Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion
Explosion of a vessel containing liquid above and beyond boiling point
Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion
A boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE; BLEV-ee) is an explosion caused by the rupture of a vessel containing a pressurized liquid that has attained a temperature sufficiently higher than its boiling point at atmospheric pressure. Because the boiling point of a liquid rises with pressure, the contents of the pressurized vessel can remain a liquid as long as the vessel is intact. If the vessel's integrity is compromised, the loss of pressure drops the boiling point, which can cause a portion of the liquid to boil and form a cloud of rapidly expanding vapor. BLEVEs are manifestations of explosive boiling. If the vapor is flammable (as is the case with compounds such as hydrocarbons and alcohols) and comes in contact with an ignition source, further damage can be caused by the ensuing explosion and fireball. However, BLEVEs do not necessarily involve fire.
Read on Wikipedia · Image U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Public domain
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