Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
(OP)
Hi all,
Do you have any idea on how to securely mount a compressed air tank to make the structure blast-resistance? i.e. it doesnt fail even the tank explodes. The tank is rated at 4500 psi, 50cu. From what perspectives I can improve my design to secure the tank and analyze the loading in the case of explosion? Thanks a lot if anyone can provide any advice:)
Do you have any idea on how to securely mount a compressed air tank to make the structure blast-resistance? i.e. it doesnt fail even the tank explodes. The tank is rated at 4500 psi, 50cu. From what perspectives I can improve my design to secure the tank and analyze the loading in the case of explosion? Thanks a lot if anyone can provide any advice:)





RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
Cheers,
gr2vessels
RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
The violent release of pressure from the 4500 psig tank must be either gradually relieved (through the relief valve to a vent pipe best of all away from the tank itself and the fire (??) around the tank;
or
the tank and its square plate must be surrounded by a very, very thick wall "blast shield" with an "open roof" so the explosive force (the vented energy from the compressed or flammable fluid as it heats up from fire) goes "up" into the air above the tank. Assumes an outdoor location obviously. This vented enclosure has been used for explosive factories since before DuPont.
The square plate now used is sufficient to prevent the tank from falling over - unless run into by a vehicle of some kind.
Looking at the image above again:
The steel PLATE at the bottom won't be likely to fall over, but the two little bitty sheetmetal angles are only mounted with two screws each to the small (wood?) square, then those angles are mounted by two more screws to the skinny sheetmetal (al ?) vertical members, which are then tie-wrapped to the other vertical.
So that total assembly as a whole is very, very weak against side loads, impact loads, or being kicked over by a passing pedestrian.
As above, you cannot put the PV into a bigger PV and expect to improve safety. You CAN direct the vented gasses from the relief valve somewhere else that is safer, and you can direct the "blast" fragments and pressure wave safely "up" towards free space if outdoors. You should improve the physical mounting with something more than sheet metal bands and wood screws.
RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
Cheers,
gr2vessels
RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
2. What is the diameter and height of the "50 cu" tank?
RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
Regards,
Mike
The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand
RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
Thanks for the kind input. The tank is basically a 50 cubic inch carbon fibre tank charged to 4500 psi, 12 cm in diameter and 20cm in height including the regulator. The tank carries compressed air and I have converted its internal energy to TNT equivalent, it is 15g TNT after conversion. The compressed air tank will be used to supply air flow in a space propulsion ground test facility. My supervisor has informed me about the safety precautions and one of the important precaution is, the tank must be properly mounted so even in the case of tank explosion, the mounting structure will not become flying fragments.
In the drawing above, I secure it with a bent that can be easily bought in hardware shop, and a thin bar with ring hose clamp. I didnt work out the specific dimension but Im trying to look up blast theory to determine the material and dimension. But apparently the mounting structure is not well designed. For example, its better to have a one whole piece of bent instead of a bent plus a thin bar in terms of structural integrity. Apart from that, i have no idea how to improve the mounting structure design though. So could you give me some advice on that?
RE: Blast Loading on Pressure Vessels Mounting Structure
Cheers,
gr2vessels