LPG Tanker Explosion On Bangkok's Pattanakarn Road

[WarpSpeed]

Good Luck to the BKK Police/Fire fighters

From past experience training pipeline firefighting ones the genie is out the bottle you cannot get it back in the bottle. In other words, ones the gas has a free flow out of the container there is no way you can stop the fire. In this case either a valve or pipe broke off or ruptured giving the gas a free flow path. In the case of LPG, Butane, Propane all in liquid form for transportation and storage one (1) liter liquid form when released turns into 225 liter gaseous form. When out of control, pouring water on it aggravates the situation because it makes the fire float further and further away from the source. Foam is the only correct way to fight this type fire. Only refineries have large enough supply on hand, next are airport firefighting units. City? – LOL.

Actually what is happening is that the blow off valve is functioning properly releasing controlled gas pressure to be burned off gradually and they are keeping the tanker cool to prevent it building too much pressure and overwhelming the valve, all seems to be going according to design and protocols they just need to let it burn off..

Edited March 23, 2012 by WarpSpeed

[rakman]

it is very lucky that the fire can could not be stopped!!!.

In a gas fire or liquid gas fire (like this) : THE ONLY REMEDY IS: DON'T TRY TO STOP THE FIRE BUT LET IT BURN OUT AND CONTROL THE SURROUNDINGS. I am surprised that the fire brigade does not have those instructions??? The photo to me likes a small hole in the tanker, where the gas is coming from ,let it burn

The gas will burn out and the fire extinguish themself if gas is up. When you would stop the fire , stil the gas will spread in a big cloud and no doubt that will find an ignitrion source and the explosion that will follow is 100 timer worse as the fire now. (see 1990 where most likely a great gas cloud had formed and exploded later)

Basically correct in this situation; because there is a finite amount of Product in the Truck.

However there is not a "small hole in the tanker" , this accident initiated a deliberate discharge of Product, as a safety measure, using a Pressure Relief Valve installed in the Truck, specifically designed to allow controlled release as the internal pressure in the Tank increases when incidents such as this occur, and as far as I can see from the various pictures the system seems to have worked quite well.

As Product in the Truck is released it will ignite on contact with flame from whatever outside source is present, but it is a release controlled by the mechanical properties of the Vent - as opposed to a situation where the Product has no escape route until pressure in the Tank builds up to the point where the whole thing explodes resulting a huge fireball and destruction - such as was seen in the earlier 1989 incident.

Patrick

Correct. The article title is a bit misleading as the tanker didn't "explode" like the 1989 disaster did. One giant FAE. Lucky this tanker didn't rupture in the crash.

Keeping the tanker cool with plenty of water keeps the pressure down, preventing a catastrophic release.

Small propane tank leaks, then catches fire, notice how far the guy is thrown when the fire starts. Pressure relief valve vents several times and eventual explosion before the end.

A bit more physics of a BLEVE

I would not want to be in the apartments nearby.

[Tanaka]

LPG Gas Truck Explodes After Accident

It has been reported that the truck driver escaped from the scene as soon as the accident happened.

-- Tan Network 2012-03-23

And normal service has resumed..

I'm confused now, are they still looking for the driver from 1990?

No, the driver in the previous crash died at the scene. It appears that the driver in the latest crash followed standard thai procedures and ran away.

[webfact]

LPG tanker accident revives memories of 1990

The Nation

Plume of fire shot up high in the sky on New Pattanakarn Road from an LPG tanker at dawn yesterday. The vehicle hit into the railing of a concrete bridge and leaked the inflammable gas./ Khanathit Srihirundaj

BANGKOK: -- Many Bangkok residents ran for their lives yesterday morning after an LPG tanker rammed into the railing of a bridge, reminding them of the horrific inferno in 1990 on New Phetchaburi Road that was triggered by a similar accident.

Some, however, were stilling sleeping because the tanker started leaking LPG at dawn on the inbound Pattanakarn Road near the mouth of Soi Pattanakarn 20 and 22. At least two residents were injured, one of them, Buapan Suwansaeng, sustaining serious burns, from an explosion.

Yesterday's incident also shattered the glass windows of five nearby shophouses.

"Fortunately, we are up early every day. Otherwise, we might not have been able to run away in time," Somporn Sibto said.

He said he was alerted when he heard someone talking about an accident and hence went out to check.

"Then, everyone shouted that the accident involved an LPG tanker and that we must run," Somporn said.

Watcharin Boonsawang, 50, said he heard a big bang soon after he woke up at around 5.30am.

"I rushed out and found the driver trying to close the valve of the tanker as the white fumes were spreading fast. I asked him what it was. As soon as he told me it was LPG, I told him we had to run," Watcharin said.

He said he sped for cover and he saw the driver also running soon after.

"Not long after I started running, there was an explosion," Watcharin said. He added that the blast broke many windows of his threestoreyed shophouse.

Watcharin said the haunting memory of the 1990 gastanker accident was vivid when the explosion happened. Back then, the accident caused a deadly fire that devastated 21 city blocks and killed 59 people on the New Phetchaburi Road.

"Fortunately, this time the casualties and losses were not that high," Watcharin said. "The flame soared up and did not spread."

Pol LtGeneral Krissada Khansoda, an investigator at the Klong Tan Police Station, said he immediately called for fire engines when he received a report on the LPGtanker accident.

"We had to control the blaze from the tanker otherwise it could have spread fast. Nearby are shophouses that sell cooking gas and a warehouse of wood," he said.

During the sixhourlong efforts to control the blaze and prevent further explosions, the area around the accident scene was cordoned off. Traffic was paralysed.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Wanlop Suwandee said the tanker ceased to be a risk at around 11.30am after which it was taken away.

"Police will be investigating the accident," he said.

Wanlop believed the owner of the vehicle - Pilatus Land & Transport - would likely be held responsible for the damage and injuries caused.

The tanker driver, Anan Kaema, fled from the scene.

So far, witnesses have told police that the driver swerved his vehicle and hit the railing after a motorcycle cut in front of the tanker.

-- The Nation 2012-03-24

[David006]

I hope there were no more injuries. The last time this happened about 50 people were burned to death in their cars during peak hour traffic after a gas tanker rushed through a right turn. I don't know if any justice was meted out in this case. All the burnt out cars were parked on a street nearby for quite some time afterwards.

Yikes... when and where did that happen? I don't have any recollection of that kind of incident.

Wife tells me there was one about 15+ years ago north of Phuket in a village at an intersection...very bad lots of fatalities...

[BrianCR]

Hi Pay boy regarding your question - I'm confused now, are they still looking for the driver from 1990? .

From what I remember the driver died in the accident as did a group of university students whom i had had the privilege to call friends!

[Thongkorn]

Good Luck to the BKK Police/Fire fighters

From past experience training pipeline firefighting ones the genie is out the bottle you cannot get it back in the bottle. In other words, ones the gas has a free flow out of the container there is no way you can stop the fire. In this case either a valve or pipe broke off or ruptured giving the gas a free flow path. In the case of LPG, Butane, Propane all in liquid form for transportation and storage one (1) liter liquid form when released turns into 225 liter gaseous form. When out of control, pouring water on it aggravates the situation because it makes the fire float further and further away from the source. Foam is the only correct way to fight this type fire. Only refineries have large enough supply on hand, next are airport firefighting units. City? – LOL.

Gas does not float, Propane and Butane expands to 3500 times its volume, Propane is compressed to 120 psi, and Butane 20 psi. As In the picture the only way to control the fire is a controlled burn, Keeping the vessel that's burning cool . If the tank ruptures from the heat it will explode, its called a blevey, go on you tube and see what a blevey is. All Butane and Propane gases should have a stenching in them, (macaptain) so you can smell them. Tanks should not be filled to more than 83 percent to allow for the Ulage, or liquid expansion from the outside air tempriture. most refinerys now use a foam called light water because it expels the oxygen and put the fire out, but it cannot be used in confined spaces where humans are. this is only used on liquid fires.

Edited March 24, 2012 by Thongkorn

[oldsailor35]

Good Luck to the BKK Police/Fire fighters

From past experience training pipeline firefighting ones the genie is out the bottle you cannot get it back in the bottle. In other words, ones the gas has a free flow out of the container there is no way you can stop the fire. In this case either a valve or pipe broke off or ruptured giving the gas a free flow path. In the case of LPG, Butane, Propane all in liquid form for transportation and storage one (1) liter liquid form when released turns into 225 liter gaseous form. When out of control, pouring water on it aggravates the situation because it makes the fire float further and further away from the source. Foam is the only correct way to fight this type fire. Only refineries have large enough supply on hand, next are airport firefighting units. City? – LOL.

Actually what is happening is that the blow off valve is functioning properly releasing controlled gas pressure to be burned off gradually and they are keeping the tanker cool to prevent it building too much pressure and overwhelming the valve, all seems to be going according to design and protocols they just need to let it burn off..

Everything going fine until Bangkok's highly trained firefighters start spraying water on it . I don't see any foam there.

Edited March 25, 2012 by oldsailor35

[WarpSpeed]

Good Luck to the BKK Police/Fire fighters

From past experience training pipeline firefighting ones the genie is out the bottle you cannot get it back in the bottle. In other words, ones the gas has a free flow out of the container there is no way you can stop the fire. In this case either a valve or pipe broke off or ruptured giving the gas a free flow path. In the case of LPG, Butane, Propane all in liquid form for transportation and storage one (1) liter liquid form when released turns into 225 liter gaseous form. When out of control, pouring water on it aggravates the situation because it makes the fire float further and further away from the source. Foam is the only correct way to fight this type fire. Only refineries have large enough supply on hand, next are airport firefighting units. City? – LOL.

Actually what is happening is that the blow off valve is functioning properly releasing controlled gas pressure to be burned off gradually and they are keeping the tanker cool to prevent it building too much pressure and overwhelming the valve, all seems to be going according to design and protocols they just need to let it burn off..

Everything going fine until Bangkok's highly trained firefighters start spraying water on it . I don't see any foam there.

Not only is spraying water on it the proper procedure in this case foam won't dissipate enough heat it is designed to smoother a fire not cool it.. A fire with pressure such as this, foam is useless as it gets blown off at the point of ignition due to the high pressure.

Foam is useful in fires where there is a broad dispersion of a highly flammable fuel source but not if pressure is involved to disperse the foam away from the point of ignition..

The proper way is to keep it cool and let it burn off in a controlled way or at least until the pressure drops to the point of being able to extinguish it safely..

[Dork]

I still have quite a vivid recollection of the 1990 Petchaburi Rd accident. As I recall, the tanker didn't "explode" immediately after it rolled over. Rather, the LPG quickly leaked out and because it is heavier than air it formed an invisible pool over the ground surrounding the gridlocked traffic. Something then caused the gas to ignite enveloping the surrounding area in flames. It must have been truly horrific to be stuck in one of the nearby cars because death wouldn't have come immediately but there was no escape. They couldn't get out of their cars because of the flames and even if there was a way clear out of the traffic jam, because a gas fire consumes all the oxygen, the car engines had stopped running.

I also quite clearly recall that there was a tuktuk involved in the initial accident. Speed was probably a factor (perhaps due to running a red light) but the tanker was cut off by the tuktuk causing the driver to swerve and then roll over. That part always seems to be left out of later reports.

The burned out cars were all moved to nearby Makkasan Rd where they sat for a few months. An image that really sticks in my mind is the cars with alloy wheels simply had blobs of molten aluminium left on the wheel hubs such was the temperature of the fire.

[Valentine]

I hope there were no more injuries. The last time this happened about 50 people were burned to death in their cars during peak hour traffic after a gas tanker rushed through a right turn. I don't know if any justice was meted out in this case. All the burnt out cars were parked on a street nearby for quite some time afterwards.

Yikes... when and where did that happen? I don't have any recollection of that kind of incident.

Wife tells me there was one about 15+ years ago north of Phuket in a village at an intersection...very bad lots of fatalities...

I think it was a petrol tanker that tipped over & then exploded killing about 100 people who had gathered around.