638-639 / 975
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23 July 1984, an Oil refinery, Illinois, suffered an
explosion and a fire.
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Seventeen people were killed.
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Damage was estimated to be over $100 million.
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Explosion caused by the ignition of a propane and
butane cloud that had leaked from the vessel.
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Prior to the explosion an operator noticed gas escaping
from a horizontal crack near the bottom of the vessel.
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The crack grew and he initiated evacuation of the area.
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As the fire fighters arrived, the column cracked further
and a large amount of gas was released.
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The gas ignited and the explosion sent the upper part
of the tower into the air, landing over a mile away.
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How effective would low pressure detection have
been ??
Pressure vessel example