Investigation of small-scale BLEVE tests

Fifty-eight tests were conducted in the field using the modified one-litre test tanks and the modified five-pound test tank engulfed in a pool fire to determine the failure characteristics of the tanks under BLEVE conditions. Ten ladings were used having a wide variety of physical properties: acetaldehyde, acetone, ammonia, methanol, n-butanol, propane, n-pentane, R-12, R-114 and water.;Five remnant patterns were observed for failed tanks: single hole, crosslike teardown, two-piece teardown, three-piece teardown and shatters. It was found that for one-litre tanks the mechanical integrity of the tanks was significantly reduced when the wall thickness was reduced below 60% of the normal wall thickness (0.64 mm). However, the type of failure as determined by remnant patterns for the test tanks at a given failure pressure was similar for the wide variety of ladings used.;The violence of the tank failure increased with an increase in pressure and can be quantified by "tear work" based on examination of the remnants of the test tank. The ratios of the tear work to the available work and of the tear work to the actual work were determined.;Mathematical models have been developed and used for predicting the lading temperatures in the tank and the surface temperatures along the circumference of the tank, during the period prior to a pressure relief valve opening. The models give good approximations of measured values of the liquid and vapor lading temperatures.;It was proposed that methanol should be used as a possible model fluid for the one-litre test tank if failure in the two-phase region is required to simulate prototype tanks with propane as lading.