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PRV field trials : the effects of fire conditions and PRV blowdown on propane tank survivability in a fire

Abstract

A study was conducted in which pressurized propane tanks were subjected to fire in order to examine how the pressure relief valve (PRV) behaved under various blowdown and fire conditions. During the summers of 2000, 2001 and 2002, a total of 13 controlled tests were carried out on 1890 litre propane tanks which had pressure transducers, lading and wall thermocouples, and an instrumented flow nozzle. The pressure of the PRV was controlled by computer. The tank was heated with high momentum liquid propane torches. The impact of the blowdown and fire conditions was determined by examining the nature of the failure, the time to failure, and a thermohydraulic response to the tank lading. Results indicated that both the behaviour of the PRV blowdown and fire conditions impact the outcome of the fire impingement. An increase in the blowdown was found to delay failure and resulted in a lower fill level and stored energy at failure, therefore the hazard was lessened. It was recommended that the PRV blowdown should be set as large as possible, and the PRV opening pressure should be set as low as possible.15 refs., 15 tabs., 58 figs., 10 appendices.
Authors:
Birk, A M; VanderSteen, J D.J.; Davison, C R; Cunningham, M H; Mirzazadeh, I [1] 
  1. Queen's Univ., Kingston, ON (Canada). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Publication Date:
Jan 01, 2003
Product Type:
Miscellaneous
Report Number:
TP-14045E
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Abstract in English and French.; PBD: Jan 2003
Subject:
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS; TANKS; PROPANE; RELIEF VALVES; PRESSURIZATION; TESTING; FIRES; LIQUEFIED GASES; BLOWDOWN; RUPTURES; EXPLOSIONS; SAFETY ENGINEERING
OSTI ID:
20346111
Research Organizations:
Transport Canada, Montreal, PQ (Canada). Transportation Development Centre
Country of Origin:
Canada
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: T8200-9-A521/001/XSD; 9630/9957; TRN: CA0300962
Availability:
Available from Transport Canada, Transportation Development Centre, 800 Rene Levesque Blvd. West, Suite 600, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 1X9 or from the Internet at www.tc.gc.ca/tdc
Submitting Site:
CANM
Size:
257 pages
Announcement Date:
Jun 03, 2003

Citation Formats

Birk, A M, VanderSteen, J D.J., Davison, C R, Cunningham, M H, and Mirzazadeh, I. PRV field trials : the effects of fire conditions and PRV blowdown on propane tank survivability in a fire. Canada: N. p., 2003. Web.
Birk, A M, VanderSteen, J D.J., Davison, C R, Cunningham, M H, & Mirzazadeh, I. PRV field trials : the effects of fire conditions and PRV blowdown on propane tank survivability in a fire. Canada.
Birk, A M, VanderSteen, J D.J., Davison, C R, Cunningham, M H, and Mirzazadeh, I. 2003. "PRV field trials : the effects of fire conditions and PRV blowdown on propane tank survivability in a fire." Canada.
@misc{etde_20346111,
title = {PRV field trials : the effects of fire conditions and PRV blowdown on propane tank survivability in a fire}
author = {Birk, A M, VanderSteen, J D.J., Davison, C R, Cunningham, M H, and Mirzazadeh, I}
abstractNote = {A study was conducted in which pressurized propane tanks were subjected to fire in order to examine how the pressure relief valve (PRV) behaved under various blowdown and fire conditions. During the summers of 2000, 2001 and 2002, a total of 13 controlled tests were carried out on 1890 litre propane tanks which had pressure transducers, lading and wall thermocouples, and an instrumented flow nozzle. The pressure of the PRV was controlled by computer. The tank was heated with high momentum liquid propane torches. The impact of the blowdown and fire conditions was determined by examining the nature of the failure, the time to failure, and a thermohydraulic response to the tank lading. Results indicated that both the behaviour of the PRV blowdown and fire conditions impact the outcome of the fire impingement. An increase in the blowdown was found to delay failure and resulted in a lower fill level and stored energy at failure, therefore the hazard was lessened. It was recommended that the PRV blowdown should be set as large as possible, and the PRV opening pressure should be set as low as possible.15 refs., 15 tabs., 58 figs., 10 appendices.}
place = {Canada}
year = {2003}
month = {Jan}
}