Modeling the performance of coated LPG tanks engulfed in fires

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 172; no. 1; pp. 447 - 456
• Main Authors: Landucci, Gabriele, Molag, Menso, Cozzani, Valerio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 15-12-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accidents; Applied sciences; Assessments; BLEVE; Chemical engineering; Coating; Disaster Planning; Domino effect; Equipment Design; Exact sciences and technology; Failure; Finite Element Analysis; Finite element modeling; Fires; Gasoline; LPG; Major accident hazard; Materials Testing; Mathematical models; Petroleum; Pollution; Pressure; Safety; Safety margins; Tanks; Temperature; Thermal protection; Finite element modeling; Thermal protection; Domino effect; Major accident hazard; BLEVE; Correlation; LPG; Coating material; Mechanical model; Rupture; Fire protection; Modeling; Indicator; Design; Storage; Accident; Correlation analysis; Fires; Robustness; Safety; Hazard
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.07.029

The improvement of passive fire protection of storage vessels is a key factor to enhance safety among the LPG distribution chain. A thermal and mechanical model based on finite elements simulations was developed to assess the behaviour of full size tanks used for LPG storage and transportation in fire engulfment scenarios. The model was validated by experimental results. A specific analysis of the performance of four different reference coating materials was then carried out, also defining specific key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess design safety margins in near-miss simulations. The results confirmed the wide influence of coating application on the expected vessel time to failure due to fire engulfment. A quite different performance of the alternative coating materials was evidenced. General correlations were developed among the vessel time to failure and the effective coating thickness in full engulfment scenarios, providing a preliminary assessment of the coating thickness required to prevent tank rupture for a given time lapse. The KPIs defined allowed the assessment of the available safety margins in the reference scenarios analyzed and of the robustness of thermal protection design.