Recent studies have shown that the hazards associated with loss of containment and BLEVEs (boiling liquid expanding vapor explosions) are strongly tied to the energy stored in the liquid phase of a pressure vessel. This stored energy is affected by heat transfer with the surroundings (e.g., fire exposure) and pressure relief valve (PRV) action. Since it would be desirable to minimize this stored energy to reduce hazards, a study was initiated by Transport Canada and Queen’s University to quantify the effect of various PRV parameters on the thermal energy storage of a pressure vessel. A fully automated state-of-the-art test facility has been constructed to perform 2-phase blowdown tests using steam and water. This paper describes the Queen’s University/Transport Canada PRV Test Program and the test procedures and facilities used. It goes on to show some preliminary results from 2-phase testing currently underway to determine the optimal PRV operating characteristics from a hazard mitigation standpoint. The results of this study may be useful for standards-writing bodies to set experimentally determined optimal behavior criteria for PRVs and acceptable tolerances for deviation from this.

Issue Section:
Technical Papers
Keywords:
pressure vessels, fires, valves, boiling, liquids, continuum mechanics
Topics:
Boiling, Cycles, Energy storage, Fire, Flow (Dynamics), Nozzles, Pressure, Pressure vessels, Relief valves, Steam, Testing, Transients (Dynamics), Valves, Vessels, Temperature, Heat transfer, Test facilities, Water, Vapors
1.
Birk, A. M., and Cunningham, M. H., 1994, “A Medium-Scale Experimental Study of the Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion,” Transport Canada Publication No. TP 11995E, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Mar.
2.
Pierorazio, A. J., and Birk, A. M., 1997, “Evaluation of Dangerous Goods Pressure Relief Valve Performance Phase 2 Steam-Based Tests: Preliminary Results,” Transport Canada Publication No. TP 13088E, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Dec.
3.
Pierorazio, A. J., and Birk, A. M., 1998, “Dynamic Behavior of Transportation Pressure Relief Valves Under Simulated Fire Impingement Conditions,” Proc., ASME/JSME Joint Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, San Diego, CA.
4.
Pierorazio, A. J., 1996, “Design, Construction and Commissioning of a Facility for the Dynamic Testing of Pressure Relief Valves,” M.Sc. thesis, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
5.
Pierorazio, A. J., and Birk, A. M., 1996, “Evaluation of Dangerous Goods Pressure Relief Valve Performance Phase 2 Air Test Results,” Transport Canada Publication No. TP 12978E, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Dec.
6.
Pierorazio, A. J., and Birk, A. M., 1998, “Air Test of Commercially Available Transport Vessel PRVs,” Proc., ASME/JSME Joint Pressure Vessels and Piping Conference, San Diego, CA.
Copyright © 2002
 by ASME
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