Train crashes and explodes

[The Riddler]

Northern Italy: 10 dead so far, train appears to have/of? disrailed, then suffered an explosion caused by LPG leaking from the crashed train.

Looking like a sad day, with the Yemeni Place crash, and now this.



Sky News

So how safe is LPG? Was this purely a freak accident?

[sadako]

LPG is as safe as petrol pretty much, even when the tank gets caught in a fire it tends to release a flare from the safety valve instead of exploding as there usually isn't any oxygen in the tank to cause an explosion with, unlike a petrol tank. This is why the cars used on the attempted Glasgow airport attack didn't explode as the attacker had not removed the safety valve. The safety systems can be damaged in a crash like this however, or the tank could be split by the impact.

[Olf]

LPG is wicked stuff and a nasty scenario can arise called BLEVE (boiling liquid Expanding vapour explosion) which can be hugely destructive. Check out you tube. It's not a rare occurence, one of the worst was Mexico City in 84 when 500 people were killed. Not to be confused with LNG which has totally different characteristics .

[elster]

sadako said:

LPG is as safe as petrol pretty much, even when the tank gets caught in a fire it tends to release a flare from the safety valve instead of exploding as there usually isn't any oxygen in the tank to cause an explosion with, unlike a petrol tank. This is why the cars used on the attempted Glasgow airport attack didn't explode as the attacker had not removed the safety valve. The safety systems can be damaged in a crash like this however, or the tank could be split by the impact.

LPG is no where near as safe as petrol!!!

[Olf]

elster said:

LPG is no where near as safe as petrol!!!

Correct. BLEVE can overcome the safety valves no problem.

[Invisible man]

And China

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/latest-world-new...

And Washington

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/06...

[Nickyboy]

Olf said:

LPG is wicked stuff and a nasty scenario can arise called BLEVE (boiling liquid Expanding vapour explosion) which can be hugely destructive. Check out you tube. It's not a rare occurence, one of the worst was Mexico City in 84 when 500 people were killed. Not to be confused with LNG which has totally different characteristics .

Kinda like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf3WKTwHpIU

Explosion blew the tank car 3/4 of a mile

[Mojocvh]

Nickyboy said:

Olf said:

LPG is wicked stuff and a nasty scenario can arise called BLEVE (boiling liquid Expanding vapour explosion) which can be hugely destructive. Check out you tube. It's not a rare occurence, one of the worst was Mexico City in 84 when 500 people were killed. Not to be confused with LNG which has totally different characteristics .

Kinda like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf3WKTwHpIU

Explosion blew the tank car 3/4 of a mile

Holy S...! the second blast was even worse, and they just wheel this stuff around willy lilly!!!!!