Dynamics of blast wave and fireball after hydrogen tank rupture in a fire in the open atmosphere. (19th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Molkov, V.V.; Cirrone, D.M.C.; Shentsov, V.V.; Dery, W.; Kim, W.; Makarov, D.V.
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 46:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 4644
• Page End: 4665
• Publication Date: 2021-01-19
• Subjects: Hydrogen safety -- Tank rupture -- Blast wave -- Fireball -- CFD model -- Validation; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.10.211
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: This paper describes a CFD model of the blast wave and fireball dynamics after high-pressure hydrogen tank rupture in a fire in the open atmosphere. Experiments on rupture in a fire of tanks with nominal working pressure 35 MPa and 70 MPa are used to validate the model and get insights into underlying physical phenomena. Parametric studies are performed to understand the effect of different physical sub-models, numerical methods and other model parameters, e.g. instantaneous or inertial tank opening, on the convergence of simulations and closer reproduction of experiments. The model reproduces experiments well using different turbulence (RNG, Smagorinski-Lilly) and combustion (EDC, FRC) sub-models. It is demonstrated that hydrogen combustion at the contact surface between heated by starting shock air and cooled by expansion hydrogen at the initial stage of the process affects the blast wave strength, i.e. the peak pressure of the leading front and the blast wave impulse. Highlights: CFD model of blast wave and fireball dynamics after hydrogen tank rupture in fire. Fire tests on the rupture of 35 MPa and 70 MPa tanks used to validate the CFD model. Hydrogen combustion at the contact surface contributes to the blast wave strength. Mesh size increase does not affect blast wave peak pressure but increases impulse.