.This paper presents the experimental work done with a small scale apparatus reproducing realistic BLEVE failure with a cylindrical tube. Load cells were placed under the base plate holding the tube to measure the local ground force generated by the explosion. Forces from 10 kN to 55 kN were measured for a 50 mm diameter tube with 300 mm length failing at pressures from 10 to 32 Bar. The ground force signals are interpreted together with the …

Fire exposure of storage and transportation vessels of hazardous materials (including pressure liquefied gases) can result in BLEVEs and other high-consequence incidents with large societal and economic impacts. To reduce risk most countries have numerous regulations, codes of practice and guidance notes covering the design, operation and maintenance of vessels and thermal protection systems. Yet despite such regulations there remains no internationally accepted fire test procedure for pressure vessel and accompanying thermal protection systems that is capable of meeting a range of regulatory requirements. This paper considers some of the regulations in place in the western world and considers the origin of these based on large and medium-scale testing conducted to date. It examines conditions found in these tests to propose a set of recommendations on which to base a standard method of test …

The availability of accurate and robust models for the prediction of the behavior of pressurized tanks under fire exposure is a key requirement to improve the design of fire protection systems. Most of the models present in the literature take into consideration fully engulfing pool fire scenarios only. In the present study, a CFD modelling approach previously validated against full engulfing pool fire tests is used to simulate partial engulfment conditions. The model allowed analyzing local flow field promoting thermal stratification, which in turn drives internal pressurization of the tank. Comparison with fire test results shows good agreement with experimental measurements both in terms of temperature and pressurization curves. The results obtained represent a valuable source of information to support risk management, planning of emergency response and improve fire protection systems design.

The near-field hazards from BLEVE including blast, ground force, drag loading from the rapid liquid phase change and projectiles. There are several correlations available in the literature for the far field blast overpressure from a BLEVE, usually requiring the calculation of the available expansion energy and the application of correction factors. However, there is very little information available for near-field effects and how this is affected by the details of vessel failure.This work presents near-field blast overpressure data and prediction models to fill in this gap. First, experimental measurements of overpressure in the near-field of a small scale cylindrical controlled BLEVE experiments with propane (V = 0.6 L, d =50 mm, L = 300 mm) were performed. Then, this work establishes a prediction model based solely on the vapour phase properties at failure, using shock tube overpressure prediction and spherical shock …