Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) is an extremely violent explosion that can occur when a vessel containing a pressurized liquid is ruptured. The BLEVE gives rise to the following effects: (1) blast wave, (2) fireball, and (3) fragments. Vapor Cloud Explosion (VCE) occurs when there is a release of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) between the upper and lower explosion concentration limits and the mixture is exposed to an ignition source. The VCE gives rise to the following effects: (1) blast wave and (2) thermal radiation. This study aims to evaluate the BLEVE and VCE impacts from 1000 LPG spherical tank by an Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres (ALOHA) program. ALOHA has been programed to estimate the BLEVE fireball thermal radiation and VCE blast wave overpressure. The BLEVE fire ball thermal radiation impacts and the VCE blast over pressure have been estimated at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% of the capacity of LPG – 6. The farthest thermal radiation threat zones are identified in case of half full tank as follows: (i) the red zone (potentially lethal zone) extends up to almost one km, the workers and the neighboring community who are outside their offices and shelters will be at risk (ii) the orange zone (second degree burns zone) extends up to two km, and (iii) the yellow zone (pain zone) extends up to two kms. The VCE blast wave over pressure threat zones have been identified as follows: (i) the red zone extends up to almost 409 m which is likely to destruct building (ii) the orange zone extends up to 640 m which is likely to cause serious injury, and (iii) the yellow zone extends up to 1.1 kms where the glass is shattered.
Shaluf et al. (Fri,) studied this question.