• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.257-263
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• 2008

We have examined explosion characteristics of bituminous coal dusts in cement manufacturing process. In order to find the thermal properties, we investigated weight loss and ignition temperature of coal materials using TGA and DSC. Also specific surface area of dust was investigated. Dust explosion experiments with Hartman's dust explosion apparatus have been conducted by varying concentration and size of coal dust for explosion probability and lower limit explosion concentration. According to the results for thermal properties, there is a little change by dust size. However, the specific surface area of dust is increased by decreasing dust size. The explosion test results show that small size and increasing concentration of dusts make dust explosion easier. And we find that the lower limit explosion concentration of bituminous coal is $0.3mg/cm^3$ and the probability is 100% on $0.9mg/cm^3$ in 170/200 mesh used in cement manufacturing process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.5-16
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• 1988

This study is conducted to evaluate the explosion of tolune storage tank in the petrochemical plant by Fault Tree Analysis. The conclusions are as follows; 1) Fault Tree diagram and the required computer program for evaluation of explosion accident is developed. 2) The probability of the top event, explosion accident, is $1.5\;{\times}\;10^{-8}$ per year, so there is almost no possibility of explosion during the life cycle of tank. However, the probability of Gate 6 and Gate 7 is 8.8 per month, therefore, attention should be paid to them for accident prevention. 3) The number of minimal cut sets is 67 sets which are not calculated the probability of each set, because of the lack of computer capacity. All the minimal cut sets should be examined case by case. However, it is necessary to be paid attention to COM1, 126, 131, and COM4 in minimal cut sets, because the number of appearance is so high. 4) The number path sets is 70 sets which are not calculated the probability of each set, because of the lack of computer capacity. It is very useful to prepare safety checklist by using this minimal path sets. Also, the events which appear many times, 123, COM5, 139, 127 and 128, are very high in reliability.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2023

On August 4, 2020, 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored in a storage warehouse at the Port of Beirut exploded. This explosion is said to be the largest ammonium nitrate explosion ever. By applying the TNT equivalency method, TNT equivalent amount corresponding to the explosion energy of 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate was calculated, and it is found to be 856 tons. Overpressure and impulse were calculated in a range up to 3600 m from the blast using the Kingery-Bulmash explosion parameter calculator tool. As the distance from the explosion center increases, the overpressure and impulse decrease exponentially, but the overpressure decreases more significantly, showing that overpressure is more affected by distance than the impact. As a result of applying the damage criteria to evaluate the effects of overpressure and impulse on the structure, the critical distances at which partial collapse, major damage, and minor damage to the structure occur are found to be approximately 500, 800, and 2200 m from the center of the explosion, respectively. The probit function was applied to evaluate the probability of damage to structures and human body. The points where the probability of collapse, major damage, minor damage, and breakage of window-panes to structures are greater than 50% are found to be approximately 500, 810, 2200, and 3200 m, respectively. For people within 200 m from the center of the explosion, the probability of death due to lung damage is more than 99%, and the 50% probability of eardrum rupture is approximately 300 m. The points with a 100% probability of death due to skull rupture and whole body impact due to whole body displacement are evaluated to be 300 and 100 m, respectively.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2008

Hydrogen production facility using very high temperature gas cooled reactor lies in situation of high temperature and corrosion which makes hydrogen release easily. In that case of hydrogen release, there lies a danger of explosion. However, from the point of thermal-hydraulics view, the long distance of them makes lower efficiency result. In this study, therefore, outlines of hydrogen production using nuclear energy are researched. Several methods for analyzing the effects of hydrogen explosion upon high temperature gas cooled reactor are reviewed. Reliability physics model which is appropriate for assessment is used. Using this model, leakage probability, rupture probability and structure failure probability of very high temperature gas cooled reactor are evaluated and classified by detonation volume and distance. Also based on standard safety criteria which is value of $1{\times}10^{-6}$, safety distance between the very high temperature gas cooled reactor and the hydrogen production facility is calculated.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

This paper employs stochastic processing techniques to analyze explosion risks in plant facilities based on explosion return periods. Release probability is calculated using data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), along with annual leakage frequency per plant provided by DNV. Ignition probability, derived from various researchers' findings, is then considered to calculate the explosion return period based on the release quantity. The explosion risk is assessed by examining the volume, radius, and blast load of the vapor cloud, taking into account the calculated explosion return period. The reference distance for the design blast load model is determined by comparing and analyzing the vapor cloud radius according to the return period, historical vapor cloud explosion cases, and blast-resistant design guidelines. Utilizing the multi-energy method, the blast load range corresponding to the explosion return period is presented. The proposed return period serves as a standard for the design blast load model, established through a comparative analysis of vapor cloud explosion cases and blast-resistant design guidelines. The outcomes of this study contribute to the development of a performance-based blast-resistant design framework for plant facilities.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.299-308
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• 2000

A safety assessment of reactor vessel lower head integrity under in-vessel vapor explosion loads has been performed. The core melt relocation parameters were chosen within the ranges of physically realizable bounds. The premixing and explosion calculations were performed using TRACER-II code. Using the calculated explosion pressures imposed on the lower head inner wall, strain calculations were peformed using ANSYS code. Then, the calculated strain results and the established failure criteria were used in determining the failure probability of the lower head, In the explosion analyses, it is shown that the explosion impulses are not altered significantly by the uncertain parameters of triggering location and time, fuel and vapor volume fractions in uniform premixture bounding calculations. Strain analyses show that the vapor explosion-induced lower head failure is not possible under the present framework of assessment. The result of static analysis using the conservative explosion-end pressure of 50 MPa also supports the conclusion. It is recommended, however, that an assessment of fracture mechanics for preexisting cracks be also considered to obtain a more concrete conclusion.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.10-16
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• 2019

Information on overpressure, positive phase duration, and impulse are required to assess the effects of shock waves or pressure waves on the structure. In this study, the overpressure and positive phase duration were determined by applying the Multi-Energy Method, which is found to be effective in analyzing the explosion of vapor clouds. Based on the total heat of combustion estimated in the cyclohexane vapor cloud explosion in the Nypro Ltd(UK), overpressure and positive phase duration at the distance of 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240, 280, 320, 360(m) from the source of explosion were evaluated. Overpressure was shown to decrease exponentially and positive phase duration increased almost linearly with distance. A probit function was used to assess the probability of damages for the structures at each distance using the overpressure and impact obtained at the above mentioned distances. The Analyses of probability of damages have shown that there is a high probability of collapse at distances within 120m, major damage to structures within 240m, and minor damage and breakage of window panes of structures occur over the entire distances.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1995.05a
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• pp.509-516
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• 1995

The uncertainty analysis for the in-vessel steam explosion during severe accidents at a nuclear power plant is performed using a probabilistic approach. This approach consists of four steps; 1) screening, 2) quantification of uncertainty 3) propagation of uncertainty, and 4) output analysis. And the specific methods which satisfy the sub-objectives of each step are prepared and presented. Compared with existing ones, the unique feature of this approach is the improved estimation of uncertainties through quantification, which ensures the defensibility of the resultant failure probability distributions. Using the approach, the containment failure probability due to in-vessel steam explosion is calculated. The results of analysis show that 1) pour diameter is the most dominant factor and slug condensed phase fraction is the least and 2) fraction of core molten is the second most dominant factor, which is identified as distinct feature of this study as compared with previous studies.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.289-300
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• 2020

Estimating the damage induced by an explosion around a blast hole has always been a challenging issue in geotechnical engineering. It is difficult to determine an exact dimension for damage zone since many parameters are involved in the formation of failures, and there are some uncertainties lying in these parameters. Thus, the present study adopted a probabilistic approach towards this problem. First, a reliability model of the problem was established and the failure probability of induced damage was calculated. Then, the corresponding exceedance risk curve was developed indicating the relation between the failure probability and the cracked zone radius. The obtained risk curve indicated that the failure probability drops dramatically by increasing the cracked zone radius so that the probability of exceedance for any crack length greater than 4.5 m is less than 5%. Moreover, the effect of each parameter involved in the probability of failure, including blast hole radius, explosive density, detonation velocity, and tensile strength of the rock, was evaluated by using a sensitivity analysis. Finally, the impact of the decoupling ratio on the reduction of failures was investigated and the location of its maximum influence was demonstrated around the blast point.

• Journal of Ship and Ocean Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2005

Survivability improvement method for naval ship design has been continually developed. In order to design naval ships considering survivability, it is demanded that designers should establish reasonable damage conditions by air explosion. Explosion may induce local damage as well as global collapse to the ship. Therefore possible damage conditions should be realistically estimated in the design stage. In this study the authors used ALE technique, one of the structure-fluid interaction techniques, to simulate air explosion and investigated survival capability of damaged naval ships. Lagrangian-Eulerian coupling algorithm, equation of the state for explosive and air, and simple calculation method for explosive loading were also reviewed. It is shown that air explosion analysis using ALE technique can evaluate structural damage after being attacked. This procedure can be applied to the real structural design quantitatively by calculating surviving time and probability.