The hazard related to the road and rail transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is well known. In several non-European countries, passive fire protection of tanks used for LPG transport is compulsory. However, the extent of risk reduction due to passive fire protections is rather uncertain, and a cost-benefit analysis is still lacking. The present contribution addresses the effectiveness of thermal coating in the reduction of the risk associated to the rail and road transport of LPG. The performances of the thermal coatings were investigated with a detailed mathematical model, which allowed describing the behaviour of tanks impinged by flames. The outcomes of the simulations proved the effectiveness of the thermal protection in avoiding the thermal rupture of the fired tanks, and thus the consequent Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE), one the more severe scenarios that may take place during LPG transport. The increase in the “time to BLEVE” due to the thermal coating may be considered sufficient to allow the start of effective mitigation actions by fire brigades. The results obtained were used to calculate the expected reduction of individual and societal risk due to LPG transportation in real case scenarios, and to perform a cost-benefit analysis. The results confirmed that the introduction of passive fire protections turns out in a significant reduction of risk, up to an order of magnitude in the case of individual risk and of about 50% if the expectation value is considered. Coating costs and benefits were thus identified, assessed and compared. Costs were obtained considering the effective cost for the coating of a road tanker. Benefits were calculated taking into account the decrease of the expectation value, corresponding to the average annual predicted frequency of deaths. The results indicated that, although the relevant cost of coating, the preliminary analysis of the benefits coming from the reduction in life losses may suggest the introduction of passive fire protections also in the European context.
N. Paltrinieri, S. Bonvicini, V. Cozzani, G. Landucci (2009). A risk-based cost-benefit analysis of LPG tank vehicles passive fire protection. LONDON : Taylor & Francis.
A risk-based cost-benefit analysis of LPG tank vehicles passive fire protection
PALTRINIERI, NICOLA;BONVICINI, SARAH;COZZANI, VALERIO;
2009
Abstract
The hazard related to the road and rail transport of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is well known. In several non-European countries, passive fire protection of tanks used for LPG transport is compulsory. However, the extent of risk reduction due to passive fire protections is rather uncertain, and a cost-benefit analysis is still lacking. The present contribution addresses the effectiveness of thermal coating in the reduction of the risk associated to the rail and road transport of LPG. The performances of the thermal coatings were investigated with a detailed mathematical model, which allowed describing the behaviour of tanks impinged by flames. The outcomes of the simulations proved the effectiveness of the thermal protection in avoiding the thermal rupture of the fired tanks, and thus the consequent Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion (BLEVE), one the more severe scenarios that may take place during LPG transport. The increase in the “time to BLEVE” due to the thermal coating may be considered sufficient to allow the start of effective mitigation actions by fire brigades. The results obtained were used to calculate the expected reduction of individual and societal risk due to LPG transportation in real case scenarios, and to perform a cost-benefit analysis. The results confirmed that the introduction of passive fire protections turns out in a significant reduction of risk, up to an order of magnitude in the case of individual risk and of about 50% if the expectation value is considered. Coating costs and benefits were thus identified, assessed and compared. Costs were obtained considering the effective cost for the coating of a road tanker. Benefits were calculated taking into account the decrease of the expectation value, corresponding to the average annual predicted frequency of deaths. The results indicated that, although the relevant cost of coating, the preliminary analysis of the benefits coming from the reduction in life losses may suggest the introduction of passive fire protections also in the European context.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
