Preventing the explosion of acetylene cylinders involved in fire with help of numerical modeling

The current paper describes a mathematical model, which was developed to simulate the heat transfer in acetylene cylinders during exposure to a fire. The cases of a direct engulfment of the cylinder in the flames and of exposure to a distant fire were considered. Furthermore, the model was also applied to the prediction of the heat transfer during the cooling with water of heated acetylene cylinders, in order to assess the effectiveness of this procedure as a measure to prevent the burst of the cylinder. To provide data for the definition and validation of the model a total of 13 bonfire tests with 8.9-, 10- and 50-dm3-cylinders were performed, where pressure and temperature measurements in the samples were performed. During 5 experiments the fire was extinguished before the expected cylinder burst and a cooling with water was applied. In the paper a short description of the experimental set-up and of the test results is given. Finally, a comparison with the model predictions is provided, showing reasonable agreement.

► Fire exposure of acetylene cylinders and water cooling of heated cylinders are examined. ► The effectiveness of water cooling as a measure to prevent the burst of the cylinder is analyzed. ► The heat transfer in acetylene cylinders has been modeled. ► A total of 13 bonfire tests were performed, as to provide data for the model validation. ► A satisfactory agreement with the experimental data is achieved.