EVALUATION OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS RELEASE OF THE CULINARY LABORATORY BY ALOHA AND GOOGLE EARTH IN A UNIVERSITY, PATHUM THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG is classified as highly flammable which typically causes fire and gas explosion. It may concern adverse health effects, such as severe burns on skin, asphyxiation and death. The purpose of this study is to investigate scenarios of LPG releasing and explosion from compressed LPG cylinder (weight 48 kg, 5 tanks) leakage from the culinary laboratory by using the ALOHA software and Google Earth in three seasons. The results showed that the winter weather could induce the maximum leakage level at ERPG-3 (33,000 ppm of LPG), ERPG-2 (17,000 ppm of LPG) and ERPG-1 (5,500 ppm of LPG) at 194, 325 and 620 meters of distribution radius respectively. The distribution direction predicted was in the northeast direction of generation source. In rainy season, the vapor cloud leakage pattern was illustrated when the upper (60%LEL) and lower explosion limits (10%LEL) was in the range of 2,100-12,600 ppm. At this condition, the distribution radius could reach 55-137 meters. The simulation results also revealed that the summer condition could induce fires and explosions. The explosions could be a jet fire with 4 meters of fire height that can be lethal potential to the people who would be in the 10 meters of radius. The explosion of BLEVE was also presented in the summer which can create the fire with 8 meters of diameter and the thermal radiation intensity, 10 kw/m2, can expand to 45 meters of long distance. It could be a potential lethal death for people who exposes to this thermal effect for more than 60 seconds and can destroy the building structure. These results pointed that the case study area should conduct the emergency response plan which covers the LPG leakage levels at ERPG-1, 2 and 3 conditions. The Level of Concern (LOC) in compassing with the thermal effects should be set, monitored and controlled to reduce the exposure risk and prevent health effects. This study can be applied to nearby communities or other cases settlings to initiate their emergency plan responding to the risks from similar aspects.