Research on the dangerous scenarios of propylene oxide leakage from tank in a chemical plant in an industrial park of Tongling City, China

Abstract

ABSTRACT Propylene oxide (PO) is toxic, flammable and explosive. Accidents from the release of PO from large-scale storage tanks can have disastrous consequences associated with meteorological conditions. Therefore, this study explores the dangerous scenarios of PO leakage from a 1000 m3 spherical tank in a chemical plant located in an industrial park during various seasons using the Aerial Location of Hazardous Atmospheres software. Our results show that the maximum hazard distance of poisoning, flash fire and vapour cloud explosion caused by leakage and diffusion from the PO storage tank occur in the summer season and the affected distances were 2900, 372, and 374 m, respectively. In regard the thermal radiation resulting from a pool fire scenario, the longest threat distance was 110 m in the summer. For the boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion (BLEVE), the maximum thermal effect was 2100 m in winter. The BLEVE scenario has the largest impact area and its toxic vapour cloud is the primary accident. Adequate safety management and technical measures should be put in place for the prevention and emergency response of accidental PO release in the factory.