An overview on BLEVE

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide graduate students, researchers and government and independent agencies with an overview on BLEVE (i.e. boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion).

Design/methodology/approach

BLEVE has been studied by researchers, academicians, company specialists, and government and independent agencies. BLEVE incidents are collected from several sources such as technical and general articles, internet web sites and internal reports. BLEVE definitions, history, theory, types, hazards, and models are reviewed. BLEVE incidents are arranged and classified into fires, overfilling, explosions, overheating, runaways, overpressure, collisions, corrosion, and damage (derailment).

Findings

BLEVE types are classified into cold BLEVEs, hot BLEVEs, and BLEVEs. The major consequences of a BLEVE are thermal radiation from the resultant fireball and the fragments produced when the vessel fails. Several approaches are developed to describe BLEVE theory. BLEVE incidents are classified into explosions, damage (derailment), overfilling, fires, collisions, runaways, overpressure, overheating, and corrosion. The world has witnessed 74 BLEVE incidents in the period 1926‐1986. BLEVE incidents resulted in 1,427 fatalities and 635 injuries. The materials involved in BLEVE were flammable and non‐flammable. The highest frequencies of BLEVE incidents were due to explosions and damage to tanks. Explosion and damage BLEVE incidents resulted in high injuries. Overfilling and fire BLEVE incidents resulted in high fatalities.

Originality/value

This paper presents an overview of BLEVE definitions, history, incidents, types, theory, hazards and models. BLEVE incidents are classified. This paper combines scattered BLEVE incidents into one record.

Citation

Mohamed Shaluf, I. (2007), "An overview on BLEVE", Disaster Prevention and Management, Vol. 16 No. 5, pp. 740-754. https://doi.org/10.1108/09653560710837037