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Re: Diesel Tank Explosion
Posted by:
dcarpenter (IP Logged)
Date: July 01, 2008 12:18PM
Steve,
It is a good point and a valid point in this context, just one I did not understand from the brief comment.
The production of vapors is only one component of this problem. It only represents the "source". The analysis of this scenario requires that the tank be considered a system with both "sources" (i.e. liquid fuel) and "sinks" (exhuast from open vent to outside). In addition, there are "coupled" phenomenon that exist between the vapor space and the "source" as well as the vapor space and the "sink".
It may be that agitation of the fuel can result in more vapors leaving the vent, which is an important consideration with respect to inclusion of more potential ignition sources outside the tank. That is, the location of the flammable limits of the vapor/air mixture outside the tank may increase in distance from the source as the rate of vapor exhausted from the vent increases. There is always 100% fuel vapors at the source and 100% air at some distance away from the source. Thus, there is an interval of distance inbetween where a flammable vapor/air mixture exists and can be ignited.
Sincerely,
Doug
Douglas J. Carpenter, MScFPE, CFEI, PE, FSFPE
Vice President & Principal Engineer
Combustion Science & Engineering, Inc.
8940 Old Annapolis Road, Suite L
Columbia, MD 21045
(410) 884-3266
(410) 884-3267 (fax)
www.csefire.com