Reliability of cylindrical tank exposed to fire

Abstract

The paper presents a methodology for assessment the reliability of tank due to typical accidents. The aim of the research is to identify fracture lines and shapes of fragments generated by tank explosions. Accident scenarios and their probabilities are defined with Event Tree Analysis (ETA). Static structural analysis of the tank is realized by the software package ANSYS 15. The probabilistic mass method (PMM) was used to assessment the shape of the fragments. The assessment of the reliability of the tank affected by the fire was carried out according to Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). Verification of the results obtained was made according to available accidents. It has been found that the construction of the tank and especially the type of end caps affects the fragmentation pattern, i.e. the shape of fragments created by explosion. The results of the research are practically usable during the design of the tank because they provide information that is not contained in EN 13445-3.