This may occur when the vapor pressure of a liquid exceeds atmospheric pressure.

This may occur when the vapor pressure of a liquid exceeds atmospheric pressure.

• A. Boiling Point
• B. BLEVE
• C. Vapor lock
• D. Flash point

Answer: (B)

When vapor pressure of a liquid rises above what the container and surroundings can contain, a catastrophic failure can occur: a BLEVE, or Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. In a fire or heating scenario, the liquid inside a pressurized vessel boils as its vapor pressure climbs. The heat and pressure cause rapid vapor generation, and if the vessel walls cannot withstand the internal pressure, the container ruptures. The abrupt release of hot liquid and its vapor expands violently, often creating a powerful explosion and fireball. This is what sets BLEVE apart from ordinary boiling or ignition phenomena. The other terms describe related but different situations—boiling point is simply the temperature at which a liquid boils at a given pressure, vapor lock is a fuel-delivery issue, and the flash point is the temperature where vapors can ignite but does not by itself describe a vessel rupture or explosion.

When vapor pressure of a liquid rises above what the container and surroundings can contain, a catastrophic failure can occur: a BLEVE, or Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. In a fire or heating scenario, the liquid inside a pressurized vessel boils as its vapor pressure climbs. The heat and pressure cause rapid vapor generation, and if the vessel walls cannot withstand the internal pressure, the container ruptures. The abrupt release of hot liquid and its vapor expands violently, often creating a powerful explosion and fireball. This is what sets BLEVE apart from ordinary boiling or ignition phenomena. The other terms describe related but different situations—boiling point is simply the temperature at which a liquid boils at a given pressure, vapor lock is a fuel-delivery issue, and the flash point is the temperature where vapors can ignite but does not by itself describe a vessel rupture or explosion.