Evaluation of BLEVE models on TTF basis

Abstract Several models have been developed over the years to model the thermal response of vessels containing liquids exposed to high heat fluxes. Accurately modeling the heat transfer through liquid‐containing vessels is an important step in evaluating the potential for a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Cloud Explosion (BLEVE) at Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) processing and storage facilities. Primarily, these models are used to evaluate whether a BLEVE may occur or not; additionally, these models may be used to predict the time to failure (TTF) for a given scenario. TTF can provide a valuable metric in the process of emergency response planning and increasing plant safety. However, due to the varying assumptions that are made while developing transient heat transfer models, different models can result in drastically different predictions. While this paper briefly evaluates conventional BLEVE models and published TTF probit functions, its primary contribution is the development of a novel empirical equation derived from multivariate regression analysis. This data‐driven approach addresses limitations in existing probit equations.