A Study to Reduce the Hazards of Tank Car Transportation

Details

• Creators:
  Bullerdiek, W. A. ; Vassallo, F. A. ; Adams, D. E. ; Matheis, C. W.
• Corporate Creators:
  Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Federal Railroad Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Hazardous materials
  • Liquefied gases
  • Pressure relief valves
  • Safety
  • Tank cars
  • Transportation (General)
  • Expenses
  • Fire prevention
  • Fires
  • Heat flux
  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FRA-RT-71-74
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States
• TRIS Online Accession Number:
  00039269
• Edition:
  Final Report
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Federal Railroad Administration
• Abstract:
  The report details the findings of a 4-month study contract directed at reducing the hazards of tank car transportation. A number of shortcomings with existing safety-relief specifications were indicated. A key finding was that the controlling condition in sizing for propane relief should be the liquid feed, or 'upset' car condition, and not vapor feed per the current criterion. The net result is a significant undersizing of relief area considering the existing heat flux criterion to be accurate. Analytical studies and review of test data indicate the existing heat flux criterion to be significantly low--further increasing the possibilities of overpressure. A staged safety relief system was recommended for cars with liquefied compressed gas ladings. The primary relief element would be a pressure-maintaining system sized for handling abnormal operating conditions other than severe fire exposure. The secondary relief system would be a 'dump' type to drop system pressures to levels preventing catastrophic rupture and 'rocketing' under severe fire exposure conditions. Both model and full scale test programs are recommended. (Author)
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DOT-FR-00028
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/40503/dot_40503_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.84 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection ; Federal Railroad Administration
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:a7f4d7fae65d855d5fc1078aace96f8234257cc9d16675034e3422afe8f6fd11