• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.26-34
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• 2018

Explosions of vapor cloud formed due to the leakage from installations with flammable fuels have often occurred in Korea and foreign countries. In this study, TNT equivalency method and Multi-Energy method for vapor cloud explosion blast modelling are described and demonstrated in a case study. As TNT equivalency method is simple and direct, it has been widely used for modelling a vapor cloud explosion blast. But TNT equivalency method found to be difficult to select a proper correlation between the amount of combustion energy produced from the vapor cloud explosion and the equivalent amount of TNT to model its blast effects. Multi-Energy method assumes that the strength of vapor cloud explosion blast depends on the layout of the space where the vapor cloud is spreading. Strictly speaking, the explosive potential of a vapor cloud is dependent upon the density of the obstructed regions. In this study, Flixborough accident are analyzed as a case study to assess the applicability of TNT equivalency method and Multi-Energy method. TNT equivalency method and Multi-Energy method found to be applicable if coefficient of TNT equivalency and coefficient of strength of explosion blast are selected properly.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Vapor cloud explosions show different characteristics from that caused by ordinary TNT explosives and their loading effect is similar to pressure waves. Typical methods used for blast pressure calculations are the TNT-equivalent method and multi-energy method. The TNT-equivalent method is based on shock waves, similar to a detonation phenomenon, and multi-energy method is based on pressure waves, similar to a deflagration phenomenon. This study was conducted to derive an appropriate blast pressure by applying various plant explosion cases. SDOF analysis and nonlinear dynamic analysis were performed to compare the degree of deformation and damage of the selected structural members for the explosion cases. The results indicated that the multi-energy method was more exact than the TNT-equivalent method in predicting the blast pressure of vapor cloud explosions. The blast pressure of vapor cloud explosion in plants can be more accurately calculated by assuming the charge strength of multi-energy method as 7 or 8.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.355-362
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• 2021

Various blast pressure calculation methods have been developed for predicting the explosion pressure of vapor cloud explosions. Empirical methods include the TNT equivalent method, and multi-energy method. The multi-energy method uses a charge strength that considers environmental factors. Although the Kinsella guideline was provided to determine the charge strength, there are limitations such as guidelines related to ignition sources. In this study, we proposed an improved charge strength guideline, by subdividing the ignition source intensity and expanding the type classification through literature analysis. To verify the improved charge strength guideline, and to compare it with the result obtained using the Kinsella guideline, four vapor cloud explosion cases which could be used to estimate the actual blast pressure were investigated. As a result, it was confirmed that the Kinsella guidelines showed an inaccurate, that is, wider pressure than the actual estimated blast pressure. However, the improved charge strength guideline enabled the selection of the intensity of the ignition source, and more subdivided types through the expansion of classification, hence it was possible to calculate the blast pressure relatively close to that of the actual case.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.38-45
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• 2018

Jet fire, pool fire, and vapor cloud explosion are major accident scenarios in LPG filling station. The protection wall would mitigate radiation effect in a jet fire. In case of a pool fire, the protection wall would restrict expanding the pool area. The protection wall might both obstruct the dispersion of released vapor and protect blast overpressure in a vapor cloud explosion scenario. In this paper, An availability assessment method of the protection wall how much reduce damage to receptors is proposed. Additionally application cases are presented for the effectiveness of protection wall in the LPG filling station. The study shows that the protection wall can effectively reduce the death probabilities of receptors located behind the wall in cases of the jet fires and the vapor cloud explosions.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

This paper employs stochastic processing techniques to analyze explosion risks in plant facilities based on explosion return periods. Release probability is calculated using data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), along with annual leakage frequency per plant provided by DNV. Ignition probability, derived from various researchers' findings, is then considered to calculate the explosion return period based on the release quantity. The explosion risk is assessed by examining the volume, radius, and blast load of the vapor cloud, taking into account the calculated explosion return period. The reference distance for the design blast load model is determined by comparing and analyzing the vapor cloud radius according to the return period, historical vapor cloud explosion cases, and blast-resistant design guidelines. Utilizing the multi-energy method, the blast load range corresponding to the explosion return period is presented. The proposed return period serves as a standard for the design blast load model, established through a comparative analysis of vapor cloud explosion cases and blast-resistant design guidelines. The outcomes of this study contribute to the development of a performance-based blast-resistant design framework for plant facilities.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.44-53
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• 2022

This study evaluates the applicability of the TNT Equivalency Method, Multi-Energy Method, and Baker-Strehlow-Tang (BST) Method, which are blast prediction models used to determine the overpressure of blast wave generated from vapor cloud explosion. It is assumed that the propane leaked from a propane storage container with a capacity of 2000 kg installed in an area where studio houses and shopping centers are concentrated causes a vapor cloud explosion. The equivalent mass of TNT calculated by applying the TNT Equivalency Method is found to be 4061 kg. Change of overpressure with the distance obtained by the TNT Equivalency Method, Multi-Energy Method, and BST Method is rapid and the magnitude of overpressure obtained by the TNT Equivalency Method and BST method is generally similar within 100 m from explosion center. As a result of comparing the overpressure observed in the actual vapor cloud explosion case with the overpressure obtained by applying the TNT Equivalent Method, Multi-Energy Method, and BST Method, the BST Method is found to be the best fit. As a result of comparing the overpressure with the distance obtained by each explosion prediction model with the damage criteria for structure, it is estimated that the structure located within 90 m from explosion center would suffer a damage more than partial destruction, and glass panes of the structure separated by 600 m would be fractured.

• 방재와보험
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• s.66
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• pp.18-20
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• 1995

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.73-92
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• 2023

With the increase of risk of gas explosion, various methods for indirectly estimating the explosion paramaters, which are required for the prediction of gas explosion scale and impact. In this study, the characteristics of the most frequently used methods such as TNT equivalent method, TNO multi-energy method, and BST method and the processes for determining the parameters of the methods were compared. In the case of TNT equivalent method, an adequate selection of the efficiency factor for various conditions such as the type of vapor cloud explosion and explosion material is needed. There is no objective guidelines for the selection of class number in TNO multi-energy method and it is not possible to estimate negative overpressure. It was found that there were some mistakes in the reported parameter values and suggested corrected values. BST method provides more detailed guidelines for the estimation of the explosion parameters including negative overpressure, but the graphs used in this methods are not clear. In order to overcome the problem, the graphs were redrawn. A more convenient estimation of explosion parameters with the numerical expression of the redrawn graphs will be available in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.29-34
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• 2017

LPG is a substance that requires a lot of attention because it can cause fatal damage to people and environment when an accident occurs. LPG is frequently accidents in transportation facilities as well as fixed facilities, among which LPG tank lorries are the most frequent accidents. When the LPG tank is evacuated, the LP gas leaks into two phases, leaks mostly to the gas and leaks to some liquid. At this time, the leaked gas will also sink downward because it is heavier than air, and if it continues to leak, it may form an explosion and explode by the ignition source. The purpose of this study is to present the evacuation distance by analyzing the effect distance of the LPG liquefied petroleum gas in the event of explosion. As a result of calculation of the scattering radius of the fragment, the cylinder fragment was scattered up to 561 m. Therefore, it is appropriate to set the distance to be escaped when the LPG tanker leaks to 561m or more.

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 2014

This study investigated the explosion characteristics of HCNG fuel using a simulation tool. The damage caused by the storage container explosion and vapor cloud explosion in a gas station was predicted. In case of an vapor cloud explosion in the HCNG station, 50~200kPa explosion pressure was predicted inside the station. When the cylinder explosion was occurred, in case of hydrogen, the measured influential distance of overpressure was 59m and radiant heat was 75m. In case of CNG, influential distance of overpressure was 89m and radiant heat was 144m would be estimated. In case of 30% HCNG that was blended with hydrogen and CNG, influential distance of overpressure was 81m and radiant heat was 130m were measured. The damage distance that explosive overpressure and radiant heat influenced CNG was seen as the highest. HCNG that was placed between CNG and hydrogen tended to be seen as more similar with CNG.