Ricerc@Sapienza

A simplified mathematical model representing the dynamic response of a tank containing a pressurized liquefied gas exposed to an external heat source, is presented. This scenario is of great practical interest in the process industry because it can result in the catastrophic failure of the tank with the explosive vaporization of the stored material (Boiling-Liquid Expanding-Vapour Explosion, BLEVE).

Lithium ion rechargeable batteries represent an energy storage technology already commonly used in a number of applications (mobile cellular phones, laptops, etc.), and will play an even increasingly important role in the next future. However, a number of past accidents have raised concern about their reliability and safety, and thus delayed their introduction in larger and more strategic systems like the main electrical network or large photovoltaic power systems.