Fire engulfment tests on a 5 tonne LPG tank

Abstract

Experiments have been conducted on the behaviour of a 5 tonne horizontal cylindrical LPG tank engulfed in kerosene pool fires. Five tests were carried out with commercial propane fill levels from 22% to 72%. Fire durations were up to thirty minutes. Extensive measurements were made of the fire characteristics, external and internal tank metal temperatures and the wall heat fluxes. Bulk and boundary layer fluid temperatures were measured at 26 points inside the tank, which together with internal pressure histories allowed characterisation of the internal fluid behaviour. Standard pressure relief valves were fitted and their operation monitored - they operated reliably and controlled the tank pressure throughout the fire tests. The results further extend and complement those on fire engulfed 0.25 and 1 tonne tanks. The complete set of results provides direct information on the behaviour of LPG tanks of different sizes and fill levels and a sound basis for the development and validation of predictive models.