BLEVE paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

BLEVE - Research Paper Example The rupture will occur at the weakest point of the container (the part of the container that is leaking due to corrosion). A prime example is the Kingman BLEVE or Doxol Disaster (1973). The explosion occurred during propane transfer from a Doxol railroad vehicle to a storage tank on the rail sliding, located near the Andy Devine Avenue. The explosion occurred when a worker was attempting to tighten a leak on the connection by hitting a wrench with a hammer into the leak. The burning propane gas escaped through the valve connection on the rail car, which resulted in the cooling of the tank pressure. (Kletz, 1990) This resulted in an increase in the leak and the fire, heating the tank car. The fire burned the employees working at the site, with some succumbing to their injuries in hospital. The heating of the tank car resulted in a huge explosion. The safety valve on the car opened, which increased pressure in the tank. The high pressure eventually caused the tank to explode, blowing up the carrier in the process. The explosion created a shock wave that was audible for a radius of 5 miles. Three firefighters who had managed to get to the scene were killed upon explosion, with eight more dying in hospital from burn severe burn wounds. It is a demonstration of the adverse danger of BLEVEs, and how measures must be taken to prevent such incidences using better safety precautions. Another example is the San Juanico Disaster. The incident was initiated by a gas leak in Petroeos Mexicanos (PEMEX). There was a pipe rupture during the transfer operation, which resulted in the plume of the LPG thus concentrating at ground level. The plume grew larger, and drifted with the winds to the direction of the waste gas in the flare pit. (Mannan, 2005) The first plant exploded (BLEVE), and it was followed by 12 more BLEVEs. Two of the largest tanks on the site had such a large explosion,