Fire/Arson Investigations : Fire/Arson Investigations
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Re: Diesel Tank Explosion-Mixed Diesel
Posted by: dcarpenter (IP Logged)
Date: July 28, 2008 08:07AM
Nick,
A plot of the vapor pressure vs. temperature for gasoline will provide a reasonable test of the hypothesis.
At the temperature of boiling point of water, the vapor pressure of fresh gasoline is on the order of 100 psi. If the introduction of boiling water to the gasoline container is able to flash vaporize (think water on a hot skillet) any liquid gasoline in the container, this can result in a significant overpressure that can rupture the container depending on the strength. If any remaining liquid gasoline is expelled from the rupture of the container, it can be deposited on clothing, ignite, and create significant burns.
The ruture of the container can be a mechanical overpressure as a result of flash vaporization as opposed to a confined deflagration that is usually associated with gasoline. Thus, the outcome (i.e. increased pressure, rupture, and significant burns) can happen under these conditions (i.e. pouring boiling water into a container which is used to store gasoline).
An interesting scenario that I have not heard of before. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Sincerely,
Doug Carpenter
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
A plot of the vapor pressure vs. temperature for gasoline will provide a reasonable test of the hypothesis.
At the temperature of boiling point of water, the vapor pressure of fresh gasoline is on the order of 100 psi. If the introduction of boiling water to the gasoline container is able to flash vaporize (think water on a hot skillet) any liquid gasoline in the container, this can result in a significant overpressure that can rupture the container depending on the strength. If any remaining liquid gasoline is expelled from the rupture of the container, it can be deposited on clothing, ignite, and create significant burns.
The ruture of the container can be a mechanical overpressure as a result of flash vaporization as opposed to a confined deflagration that is usually associated with gasoline. Thus, the outcome (i.e. increased pressure, rupture, and significant burns) can happen under these conditions (i.e. pouring boiling water into a container which is used to store gasoline).
An interesting scenario that I have not heard of before. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Sincerely,
Doug Carpenter
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
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