Determination of motor gasolines saturated vapor pressure for calculating the explosive concentration zones dimensions

Abstract

PURPOSE. The article examines the problem of assessing fire hazard in tank farms in Russia when storing gasoline in steel vertical tanks (SVT). The greatest danger is represented by emissions of oil product vapors from the respiratory systems of tanks of SVT type, which leads to the formation of explosive concentrations zones. To assess the possibility of an explosive concentration formation in the gas space of a tank, it is necessary to know the value of the saturated vapor pressure at different temperatures. Data on the fire and explosion properties of the new brands of gasoline, which are stored in tank farms in Russia, in particular, on the saturated vapors pressure, are not available in the reference literature. This fact makes it difficult to provide an impartial quantitative assessment of the fire and explosion hazard of SVT and tank farms in general. The article substantiates the assessment of fire danger mainly using experimental data. METHODS. In the course of the study, analytical and experimental methods to determine the motor gasoline saturated vapor pressure were used. FINDINGS. Using the experimentally obtained pressure of saturated vapor of AI-95-K5 gasoline (рн = 64.97 kPa), the sizes of the explosive concentrations zones formed in the open space in the vicinity of SVT pressure vent valves with a capacity of 1 000 m3 to 50 000 m3 were determined. The analysis of data on the pressure of motor gasoline saturated vapor obtained both analytically and experimentally was carried out, as a result discrepancies in its numerical value by 20% were revealed. RESEARCH APPLICATION FIELD. Conducting experimental research will update the numerical value of the saturated vapor pressure of currently implemented liquid motor fuel brands. CONCLUSIONS. The experimental method is more expensive and time consuming than the analytical one, but it allows obtaining more reliable values of the gasoline saturated vapor pressure, which in turn directly affects the size of explosive concentration zones at industrial facilities.