Experimental studies on the thermal stratification and its influence on BLEVEs

Journal Article · Fri Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.EXPTHERMFLUSCI.2010.03.001· OSTI ID:21320568

Lin, Wensheng; Gong, Yanwu; Gao, Ting; Gu, Anzhong; Lu, Xuesheng ^[1]

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1. Institute of Refrigeration and Cryogenics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240 (China)

The thermal stratification of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and its effect on the occurrence of the boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) have been investigated experimentally. Stratifications in liquid and vapor occur when the LPG tank is heated. The degree of the liquid stratification {beta} increases with an increasing heat flux and decreasing filling ratio. The effect of stratification on the BLEVE has been examined with depressurization tests of LPG. The results show that the pressure recovery for the stratified LPG ({beta} = 1.4) upon sudden depressurization is much lower than that for the isothermal LPG ({beta} = 1). It can be concluded that the liquid stratification decreases the liquid energy and the occurrence of the BLEVE. (author)

• OSTI ID: 21320568
• Journal Information: Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science, Vol. 34, Issue 7; Other Information: Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved; ISSN 0894-1777
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
STRATIFICATION
DEPRESSURIZATION
LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
VAPORS
VAPOR EXPLOSIONS
BOILING
TANKS
HEAT FLUX
LIQUIDS
HEATING