Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Division of Systems Safety and Analysis

Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

CHAPTER 15. ESTIMATING PRESSURE INCREASE AND EXPLOSIVE ENERGY

RELEASE ASSOCIATED WITH EXPLOSIONS
Version 1805.0
The following calculations estimate the pressure and energy due to an explosion in a confined space.
Parameters in YELLOW CELLS are Entered by the User.
Parameters in GREEN CELLS are Automatically Selected from the DROP DOWN MENU for the Fuel Selected.
All subsequent output values are calculated by the spreadsheet and based on values specified in the input
parameters. This spreadsheet is protected and secure to avoid errors due to a wrong entry in a cells(s).
The chapter in the NUREG should be read before an analysis is made.

INPUT PARAMETERS
EXPLOSIVE FUEL INFORMATION
Adiabatic Flame Temperature of the Fuel ((T ad)
Heat of Combustion of the Fuel (Hc)
Yield (), i.e., the fraction of available combustion
1 percent for unconfined mass release and 100
percent for confined vapor release energy
participating in blast wave generation
Mass of Flammable Vapor Release (mF)
Ambient Air Temperature (Ta)
Initial Atmospheric Pressure (Pa)

THERMAL PROPERTIES FOR FUELS

FLAMMABILITY DATA FOR FUELS

Fuel

Adiabatic Flame Temperature

Tad (F)

Acetylene
Carbon Monoxide
Ethane
Ethylene
Hydrogen
Methane
n-Butane
n-Heptane
n-Pentane
n-Octane
Propane
Propylene
User Specified Vlaue

4779
4329
2244
4152
4085
2143
2442
2586
2356
2478
2338
4050
Enter Value

Reference: SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 2nd Edition, 1995, Page 1-86.

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

METHOD OF ZALOSH
Reference: SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, 2nd Edition, 1995, Page 3-312.

Pressure Rise from an Confined Explosion

(Pmax)/Pa = (Tad/Ta)
Where

Pmax = maximum pressure developed at completion of combustion (kPa)

Pa = initial atmospheric pressure (kPa)
Tad = adiabatic flame temperature (K)
Ta = ambient temperature (K)

Pmax = (Tad/Ta) Pa
Pmax =

528.57 kPa

Blast Wave Energy Calculation

E = Hc mF
Where
E = blast wave energy (kJ) [E is the Trinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalent energy]
= yield ( is the fraction of available combustion energy participating in blast wave
Hc = heat of combustion (kJ/kg)
mF = mass of flammable vapor release (kg)
E=

1011490.91 kJ

TNT Mass Equivalent Calculation

W TNT = E/4500
Where

W TNT = weight of TNT (kg)

E = explosive energy release (kJ)

WTNT =

224.78 kg

NOTE
The above calculations are based on principles developed in the SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection
Engineering, 2nd Edition, 1995.
Calculations are based on certain assumptions and have inherent limitations. The results of such
calculations may or may not have reasonable predictive capabilities for a given situation, and should
only be interpreted by an informed user.
Although each calculation in the spreadsheet has been verified with the results of hand calculation,
there is no absolute guarantee of the accuracy of these calculations.
Any questions, comments, concerns, and suggestions, or to report an error(s) in the spreadsheet,
please send an email to nxi@nrc.gov or mxs3@nrc.gov.

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

Prepared by:

Date

Checked by:

Date

Additional Information

Revision Log
Description of Revision
1805.0
Original issue with final text.

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

E AND EXPLOSIVE ENERGY

sion in a confined space.

P DOWN MENU for the Fuel Selected.

on values specified in the input
o a wrong entry in a cells(s).

2338

1281.11 C
1554.11 K

46360
100.00

kJ/kg
%

48.00

lb

21.82 kg

77.00

25.00 C
298.00 K

14.70 psi

101.35 kPa

Calculate

Heat of Combustion
Hc (kJ/kg)

Select Fuel Type

48,220
10,100
47,490
47,170
130,800
50,030
45,720
44,560
44,980
44,440
46,360
45,790
Enter Value

Scroll to desired fuel type then

Click on selection

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

at completion of combustion (kPa)

76.66 psi

Answer

rinitrotoluene (TNT) equivalent energy]

combustion energy participating in blast wave generation)

957983.04 Btu

495.55 lb

Answer

Answer

the SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection

erent limitations. The results of such

abilities for a given situation, and should

ed with the results of hand calculation,

report an error(s) in the spreadsheet,

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Division of Systems Safety and Analysis
Plant Systems Branch
Fire Protection Engineering and Special Projects Section

Organization
Organization

Date
January 2004