The hazards of leakage and fire & explosion of liquefied hydrocarbon in storage tanks are related to the high flammability of liquefied hydrocarbon and the storage conditions such as temperature and pressure. The leakage frequency of the pressurized tank of liquefied hydrocarbon is 4.7×10-5 per tank per year, in which the catastrophic rupture frequency is 4.7×10-7 per tank per year. The order of magnitude of the leakage frequency for the refrigerated tank of liquefied hydrocarbon is almost the same as that of the pressurized tank. And the catastrophic rupture leakage frequency of both the double containment tank and the full containment tank are 1.0×10-7 per tank per year. The heat absorption capacity and the freezing damage of liquefied hydrocarbon are related to its physical properties such as the atmospheric boiling point, the latent heat of vaporization, the specific heat capacity, the storage temperature and pressure of liquefied hydrocarbon, and the environment factors. The freezing damage of the refrigerated liquefied hydrocarbon is more serious due to its strong endothermic effect than that of the pressurized liquefied hydrocarbon if the leakage occurs. The vapor cloud explosion, the venting fire and the pool fire are common types of fire & explosion for both the pressurized liquefied hydrocarbon and the refrigerated liquefied hydrocarbon. Compared with the refrigerated liquefied hydrocarbon, the vapor cloud explosion and the venting fire for both gas and liquid phases, and the ground pool fire are easily formed for the pressurized liquefied hydrocarbon. And the boiling liquid expansion vapor explosion with fireball is a typical hazard. For the refrigerated liquefied hydrocarbon, the vapor cloud explosion may occur when the released refrigerated liquefied hydrocarbon enters a confined space such as a sewer system or an underground conduit system. And the venting fire and the pool fire are formed at the gas phase vents and the containment pit. The heat transfer vapor explosion may occur when the leaked refrigerated liquefied hydrocarbon contacts with water.
FU Zhimin;CAO Feifei
. Leakage and Fire & Explosion Hazards of Liquefied Hydrocarbon in Storage Tanks[J]. Science & Technology Review, 2013
, 31(16)
: 41
-46
.
DOI: 10.3981/j.issn.1000-7857.2013.16.009
