The release of gases or vapors under pressure can cause jet fires. These fires are fuel rich and burn very hot. Besides the obvious hazard associated with the torch, jet flames pose an extreme hazard to nearby storage tanks. If the storage tank is pressurized and contains a super-heated liquid, such as a propane tank, and the flame "impinges" on the unprotected shell a catastrophic stress failure is likely. Such a failure can lead to a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion, or BLEVE. The effects of a BLEVE include missiles, blast and if the contained material is combustible, a fireball with extreme radiation hazard. The contained material does not have to be flammable for a BLEVE to occur. It is the pressure and rapid phase change that causes the physical damage. Materials such as chlorine and anhydrous hydrogen chloride can BLEVE.

If you store or process flammable gases or liquids and need to access your fire and explosion risks, Chilworth Technology has experienced Process Safety Engineers who can help. The Chilworth Technology Lab can provide you with all of the critical flammable property data needed to assess risk at both ambient and process conditions.