My question:
How much water flow in GPM is necessary to cool a 1,000 gallon LPG tank that is involved in a pool fire to prevent it from experiencing a BLEVE?
Their answer…
Google Gemini is learning who I am!
Given your work with SAFTENG.net, you likely know that while 55 GPM is the "engineering" minimum for fixed systems, the NFPA 58 and API 2510 standards emphasize that if you cannot apply water effectively to the vapor space almost immediately, the risk of shell failure remains high regardless of the flow rate.
To prevent a Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) in a 1,000-gallon LPG tank involved in a pool fire, the required water flow is determined by the tank’s surface area and the application density specified by safety standards.
- Calculation Parameters
According to NFPA 15 (Standard for Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire Protection) and API 2510 (Design and Construction of LPG Installations), the standard cooling rate for vessels exposed to fire is 0.25 GPM/sq. ft. of the total vessel surface area.