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Self-Acting Formation of an ANFO Similar Type of Explosive under Fire Conditions: A Case Study

Author

Listed:
  • Paweł Wolny

    (Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Łódź University of Technology, 90-924 Łódź, Poland)

  • Norbert Tuśnio

    (Faculty of Safety Engineering and Civil Protection, The Main School of Fire Service, 01-629 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Artur Lewandowski

    (Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Łódź University of Technology, 90-924 Łódź, Poland)

  • Filip Mikołajczyk

    (Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Łódź University of Technology, 90-924 Łódź, Poland)

  • Sławomir Kuberski

    (Faculty of Process and Environmental Engineering, Łódź University of Technology, 90-924 Łódź, Poland)

Abstract

On 2 October 2003 in Saint-Romain-en-Jarez (France) a fire in a farm building triggered an explosion in which 26 people were injured. Police investigation, based solely on an analysis of the effects and on general engineering knowledge, showed that the explosion was caused by an uncontrollably generated mixture of ammonium nitrate (AN) and molten plastic crates which formed an explosive mixture similar to ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO). This is the only commonly known example of an ammonium nitrate blast taking place at its end user destination. Is such an explanation of the incident plausible and could a similar blast possibly happen anywhere else? The experimental results support this thesis of French investigators but raise further doubts. Laboratory reconstruction of the self-acting process of generating the explosive material confirmed the investigators’ report. However, other materials at the incident site could have influenced the final outcome too. The lab-recreated explosion of a mixture of AN and molten plastic partially confirmed the report’s thesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Paweł Wolny & Norbert Tuśnio & Artur Lewandowski & Filip Mikołajczyk & Sławomir Kuberski, 2021. "Self-Acting Formation of an ANFO Similar Type of Explosive under Fire Conditions: A Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:21:p:6980-:d:663796
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrzej Biessikirski & Suzana Gotovac Atlagić & Mateusz Pytlik & Łukasz Kuterasiński & Michał Dworzak & Michał Twardosz & Dagmara Nowak-Senderowska & Bogna Daria Napruszewska, 2021. "The Influence of Microstructured Charcoal Additive on ANFO’s Properties," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    2. Andrzej Biessikirski & Dominik Czerwonka & Jolanta Biegańska & Łukasz Kuterasiński & Magdalena Ziąbka & Michał Dworzak & Michał Twardosz, 2020. "Research on the Possible Application of Polyolefin Waste-Derived Pyrolysis Oils for ANFO Manufacturing," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Suzana Gotovac Atlagic & Andrzej Biessikirski & Łukasz Kuterasiński & Michał Dworzak & Michał Twardosz & Niki Sorogas & John Arvanitidis, 2020. "On the Investigation of Microstructured Charcoal as an ANFO Blasting Enhancer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-13, September.
    4. Andrzej Biessikirski & Łukasz Kuterasiński & Michał Dworzak & Michał Twardosz & Maciej Tatko & Bogna Daria Napruszewska, 2020. "On the Influence of the Ammonium Nitrate(V) Provenance on Its Usefulness for the Manufacture of ANFO Type Explosives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-11, September.
    5. Andrzej Biessikirski & Mateusz Pytlik & Łukasz Kuterasiński & Michał Dworzak & Michał Twardosz & Bogna Daria Napruszewska, 2020. "Influence of the Ammonium Nitrate(V) Porous Prill Assortments and Absorption Index on Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil Blasting Properties," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-10, July.
    6. Andrzej Biessikirski & Krzysztof Barański & Mateusz Pytlik & Łukasz Kuterasiński & Jolanta Biegańska & Konrad Słowiński, 2021. "Application of Silicon Dioxide as the Inert Component or Oxide Component Enhancer in ANFO," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, April.
    7. Lech Nowicki & Dorota Siuta & Maciej Markowski, 2020. "Carbon Dioxide Gasification Kinetics of Char from Rapeseed Oil Press Cake," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Paweł Wolny & Norbert Tuśnio & Filip Mikołajczyk, 2022. "Explosion Risks during Firefighting Operations in Storage Rooms and the Transport of Ammonium Nitrate-Based Fertilizers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Paweł Wolny & Norbert Tuśnio & Artur Lewandowski & Filip Mikołajczyk & Sławomir Kuberski, 2022. "Formation of an Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil Similar Type of Explosive under Fire Conditions: Materials Based on Selected Polymers (PUR)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, February.
    3. Paweł Wolny & Norbert Tuśnio & Artur Lewandowski & Filip Mikołajczyk & Sławomir Kuberski, 2022. "Formation of ANFO Analogues under Fire Conditions in the Presence of Common Plastics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.

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