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Evaluation of Postulated Propane Explosion

An evaluation was performed to determine the effects of an explosion resulting from the postulated rupture of a propane line. Four types of analyses were performed: 1. Thermal-hydraulic, 2. Diffusion, 3. Structural, 4. Probabilistic. The thermal-hydraulic analyses determined the rate and amount of propane gas that would evolve from a postulated line rupture. The analysis considered line design, operating conditions, controls, and operator actions. A transient blowdown analysis was performed to determine a mass release time history. The diffusion analysis determined the size and combustible content of the vapor cloud as a function of distance from the break for various atmospheric conditions. The structural analysis determined the conditions required to cause unacceptable structural damage to the facility of concern. The analysis determined the energy from various size vapor clouds and their effects on the structure based on detonations occurring at varying distances from the structure. The probabilistic analyses considered the following probabilities in determining whether an unacceptable explosion could occur: 1. Pipe rupture occurrence, 2. Explosion of vapor cloud, 3.Wind direction, 4. Wind velocity - The vapor cloud would only be stable enough to remain as an explosive moisture far enough away from the break for limited wind velocities. 5. Atmospheric stability, 5. Delay in ignition - The ignition had to be delayed until the vapor cloud was in close proximity to the target structure. This analysis considered available ignition sources, as well as historic data on proximity of ignition sources to gas releases.

Satish Almaula		Plant failure and root cause analysis; process and design engineering analysis; process technology development and testing; plant engineering, operations, maintenance and safety management; plant and process control system management.

Kimble Clark, Ph.D.		Failure analysis, heat transfer & thermodynamics, process plant equipment failures & explosions, fuel science, combustion, industrial fires and explosions.

Richard Schreiber, P.E.		Machinery and mechanical device failure analysis, mechanical testing, combustion and heat transfer, industrial fires and explosions, gas appliances.

Michael Cronin, P.E.		Stress analysis, design evaluation, engineering mechanics