Natural Gas Pipeline Rupture and Fire Tests

Experiments were performed in the gas release test facility at Area 3 of the remote test site to evaluate the hazards associated with fires and explosions resulting from accidental release of natural gas. The experiments included pipe ruptures with and without gas ignition, balanced and unbalanced gas flows from the two pipe ends next to the rupture, and pipe ruptures with and without soil covering the test pipe section. The test pipe was ruptured with an explosive cutting charge and the flame ignited with a pyrotechnic flare. Flow and incident thermal radiation measurements were made in addition to measurements of flame dimensions and profiles from video and cine films. These measurements were combined to determine the emissive power of the flame.