Analysis of the Accidental Explosion at Pepcon, Henderson, Nevada, May 4, 1988
Title | Analysis of the Accidental Explosion at Pepcon, Henderson, Nevada, May 4, 1988 PDF eBook |
Author | Jack W. Reed |
Publisher | |
Pages | 0 |
Release | 1988 |
Genre | Ammonium perchlorate |
ISBN |
Analysis of the Accidental Explosion at Pepcon, Henderson, Nevada, May 4, 1988
Title | Analysis of the Accidental Explosion at Pepcon, Henderson, Nevada, May 4, 1988 PDF eBook |
Author | Jack W. Reed |
Publisher | |
Pages | 114 |
Release | 1988 |
Genre | Chemical plants |
ISBN |
Analysis of the Accidential Explosion at PEPCON, Henderson, Nevada, May 4, 1988
Title | Analysis of the Accidential Explosion at PEPCON, Henderson, Nevada, May 4, 1988 PDF eBook |
Author | |
Publisher | |
Pages | 62 |
Release | 1988 |
Genre | |
ISBN |
Several hours of fire and numerous explosions destroyed the Pacific Engineering Company plant in Henderson, Nevada, that manufactured ammonium perchlorate (AP) for rocket fuel. This incident began about 1130 PDT on May 4, 1988, with a fire in their Batch House that grew out of control and caused a first large explosion at about 1153 PDT. The final and largest explosion occurred about 1157 PDT. Damages to the surrounding community were surveyed and interpreted as airblast overpressures versus distances, which allowed an estimate of 1-kiloton nuclear free-air-burst for the equivalent explosion yield. This could be reproduced by 250-tons TNT burst on the ground surface. Weather reports were obtained from the National Weather Services which indicated somewhat enhanced airblast propagation downwind toward northerly directions and attenuated airblast propagations upwind in southerly directions. It was impossible, for lack of winds aloft information below about 500 m above ground, to determine whether there was any atmospheric acoustic airblast focusing. Several seismic recordings in Las Vegas showed the greatest ground motion resulted from the airblast wave passage, traveling at near acoustic speed. Ground wave arrival times were not sufficiently precise to allow seismic speed interpretations. Of the 4000 tons of AP apparently stored in and around the plant, it appears that about 1500 tons detonated in the largest explosion. This leads to a conclusion that the TNT airblast equivalence factor for AP is near 1/6. An independent estimate, based on analysis of more ideal close-in structural deformations, suggested an equivalence factor of 1/3.
Injuries from the PEPCON Explosion (1988) and Other Incidents
Title | Injuries from the PEPCON Explosion (1988) and Other Incidents PDF eBook |
Author | |
Publisher | |
Pages | 15 |
Release | 1994 |
Genre | |
ISBN |
An explosion at the PEPCON ammonium-perchlorate plant on May 4, 1988, in Henderson, Nevada, broke more than 10,000 windows and caused over $70 million damages to the Henderson-Las Vegas communities. A lawsuit by a conglomerate of insurors led to "discovery" of 77 claims for various injuries. Most of the 306 people treated at hospitals did not participate in this suit; their injury costs were apparently paid by medical insurance and not incorporated into the combined damage claim. Their records could not be obtained for analysis because of patient privacy considerations. Nevertheless, their number from the newspapers could be compared to window damage claims to show roughly one laceration victim per 100 broken window panes. Damage analyses led to a determination that the equivalent TNT yield of the largest and most damaging explosion was about 250 tons, surface burst. Weather conditions and glass damage claims were combined to provide a plan map of overpressure isobars for comparison with injury claims from the lawsuit. A number of examples are compared to results from other incidents.
The PEPCON Disaster, Henderson, Nevada, May 4, 1988
Title | The PEPCON Disaster, Henderson, Nevada, May 4, 1988 PDF eBook |
Author | United Steelworkers of America |
Publisher | |
Pages | 53 |
Release | 1989 |
Genre | Disasters |
ISBN |
Energy Research Abstracts
Title | Energy Research Abstracts PDF eBook |
Author | |
Publisher | |
Pages | 840 |
Release | 1990 |
Genre | Power resources |
ISBN |
Safety Design for Space Operations
Title | Safety Design for Space Operations PDF eBook |
Author | Firooz Allahdadi |
Publisher | Butterworth-Heinemann |
Pages | 1071 |
Release | 2013-03-24 |
Genre | Technology & Engineering |
ISBN | 0080969224 |
Endorsed by the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) and drawing on the expertise of the world's leading experts in the field, Safety Design for Space Operations provides the practical how-to guidance and knowledge base needed to facilitate effective launch-site and operations safety in line with current regulations. With information on space operations safety design currently disparate and difficult to find in one place, this unique reference brings together essential material on: - Best design practices relating to space operations, such as the design of spaceport facilities. - Advanced analysis methods, such as those used to calculate launch and re-entry debris fall-out risk. - Implementation of safe operation procedures, such as on-orbit space traffic management. - Safety considerations relating to the general public and the environment in addition to personnel and asset protection. Taking in launch operations safety relating unmanned missions, such as the launch of probes and commercial satellites, as well as manned missions, Safety Design for Space Operations provides a comprehensive reference for engineers and technical managers within aerospace and high technology companies, space agencies, spaceport operators, satellite operators and consulting firms. - Fully endorsed by the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS), with contributions from leading experts at NASA, the European Space Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), amongst others - Covers all aspects of space operations relating to safety of the general public, as well as the protection of valuable assets and the environment - Focuses on launch operations safety relating to manned and unmanned missions, such as the launch of probes and commercial satellites