What are the characteristics following an explosion from a leaking propane cylinder?
If you are referring to an explosion of vapor that leaked from a propane cylinder, that is much different than the cylinder itself exploding. Flash fires of propane vapor are common. Typically a small or large leak of propane creates a cloud of vapor that gets to a source of ignition and you have a rapid burning of that vapor. Heat radiation and a substantial pressure wave can occur. I once saw a guy blown out of a pool shed ( and his shoes!) from an explosion of gas leaking from a 400,000 btu pool heater. He got up and walked away…Shaken, but otherwise unhurt… When a propane vessel explodes, which is very rare!, you have a much more serious situation on your hands! The recent fire in Toronto was probably started by a liquid or vapour leak that got a source of ignition. But then pressure vessels began to fail. The biggest explosion was a large tank that suffered what is called a “BLEVE”…A boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion. To understand a bleve, you must realize a few pro
