Experimental study on the explosion-resistant performance of blast walls and doors of gas facilities

This study aims to provide experimental data necessary for the validation of the test conditions given in the current standard for high-pressure gas facility KGS FU111. A series of experiments were conducted in a shock tube on 15 specimens (walls and doors) constructed according to the design recommendations in KGS FP112. The design elements of 12 walls are the materials, the thickness, and the holder positions, while the 3 doors were made of steel plates with different types and structures. The shock tube tester used in dividual specimens were exposed to blast overpressure of 0.11 or 0.17 MPa. From the acquired data and visual inspection, we conclude that the current designs of blast mitigation for high-pressure gas-storage facilities in KGS FP112 are acceptable for an accidental overpressure of up to 0.17 MPa, provided that both sides of the wall are supported by auxiliary structures such as adjacent barriers. Furthermore, the walls and doors as in KGS FP112 show comparable protection performances. Nevertheless, recommendations for doors are as follows: it may require additional latches and remain closed, and when designing the facility, the doorway may be located in a place with less possibility of direct exposure to the overpressure.