Modelling the response of tankers exposed to external fire impingement

Abstract A computer model has been developed which can simulate the response of a tanker and its lading to external fire impingement. The model was developed as a tool to study the effectiveness of new concepts in thermal protection of tankers. The computer model can simulate a long cylindrical tank filled partially with liquid and partially with vapour exposed to either an engulfing type fire, such as caused by a burning pool, or a torch type fire, such as that caused by a relief valve flare from a neighbouring tank. The model can account for the effects of a number of thermal protection devices such as pressure relief valves, thermal insulation, radiation shielding, temperature sensing relief valves, and novel internal protection devices, including heat dissipating matrices. The model can simulate the effects of roll and pitch of the tank. The computer model is capable of predicting the tank internal pressure, mean lading temperatures, wall temperature distribution, relief valve flow rates, liquid level, tank wall stresses and tank failure all as functions of time from initiation of the fire impingement. The model has been validated by comparing its predictions with the results of numerous fire tests involving full and fifth-scale rail tank-cars exposed to engulfing fires. Several examples of these validation runs are presented and discussed.