Rupture of a container in which a liquid is held above its atmospheric-pressure boiling point can result in explosive vaporization of a large fraction of the contents. This phe nomenon is called a Boiling-Liquid Expanding-Vapor Explosion ("BLEVE"). A method for estimating the TNT equivalence of a BLEVE is proposed, with descriptions of possible causes and consequences of the explosion and (if the contents are flammable) the con sequences of the resulting fireball.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Richard W. Prugh (1991) studied this question.