Calculation and Analytical Assessment of a Possibility of Mazut Vapor Fire (Explosion) in Fragments (Parts) of Tankers Destroyed as a Result of Accident in the Kerch Strait in December 2024

For citation.
Vogman L.P., Bolodyan I.A., Dolgikh D.V., Korolchenko D.A. Calculation and Analytical Assessment of a Possibility of Mazut Vapor Fire (Explosion) in Fragments (Parts) of Tankers Destroyed as a Result of Accident in the Kerch Strait in December 2024. Bezopasnost Truda v Promyshlennosti = Occupational Safety in Industry. — 2025. — № 9. — рр. 40-45. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.24000/0409-2961-2025-9-40-45


Annotation:

Potential consequences from the point of view of explosion and fire hazard of a disastrous accident that caused the wreck and destruction of two tankers of sea-river type “Volgoneft-239” and “Volgoneft-212” in the Kerch Strait during a heavy storm, resulting in a spill of 3.700 tons of mazut have been considered. Using well-known dependencies interconnecting the values of the mazut vapor flame lower explosive limits and the relevant data of the pressure of saturated vapors, the generation of fire and explosion hazardous concentrations of these vapors in the air can be determined. According to the calculations, under temperatures close to normal and higher (up to 42 С), the generation of explosive concentrations of mazut vapors is not possible. At the same time, mazut vapor explosions in a confined space (or a partially confined space) are possible when the temperature rises significantly (above 225.9 С), particularly in the case of fire or when entering an ignition source, for example, a burner of a welding machine. Such features of explosion and fire hazard of mazut vapors are conditioned by its very low evaporation rate under normal (or close to normal) temperature. Recommendations to ensure fire safety in case of ignitions and fires of mazut in the fragments (parts) of destroyed tankers for the period of their conservation have been proposed.

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DOI: 10.24000/0409-2961-2025-9-40-45
Year: 2025
Issue num: September
Keywords : accident fire and explosion safety mazut tanker evaporation rate pressure of saturated vapors
Authors:
  • Vogman L.P.
    Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Chief Research Associate, FGBU VNIIPO EMERCOM of Russia, Balashikha, Russian Federation
  • Bolodyan I.A.
    Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Prof., Chief Research Associate, FGBU VNIIPO EMERCOM of Russia, Balashikha, Russian Federation
  • Dolgikh D.V.
    Researcher FGBU VNIIPO EMERCOM of Russia, Balashikha, Russia
  • Korolchenko D.A.
    ikbs@mgsu.ru, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Assoc. Prof., Head of Department, National Research Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, Moscow, Russian Federation Director, Institute of Integrated Safety in Construction, Moscow, Russian Federation