When a pressurized tanker fails violently due to over-pressurizing, the phenomenon is called

When a pressurized tanker fails violently due to over-pressurizing, the phenomenon is called

• A. Relief vent
• B. Vapor explosion
• C. Tank rupture
• D. BLEVE

Answer: (D)

BLEVE stands for Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. It describes a violent failure of a container holding a liquid under pressure when the vessel ruptures as the liquid inside boils and rapidly turns into expanding vapor. The internal pressure or heat weakens the tank, causing a rupture, and the hot liquid plus its flash-vapor blast out in an explosive event. If the released vapor ignites, a large fireball can follow. A relief vent is a safety feature designed to prevent this kind of rupture by releasing pressure; a vapor explosion is a related hazard from rapid vaporization but not the specific vessel failure described here; tank rupture is the rupture event itself, but BLEVE specifically links the rupture to boiling liquid and expanding vapor. So the described violent tank failure due to over-pressurizing is a BLEVE.

BLEVE stands for Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. It describes a violent failure of a container holding a liquid under pressure when the vessel ruptures as the liquid inside boils and rapidly turns into expanding vapor. The internal pressure or heat weakens the tank, causing a rupture, and the hot liquid plus its flash-vapor blast out in an explosive event. If the released vapor ignites, a large fireball can follow. A relief vent is a safety feature designed to prevent this kind of rupture by releasing pressure; a vapor explosion is a related hazard from rapid vaporization but not the specific vessel failure described here; tank rupture is the rupture event itself, but BLEVE specifically links the rupture to boiling liquid and expanding vapor. So the described violent tank failure due to over-pressurizing is a BLEVE.