In-Depth Analysis of the Burst of a Liquefied Petroleum Gas Tank in Gravedona, Italy

Abstract

This work presents a comprehensive study of the burst of an LPG tank in Gravedona, Italy. The possible causes of the burst were investigated through analytical methods and numerical simulations. That is, an analytical lumped system analysis was conducted to accurately predict the thermodynamic properties of the LPG–air mixture within the tank during filling operations. Additionally, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were carried out to (i) better capture local effects and (ii) determine if the mixture reached explosive conditions during these operations. The likelihood that possible mechanical defects led to the burst of the tank during filling operations was also evaluated through numerical simulations. The proposed methods were validated against experimental observations, confirming their accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, a specifically developed analytical model was used to describe the tank’s dynamic response after the burst. The results provided a comprehensive understanding of the cause of the burst thanks to the combination of analytical models and numerical simulations. The derived insights not only pinpointed the factors leading to the incident, but also provided valuable perspectives for predicting and preventing similar occurrences.