Post-accident analysis of vapour cloud explosions in fuel storage areas

A Vapour cloud explosion which occurred in a large fuel storage area close to the harbour of Naples (Italy) was analysed by different methods. Useful 'experimental data' were obtained by the post-accident damage analysis (min imum overpressure experienced by different items) and by the seismograms re corded at different stations at the time of explosion (explosion duration a nd intensity). The analysis of the seismic data allowed a first estimate of the amount of vaporized fuel. A more accurate estimate was obtained by modelling the rate of evaporation of the liquid fuel and the vapour cloud dispersion in the s urrounding atmosphere. The dispersion calculation furnished the input data for the CFD gas explosion simulator AutoReagas and constituted the basis fo r a sensitivity analysis of the results to the amount of fuel involved in t he explosion. The results obtained with the different methods above were critically discu ssed and compared to the results obtained with the Multi-Energy method.