Abstract
Aim: This paper is an introduction to the subject of industrial gases such as hydrogen, acetylene, methane (natural gas) and propane-butane (LPG). It includes the analysis and characteristics of threats associated with the said gases. The deliberations are based on available statistical data on firefighting unit interventions and other available data sources.
Introduction: On the one hand the wide spectrum of the application of industrial gases enhances their popularity on industrial, technical and scientific markets, but on the other hand it is associated with a wide range of threats. This paper is a form of introduction to the subject covering the gases’ properties and the event-tree related to such industrial-gas release as Jet Fire, BLEVE, FireBall, Unconfined Vapour Cloud Explosions, and Vapour Cloud Explosions. However, the main goal of the paper is to publicise the findings on statistical research on hydrogen, acetylene, natural gas, and propane-butane, based on the Polish Incident Reporting System (industrial gases presence and their explosions, the type of explosions, the number of injured, the victims, and the types of injury) and also international databases. The paper is in the form of a report on scientific research - “The establishment of ways to neutralise the threat of the explosion of selected containers containing industrial gases, including alternative energy sources in the fire environment, for rescuers taking part in firefighting activities” funded by The National Centre for Research and Development.
Methodology: The paper includes three logical parts. The first is an introduction to the subject of industrial gases in terms of their properties and potential threats. The second part is focused on the main findings from statistical research based on the Polish Incidents Reporting System (2000-2014), while the third is based on international database research related to industrial gases.
Conclusions: The general conclusions on threats characteristics and statistical analysis are highlighted. The first part of the summary is focused on the most important aspect of threats like thermal radiation, JetFire, Unconfined Vapour Cloud Explosions, Vapour Cloud Explosions. The second part emphasises the general needs of changing the Incident Reporting System mechanism (involved with the industrial gases aspect too), and also the methods of acquisition and sharing data. Regarding the statistics, the frequency of State-Fire-Service incidents involving the presence of industrial gases and their explosions, the type of explosions, the number of injured, the victims and types of injury, are brought out.
Keywords: industrial gases, cylinder explosion, cylinder with gas, statistics of explosions
Type of article: review article