CFD simulations of ammonia dispersion using “dynamic” boundary conditions

Ammonia is stored in liquid form at ambient temperature and under high pressure. During an accident, ammonia will flash out of the vessel and disperse in the surrounding area. This paper provides a comparison of the results obtained by the FLADIS field experiments and those of CFD modeling by Fluent 6.3. FLADIS experiments were carried out by the Risø National Laboratory using pressure liquefied ammonia. Time series of meteorological conditions as wind speed, wind direction and source strength were determined from the experimentally measured data and used as the inflow boundary conditions. Furthermore, for more realistic simulation of air flow in the computation domain for the desired atmospheric stability, periodic boundary conditions were used on both side boundaries. The initial two-phase flow of the released ammonia was also included. The liquid phase was modeled as droplets using discrete particle modeling, i.e., the Euler–Lagrangian approach for continuous and discrete phases.     

Validation of discharge and atmospheric dispersion for unpressurised and pressurised carbon dioxide releases

This paper discusses the validation of discharge and subsequent atmospheric dispersion for both unpressurised and pressurised carbon dioxide releases using the consequence modelling package Phast.The paper first summarises the validation of the Phast dispersion model (UDM) for unpressurised releases. This includes heavy gas dispersion from either a ground-level line source (McQuaid wind-tunnel experiments) or an area source (Kit-Fox field experiments). For the McQuaid experiments minor modifications of the UDM were made to support line sources. For the Kit Fox experiments steady-state and 20-s finite-duration releases were simulated for both neutral and stable conditions. Most accurate predictions of the concentrations for finite duration releases were obtained using the UDM Finite Duration Correction method.Using experiments funded by BP and Shell and made available via DNV's CO2PIPETRANS JIP, the paper secondly summarises the validation of the Phast discharge and dispersion models for pressurised CO₂ releases. This modelling accounted for the possible presence of the solid CO₂ phase following expansion to atmospheric pressure. These experiments included both high-pressure steady-state and time-varying cold releases (liquid storage) and high-pressure time-varying supercritical hot releases. Both the flow rate and the concentrations were found to be predicted accurately.The above validation was carried out with no fitting whatsoever of the Phast extended discharge and dispersion models.     

Ammonia large scale atmospheric dispersion experiments in industrial configurations

A programme of large-scale experiments for atmospheric dispersion was carried out by INERIS over a period extending from December 1996 to April 1997. The objectives of the test campaign were to measure anhydrous ammonia concentrations in a range of few meters to 2 km from the release, in order to generate data to be used to improve 2-phase discharge and dispersion modelling.

The discharges were released from a 6-tonne storage tank of pressurised liquid ammonia and through a discharge device with an outlet diameter of 2 in. Fifteen trials were carried out with various release configurations corresponding to industrial situations (impinging jets on the ground and on a wall at various distances, release through a flange without seal…). The quantity of ammonia discharged from the liquid phase varied according to the tests, from 1.4 to 3.5 tons for durations between 7 and 14 min and, therefore, at flow rates between 2 and 4.5 kg/s. Approximately 200 sensors were settled downwind to measure ammonia concentrations and temperature in the plume. These tests showed that for discharges with identical flow rates the distances corresponding to the same concentration vary a lot according to the configurations. These distances tend to be reduced by the presence of obstacles or retention dikes that collected liquid ammonia. In the paper, the main experimental results are presented. In order to enable the comparisons with numerical predictions, more detailed information are given in [Bouet R. (1999). Ammoniac—Essais de dispersion atmosphérique à grande échelle. INERIS rapport, ref INERIS-DRA-RBo-1999-20410 (available at http://www.ineris.fr/recherches/recherches.htm).     

热氨融霜过程多相相变流动液击形成机理研究

热氨融霜多相流动液锤诱发的回气总管频现爆管和穿孔腐蚀事故的预防仍是一项技术挑战。基于进口速度突变和瞬态冷凝与汽化相变直接驱动力,建立了描述多相相变流动液击形成过程的理论模型及其数值模拟算法,研究了回气总管热氨蒸汽与深冷液氨多相分层流动液击的形成机理,研究结果表明:在进口流速突变条件下,瞬态冷凝与汽化相变多相流动诱发的液击压强是无相变多相流动液击压强4倍左右,考虑相变驱动是准确预测多相流动液击的理论前提,多相流动液锤压力显多波型大幅脉动波动变化,且随着氨液剩余填充量增加而增大,而深冷液氨区局部液击压力降至液氨的饱和蒸汽压所诱发的空泡溃灭是导致回气总管频现穿孔腐蚀的直接原因。     

Accident consequence calculation of ammonia dispersion in factory area

With the widespread use of ammonia in the process industry, more and more accidents were caused by ammonia leakage and dispersion. The dispersion of ammonia is determined by its physical properties, release source conditions and atmospheric environment. Full-scale numerical simulation based on CFD theory was carried out to study the dispersion law of ammonia in a food factory. It was found that ammonia concentrated on the symmetric plane and showed an upward movement near the source. Moreover, the effect of pressure on the dispersion of ammonia was explored showing that the concentration of ammonia near the source increased with the increase of pressure, while the dispersion of ammonia far from the source is mainly influenced by wind field. Last but not the least, the dangerous area completely covers the obstacle region according to the harmful concentration, but the lethal concentration range and explosion range both only existed near the release source. Correspondingly, the concentration of ammonia in the region far from the symmetric plane can be regarded as a safe area. When the accident happens, one should stay away from the release source and evacuate towards the sides in a timely manner. We hope that this work can provide an effective method in predicting the impact of ammonia dispersion and can arouse concerns over the public safety.     

Expansion-controlled evaporation: a safe approach to BLEVE blast

A new method is presented to calculate the blast effects originating from an exploding vessel of liquefied gas. Adequate blast calculation requires full knowledge of the blast source characteristics, i.e., the release and consequent evaporation rate of the flashing liquid. As the conditions that allow explosive evaporation are not entirely clear and the evaporation rate of a flashing liquid is unknown, safe assumptions are the starting point in the modelling. The blast effects from a BLEVE are numerically computed by imposing the vapour pressure of a flashing liquid as boundary condition for the gas dynamics of expansion. The numerical modelling is quantitatively explored just for liquefied propane. In addition, it is demonstrated that often an estimate of BLEVE blast effects is possible with very simple acoustic volume source expressions.

The modelling shows that the rupture of a pressure vessel containing a liquefied gas in free space only develops a blast of significant strength if the vessel nearly instantaneously disintegrates. Even if a rupture and the consequent release and evaporation of a liquefied gas extend over just a short period of time, the blast effects are minor.     

自然环境对风力发电机组安全运行的影响分析

风力发电机组野外运行的特点决定了自然环境条件对其运行状况有着重要的影响,本文综述了气压、气温、台风、雷击、盐雾等自然条件对风力发电机组的影响状况,并对其产生的机理进行了分析,给出在各种自然环境下的风电机组设计和运行应对措施,以提高风电机组对自然环境条件的适应性。希望本文能对国内风电机组的设计制造、运行维护提供一定的参考和帮助。     

矿井巷道火灾烟流逆退数值模拟及临界风速研究

为了研究矿井发生火灾后高温烟流的蔓延规律及影响因素,利用COMSOL软件对火区进行数值模拟,建立巷道三维模型,得到火区风流速度与温度分布。通过改变边界条件,分析火风压作用下,火区烟气在不同控制风速、巷道条件作用下蔓延规律,得出不同因素与临界风速的关系,为选取合理的火灾控制风速提供理论依据。研究结果表明:火源温度一定时,巷道入口风速越低,火源下风侧高温烟流越靠近巷道顶部,随着风速增大,向巷道下部蔓延;风速较低时,在火区火风压的作用下,会产生烟流逆退现象,随着风速的增大,逆流层长度和厚度随之减小;巷道入口通风条件不变时,火区温度越高越容易产生烟流的逆退,影响范围越大;巷道高度越高、上行风坡度越小,越易发生逆退现象;不同影响因素与巷道平均温度不成正比关系,其中下行风坡度5~15°时巷道平均温度较高且易于发生烟流滚退现象,影响范围较大;火源温度、巷道条件与临界风速的数据拟合结果对预测巷道的临界风速有较好的参考价值。     

北京市城市街区PM10浓度日变化特征及其影响因子

为了解北京城市街区PM10浓度日变化特征及其影响因素,利用2003年10月BECAPEX(Beijing City Air Pollution Experiment)街道、街区及周边小区4个测点PM10浓度的对比观测试验资料和同期街道机动车流量、采样点附近自动气象站风速及探空资料进行了综合对比分析.通过天气诊断和统计学分析相结合,初步分析了北京市城区街道大气污染物PM10浓度日变化特征及机动车排放污染、气象条件对PM10浓度日变化的影响.结果表明,试验期间北京市城区街道PM10浓度日变化特征存在明显差异,交通源污染物PM10浓度日变化具有单峰与双峰型差异的特殊性.工作日PM10浓度日变化出现双峰,周末PM10浓度日变化仅有单峰出现; 交通污染源和气象条件对城市街区PM10浓度日变化特征的影响程度存在空间差异.离交通污染源较近的街区PM10浓度日变化受机动车排放污染的影响程度较大,而离交通源较远的小区PM10浓度受机动车排放污染的影响相对较小; 不稳定天气条件下交通污染源影响范围较小,在特定天气条件下,气象条件的影响强度可显著超过交通污染源的影响.     

Influence of wind speed profile and roughness parameters on the downwind extension of vulnerable zones during dispersion of toxic dense gases

The accidental release of toxic chemicals, which are heavier than air and stored under pressure, may create an emergency scenario in an industrial plant. The extension of vulnerable distance in the downwind direction is an important criterion in framing an emergency management plan of that industrial area. There are several studies showing the role of surface level meteorological and topographical features on its propagation and dispersion just after its release from a container. In the present study, vertical variation of wind speed in the atmospheric boundary layer and surface roughness parameter have been considered to study their roles on the impact of downwind extension of vulnerable distances. A catastrophic release from a tonner having 900 kg of liquid chlorine has been considered, and SAFETI Micro developed by DNV Technica, UK has been utilized in the consequence analysis of this release. The analysis results have been explained for various atmospheric stability classes and surface wind speeds.     

内抽外压式集尘器实验、数值模拟与分析

根据内抽外压式集烟尘器专利研制了一个内抽外压式集尘器,并在井下进行实验。经过3种方法测试均收到预期的的效果,司机工作区达到了国家卫生要求,由于采用外筒压风,防止了瓦斯积聚避免瓦斯爆炸。应用离散颗粒模型模拟了内抽外压式集尘器内气相流场和粉尘颗粒的运动,该集尘器不仅把矿井巷道中细微可呼吸粉尘吸收到除尘器中,又能防止了瓦斯积聚。数值模拟与实验结果的一致性表明:把内抽外压式集尘器放置在掘进机前方,由于粉尘在气流的携带下运动使掘进机司机在矿井巷道中的工作环境得到改善,减少矿工患尘肺病的概率,开发了井下集尘的新工艺、新设备。     

CFD方法对突发性化学事故中危险物质泄漏范围的确定

简要分析了目前国内主要用于预测易燃易爆(有毒)物质发生泄漏事故后浓度扩散范围的计算方法。并介绍了国际上比较成熟的计算流体力学相关软件的数学模型及特点和边界条件的设置。针对液氨发生泄漏后氨气在一定大气环境条件下扩散的过程和特征,建立了相应的数学模型并设置了边界条件,通过数值计算得到氨气在水平方向风速环境下在三维空间内浓度分布规律。通过分析氨气扩散后爆炸浓度下限范围,探讨了如何设置警戒区的方法。最后分析了将计算流体力学方法应用于确定易燃易爆(有毒)物质泄漏后浓度范围的前景与不足。     

Measurements and predictions of harmful releases of the gathering station over the mountainous terrain

Having a risk analysis of harmful releases over mountainous terrains through wind tunnel experiment is a frontier problem in China. In this paper, a straight-flow wind tunnel is applied to simulate the atmospheric boundary layer and research the motion of high-sulfur gas released to atmosphere when accidental releases occur in a gathering station over the mountainous terrain. After an analysis of hourly concentration in the field accident for eight wind directions, experimental results reveal that nearby concentration fields are dominated by wind and far-field concentration distribution is dominated by topography, which leads to complete levels of consequence impact for the personnel risk inside and around the gathering station. Based on CFD techniques, a three-dimensional modelling was established in comparison with the wind tunnel experiment, which suggests that CFD prediction had underestimated the near-field gas concentration and the performance could not precisely match actual risks the gathering station causes to the mountainous terrain, which leads to a modified equation for numerical prediction. Instead of proposing a lower personnel risk evaluation obtained through the use of CFD techniques, the wind tunnel experiment offers a new choice for the consequence impact analysis for the petrochemical industry in China.     

火电厂液氨泄漏事故影响分析及对策研究

主要对火电厂液氨泄漏事故后对周围大气环境的影响进行了预测分析研究,并给出了相应安全对策。研究以陕西某电厂2×660MW燃煤机组为例,使用详实可靠的参数对该电厂可能发生的液氨储罐泄漏事故进行了不同气象条件下的风险模拟预测,并根据预测结果画出了可供应急救援参考使用的最不利气象条件下液氨储罐最大可信事故泄漏后不同时刻的影响范围动态图。研究还根据收集到的施工设计资料及参数对200-1000MW级火电厂的液氨泄漏进行了预测,给出各级别火电机组液氨泄漏事故后可能出现的最大致死半径范围。为降低火电厂液氨泄漏风险提出了相应的安全对策和应急救援要求,对避免和减少液氨中毒伤亡事故具有指导意义。     

Modelling of discharge and atmospheric dispersion for carbon dioxide releases

This paper discusses the modelling of the discharge and subsequent atmospheric dispersion for carbon dioxide releases using extensions of models in the consequence modelling package Phast. Phast examines the progress of a potential incident from the initial release to the far-field dispersion including the modelling of rainout and subsequent vaporisation. The original Phast discharge and dispersion models allow the released chemical to occur only in the vapour and liquid phases. As part of the current work these models have been extended to also allow for the occurrence of liquid to solid transition or vapour to solid transition. This applies both for the post-expansion state in the discharge model, as well as for the thermodynamic calculations by the dispersion model. Solid property calculations have been added where necessary. The above extensions are generally valid for fluid releases including CO₂. Using the extended dispersion formulation, a sensitivity study has been carried out for mixing of solid CO₂ with air, and it is demonstrated that solid effects may significantly affect the predicted concentrations.     

Phast validation of discharge and atmospheric dispersion for pressurised carbon dioxide releases

The consequence modelling package Phast examines the progress of a potential incident from the initial release to the far-field dispersion including the modelling of rainout and subsequent vaporisation. The original Phast discharge and dispersion models allow the released substance to occur only in the vapour and liquid phases. The latest versions of Phast include extended models which also allow for the occurrence of fluid to solid transition for carbon dioxide (CO₂) releases.As part of two projects funded by BP and Shell (made publicly available via CO2PIPETRANS JIP), experimental work on CO₂ releases was carried out at the Spadeadam site (UK) by GL Noble Denton. These experiments included both high-pressure steady-state and time-varying cold releases (liquid storage) and high-pressure time-varying supercritical hot releases (vapour storage). The CO₂ was stored in a vessel with attached pipework. At the end of the pipework a nozzle was attached, where the nozzle diameter was varied.This paper discusses the validation of Phast against the above experiments. The flow rate was predicted accurately by the Phast discharge models (within 10%; considered within the accuracy at which the BP experimental data were measured), and the concentrations were found to be predicted accurately (well within a factor of two) by the Phast dispersion model (UDM). This validation was carried out with no fitting whatsoever of the Phast extended discharge and dispersion models.     

Impact of wind on in-situ burning behavior of spilled oil on open water

Spilled oil may cause serious environmental pollution and ecological destruction. Thus, an efficient oil spill response is essential to reduce and minimize the impacts seen from an oil spill. In-situ burning (ISB) has been proven to be one of the most convenient and efficient treatment methods for oil spills on sea. When in-situ burning operation is carried out on sea, the wind is usually available. Spilled oil pool fire flame will be blown to tilt with an angle from the vertical direction and the flame length will be stretched. This effect of flame on downstream will be significantly enhanced. It may even cause the burning of spilled oil out of control or hazard the operators near site. Therefore, it is meaningful to study the burning behavior of oil pool fire on open water under wind.A small-scale oil pool fire on open water experiment system was designed, which could simulate the boundary conditions of sea surface ISB. A series of experiments were carried out to study the effects of oil pool diameter, oil layer thickness and wind speed on fire flame length and flame tilt angle. Flame characteristics and temperature of burning system were recorded. This study observes burning behavior to evolve from short pool fire to long declining phase which transient through boilover stage. Dimensionless flame length in pool fire stage increases with wind speed. As expected the flame tilt is strongly influenced by wind speed, tilt angle increase with wind speed. The observed experimental behavior is captured as improvement in the flame length and flame tilt angle models.This study helped better understanding fire behavior in evolving environmental conditions, and the most importantly developed model would help guide better assessment of fire mitigation strategies.     

The use of water sprays for mitigating chlorine gaseous releases escaping from a storage shed

Accidental releases of toxic gases in partially confined spaces, like a storage shed, can sometimes be controlled by water sprays. This paper presents the results of experimental field tests during which various water sprays were used to mitigate chlorine gaseous releases. The releases (source strength: 1–4 kg/min) simulated a loss of containment occurring at an industrial chlorine storage installation (5 m³). The mitigation performances of different water sprays were investigated for diverse configurations, and under various atmospheric conditions. The best chlorine concentration reduction was achieved close to the source by a mobile upward water spray, with a maximum concentration reduction of a factor 10 at a distance of 5 m downstream from the source, and for a release flow rate of about 2 kg/min. The good performances of a fixed downward flat fan water spray were also pointed out (mean concentration reduction of a factor 2–5 for the whole series of experiments carried out), with an optimum of effectiveness at a distance of 10 m downstream from the source. In low wind speed conditions (U₁₀<1 m/s), the downward flat fan water spray was more effective for weak release flow rates. The mitigation effectiveness by absorption remained slight (<3%).     

矿井定常湍流脉动对通风阻力测试影响的理论分析

受湍流脉动影响,矿井通风阻力测试结果的数值波动是不可避免的。为探究湍流脉动对通风阻力测试的影响程度,以压差计测阻法为例进行理论分析。根据阻力测定原理和能量方程,在定常圆管流动条件下,导出湍流脉动影响下倾斜压差计测量示值波动范围的计算表达式;理论分析测试巷道的断面尺寸和风速大小对数值波动幅度和测试精度的影响。结果表明,压差计示值的波动幅度与当地湍流强度及风速的平方成正比;巷道风速的量级是压能波动的主导因素,测试风速越大,液面数值涨落幅度越大,波动现象越明显;而数值波动幅度大不等同于测试精度低,小断面大风速巷道中易获得满意的测试精度而大断面巷道中无论风速高低均不易获得较高测试精度。为减小湍流脉动造成的通风阻力测试的随机误差,需在短时间内进行多次测试取统计平均结果,这在大断面巷道的阻力测试中尤为重要。