A STUDY TO REDUCE THE HAZARDS OF TANK CAR TRANSPORTATION

The report details the findings of a 4-month study contract directed at reducing the hazards of tank car transportation. A number of shortcomings with existing safety-relief specifications were indicated. A key finding was that the controlling condition in sizing for propane relief should be the liquid feed, or 'upset' car condition, and not vapor feed per the current criterion. The net result is a significant undersizing of relief area considering the existing heat flux criterion to be accurate. Analytical studies and review of test data indicate the existing heat flux criterion to be significantly low--further increasing the possibilities of overpressure. A staged safety relief system was recommended for cars with liquefied compressed gas ladings. The primary relief element would be a pressure-maintaining system sized for handling abnormal operating conditions other than severe fire exposure. The secondary relief system would be a 'dump' type to drop system pressures to levels preventing catastrophic rupture and 'rocketing' under severe fire exposure conditions. Both model and full scale test programs are recommended. (Author)

Record URL:
Corporate Authors:
Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory, Incorporated

4455 Genesee Street
Buffalo, NY United States 14221
Authors:
- Bullerdiek, W A
- Vassallo, F A
- Adams, D E
- Matheis, C W
Publication Date: 1970-11

Media Info

Media Type: Digital/other
Pagination: 177 p.

Subject/Index Terms

TRT Terms: Expenses; Fire prevention; Fires; Hazardous materials; Heat flux; Liquefied gases; Pressure relief valves; Safety; Safety equipment; Tank cars; Thermal expansion; Transportation; Vapors
Old TRIS Terms: Hazardous materials transportation; Overpressure
Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

Accession Number: 00039269
Record Type: Publication
Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
Contract Numbers: DOT-FR-00028
Files: NTL, TRIS
Created Date: Nov 24 1976 12:00AM