Analysis on Buffer Tank Bursting Accident of LNG Bus and Lessons Learned

This research was based on a rare case involving an explosion accident of liquefied natural gas (LNG) bus that occurred in the second week of December 2019 in China. The author of this paper participated in the whole accident investigation process as expert. Through the nonlinear elastoplastic analysis of the bursting tank by finite element simulation, this explosion accident was caused by the rapid phase transition of residual LNG during the deicing of the frozen pipeline by water, and the human factor was the direct cause of the accident. To understand the accident causation in depth, human factors involving safety issues in the LNG vehicle maintenance operation were identified using a modified human factors analysis and classification system and the analytic hierarchy process method. Furthermore, the lessons learned, and recommendations were revealed to prevent such accidents in the field of liquefied natural gas vehicle.