A Study on Fire Safety in Storage Tank Area from Simulated Fire in Storage TankExample from Petrochemical Station at Kaohsiung Por

• Main Authors: Shuen-Hsiung Wu, 吳順雄
• Other Authors: Kuang-Chung Tsai
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/77324291360619110973

碩士 === 國立高雄第一科技大學 === 環境與安全衛生工程所 === 93 === Demand on petrochemical products is ever increasing due to prosperous domestic industries. However, flammables storage area has always been one of the major potentially hazardous areas in factory. In the event that fire is ignited by improper operation or external heat source, the vast amount of content in storage tank may impair attempts of fire rescue, and directly cause substantial property loss and casualty, even extend to other facilities or factories nearby, resulting greater damage. Computerized Fire Simulation may provide considerations of proper preventive facility and safety distance for business units in allocating of storage tanks. The subject of this study is the normal pressure oil tank in Petrochemical Station at Kaohsiung Port. Three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is simulated in computer to conduct analysis on impacts of radial heat transmitted onto neighboring tanks when normal pressure storage tank is on fire. Also, a questionnaire survey is conducted on personnel who actually are part of storage tank operations . From the fire simulation on storage tank (k-311,D = 18.2m, H=12m, 80% load, wind velocity = 8 m/s, inter-tank spacing = 6.1m) without sprinkler in effect, we have learned that the maximum radial heat is 23 kw/m2, and the threat to neighboring tanks is insignificant. Therefore, safety distance for inter-tank spacing allotment, in pursuant to NFPA30 Standards, in Petrochemical Station is considered viable. As for the questionnaire survey, the result reveals that information such as contingency plan, hazard information of material stored, and risk assessment on storage tank are not circulated, suggesting a wide margin of improvement exits in fire safety management. Safety regulations for petrochemical storage tanks may vary among domestic/foreign governments or large petrochemical factories. However, differences stand. Technique of digital fire simulation, if used, may assist analyzing severity of fire in storage tank area and estimating sufficient efficiency of safety distance that confines effect of fire spread, and quantified risk of fire in storage tank area, so that comparison and enhancement for regulation standards may be made. Digital fire simulation may also serves in formulating procedures of contingency plan and personnel evacuation. Emergency drill and circulation of related information should be further enforced for fire safety management, and empirical analysis on accident cases should be conducted so that threats of petrochemical product storage operation can be reduced.