Experimental and modeling studies on the transient pressurization in response to boiloff vapor recondensation in liquefied gas storage tanks

The boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) is a most common hazard in liquefied gas storage and transportation. The explosion is resulted from tank overpressure under external thermal attack, and its prevention depends on accurate prediction of the boiling liquid pressurization. This paper presents a mathematical model to simulate the boiling liquid pressurization in liquefied gas storage tank. The model includes a semi-empirical equation to calculate the critical subcooled degree at the onset of pressurization, an energy equation of bubble condensation to calculate the net vapor generation rate in storage tank, a thermal-response equation of the subcooled boiling liquid to calculate the transient temperature of bulk liquid, and an isochoric equation to predict the transient pressure of boiloff liquefied gas. Comparison of the model predictions with experimental data shows that the maximum deviations of the predicted transient pressure and temperature are within 15 kPa and 3 °C, respectively.