Bleves and fireballs

Abstract

The storage of flammable liquids and vapors in closed vessels can lead to a catastrophic failure ofthe vessel during a fire. When a vessel explosion involves a flammable substance, it is usually followed by a fireball [1]. If the flammable material is stored as a pressure liquefied gas, a sudden failure of the storage vessel may result in a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE). A BLEVE event will result in asudden conversion of stored thermal energy into mechanical energy in the form of a pressure wave. Additionally, the rupture of a compressed gas storage vessel may also result in a pressure wave.