基于FLACS CFD的不同气油比油气混输管道泄漏火灾后果对比

不同气油比的油气混输管道泄漏后果危害形式和风险差异的准确判断对于管道泄漏应急处置至关重要。以中国西部某油田集输管道为研究对象,针对不同气油比管道泄漏的火灾危害进行了对比分析,构建了FLACS CFD模型,并研究了油气混输管道原油泄漏形成池火的火灾特征和影响范围,以及天然气泄漏形成喷射火的高温分布和影响规律。研究结果表明:应急处置应考虑不同气油比下池火与喷射火危害的差异。在油气混输管线泄漏10 min形成稳定火焰的场景中,气油比低于100 m3/t时,原油池火为火灾危险的主要影响因素;气油比高于200 m3/t时,天然气喷射火为主要影响因素;气油比超过250 m3/t,高温覆盖距离不再明显增加;40 m为此场景下混输油气泄漏喷射火致死距离上限,120 m为温度影响上限。     

两相射流促进细水雾灭火技术发展

压缩气体射流与水射流混合后所产生的气-水两相射流,可获得连续、高速喷射的细水雾,水滴粒径小,穿入火焰的能力强,可沿水平方向射入火焰中,比喷淋方式水雾灭火可节省90%的用水量,缩短了灭火时间,发挥了细水雾的灭火优势,是细水雾灭火技术的最新发展。所制成的便携式、车载式、固定式的两相射流细水雾灭火装置,可扑灭多种类型的火灾,尤其适合用于扑灭有人存在的空间的火灾。以涡喷发动机为喷射动力的气-水两相射流喷射系统,制成了超大功率的喷射雾状水的消防装备,大幅度提高了控制油、气大火火势的能力和灭火效率。气-水两相射流还有稀释、吹散泄漏出的可燃性气体,防止其点燃的功能,适合于在天然气和有毒有害气体泄漏事故抢险救援中使用。将压缩气体和泡沫液按比例混和后喷射的压缩空气泡沫喷射系统,产生了喷射“干泡沫”的消防车,使灭火用水的利用率提高了8倍,被称为是世界最先进的泡沫灭火技术。气-水两相射流促进了灭火技术革命性的发展,新型的气-水两相射流消防装备不断涌现,展示出了广阔的应用前景。     

喷射火对输油管道热影响实验平台设计与验证*

为研究油气并行管道中,天然气管道喷射火对相邻输油管道内流体与管壁的热影响,设计并搭建天然气喷射火对输油管道热影响实验平台。实验平台由环道及冷却系统、火焰系统、控制及数据采集系统3个部分组成。完成平台搭建并验证环道系统气密性后,以0#柴油为介质,开展验证实验。研究结果表明:火焰系统工作可靠且可控,冷却系统能够将柴油温度控制在初馏点以下,数据采集系统能够正常采集油品压力、温度、流量、管壁温度、火焰温度等预定数据,实验平台具备一定可行性与安全性。实验平台可进行在不同管道规格及材质、火灾形式、油品介质及流速条件下的热影响实验。实验平台结合材料性能进行测试,可研究喷射火对管材性能的影响,为油气并行管道的安全运行提供相关实验依据。     

An Overview of the Nature of Hydrocarbon Jet Fire Hazards in the Oil and Gas Industry and a Simplified Approach to Assessing the Hazards

High pressure jet fires pose a serious hazard to offshore installations operated by the oil and gas industry as demonstrated by the Piper Alpha incident. Following the Piper Alpha incident a major initiative by the offshore oil and gas industry operators led to the production of Interim Guidance Notes which provided guidance to operators on how to assess jet fire hazards. However, many areas of uncertainty were identified where no data was available. Areas of particular concern identified in the Interim Guidance Notes were two-phase jet fires, the effect of confinement on jet fires and their behaviour with water deluge. Since that time a considerable body of experimental research has been undertaken. Based on this recent data, this paper reassesses jet fire hazards in an offshore environment and provides updated guidance on the hazards they pose, including tabulated data and simple calculation techniques for predicting jet fire hazards.     

Thermal interaction analysis in pipeline systems: A case study

The assessment of the consequences of high pressure releases of flammable gases is a fundamental requirement for the safe design and operation of industrial installations, plants and pipework. A scenario of interest concerns a high pressure jet-fire following the ignition of a gas jet release which results in a thermal loading to the surroundings and possibly leads to accident escalation.

In the present paper, a case study is presented: two parallel-laid natural gas pipelines have been considered, the accidental scenarios which may possibly occur as a consequence of a pipeline failure have been discussed and the thermal effects caused by the jet-fire developing from different rupture sizes have been assessed.

Three scenarios have been analyzed, considering the pipelines being within a highly congested area: (i) large failure and vertical jet with detached flame; (ii) small failure with jet fire directly impinging on the parallel pipeline; (iii) small failure with pipeline engulfed within fire.

Once the temperature gradient through the pipeline wall has been found, the stresses deriving from pressure load and steel differential expansion have been analytically calculated and compared with the yielding stresses at the temperature achieved by the pipeline wall.

In the first scenario the pipeline is able to resist without major problems; in the second case the pipeline rupture is likely to occur; in the third scenario the pipeline resists to the applied loads but with a low margin to yielding.

It is understood that the analysis results are very much dependent on the utilized hypotheses, therefore a sensitivity analysis was performed in order to assess the variation of the results as a function of the variation of problem data; this analysis identifies the large influence of the parameters on the final result.     

Wire-mesh inhibition of jet fire induced by explosion venting

Explosion venting is widely applied in industrial explosion-proof designs due to the convenient, economical and practical features of this method. Natural gas is usually stored in storage tanks. If the gas in the vessel is mixed with air and encounters an ignition source, explosion venting might occur, producing jet fire, generating new secondary derivative accidents and causing casualties and property losses. In this paper, a set of test platforms including wire-mesh suppression devices is established to study the inhibition of jet fire induced by explosion venting by wire mesh. The experimental research shows that a wire mesh significantly inhibits the jet fire induced by explosion venting. The flame propagation velocity and pressure clearly decrease with increasing numbers of wire-mesh layers. The wire-mesh structure significantly affects the flame propagation, and the more layers of mesh there are, the better the suppression effect is. The flame temperature gradually decreases with the addition of the wire mesh. The mesh size significantly affects the pressure propagation of explosion venting. The explosion pressure gradually decreases with the addition of the wire mesh. With increasing distance between the wire mesh and the explosion vent, the maximum temperature first increases and then decreases, and the maximum explosion pressure first decreases and then increases. In the case of single gas cloud, the flame suppression effect is the most obvious when the wire mesh is 0.2 m away from the explosion vent. In the case of double gas clouds, the flame suppression effect is the most significant when the distance between the wire mesh and the first gas cloud is 0.4 m.     

A mechanistic model for hydrocarbon plumes rising through water

For releases of hydrocarbons from a subsea pipeline, riser, or production facility, the shape of the plume rising through the water must be predicted prior to any assessment of gas dispersion, liquid pools, or fire above the water surface. The location and size of the plume at the water surface are key parameters for subsequent consequence modeling. A mechanistic model has been developed to predict the plume trajectory and size, based on mass and momentum balances and an empirical water entrainment ratio from the literature. With suitable physical property values available, the model is applicable to releases of gas and/or liquid hydrocarbons, predicting the vaporization and vapor expansion due to decreasing hydrostatic pressure as the plume rises through the water. Some validation of the model was obtained with 16 tests in a small-scale transparent tank. The data cover a wide range of flow rates, including both choked and unchoked flow. The predicted and measured trajectories (centerline displacement) agreed reasonably well. Predictions of the model are presented for three fluids. The model is valuable for assessing the consequences of underwater hydrocarbon releases, providing input for subsequent modeling of gas dispersion or liquid pools and pool fires.     

Flame extension length of inclined hydrogen jet fire impinging on a water curtain

The use of a water curtain system to prevent fire spread has been extensively investigated, but the case of an inclined jet fire inhibited with a water curtain is not involved. A series of experiments were conducted on inclined hydrogen jet fires with various fuel flow rates, nozzle diameters and inclination angles under the influence of a vertical water curtain. This study aims to explore the burning behaviors of inclined jet flames at the impingement area, specifically the flame extension lengths. The experimental results show that an increase in fuel flow rates or nozzle diameter leads to a larger flame extension length. With the increase of flame inclination angle, the flame extension length decreases and the influence of nozzle diameter on the flame extension length is attenuated. A new dimensionless heat release rate is proposed to correlate with the dimensionless flame extension length by incorporating an air entrainment coefficient. The model built in this study can be used to predict the flame extension length of jet flames with different diameters, fuel flows and inclinations under the influence of a water curtain, and is validated by data in the previous study.     

Assessing the influence of real releases on explosions: Selected results from large-scale experiments

The research activities in the project Assessing the Influence of Real Releases on Explosions (AIRRE) included a unique series of large-scale explosion experiments with high-momentum jet releases directed into congested geometries with subsequent ignition. The primary objective for the AIRRE project was to gain improved understanding of the effect that realistic releases and turbulent flow conditions have on the consequences of accidental gas explosions in the petroleum industry. A secondary objective was to develop a methodology that can facilitate safe and optimal design of process facilities. This paper presents selected results from experiments involving ignition of a highly turbulent gas cloud, generated by a large-scale, pressurised release of natural gas. The paper gives an overview of the effect on maximum explosion overpressures of varying the ignition position relative to the release point of the jet and a congested region placed inside the flammable cloud, with either a high or a medium level of congestion. For two of the tests, involving a jet release and the medium congestion rig, the maximum overpressures significantly exceeded those obtained in a quiescent reference test. The paper presents detailed results for selected tests and discusses the effect of the initial flow field generated by realistic releases – including turbulence, net flow and concentration gradients – on relevant explosion phenomena.     

外立面作用下水平湍流浮力射流火焰的附壁研究

用防火板模拟建筑外立面,设计了可控流速和开口尺寸的气体燃烧器产生水平湍流浮力射流火焰,系统研究了外立面抑制火焰卷吸所导致的水平湍流浮力射流火焰附壁规律。将火焰流场演变分为两个阶段:(1)出口到流场水平动量衰减为零(等价点)的阶段;(2)火焰附壁或不附壁的阶段。其中,火焰附壁与否很大程度上取决于等价点到出口的水平距离LE。通过分析,我们发现雷诺应力是导致流场水平动量衰减和火焰附壁的主要原因。由此,我们基于普朗特混合长度理论推导了雷诺应力的近似表达式并结合动量控制方程,获得了LE与修正弗洛德数Fr*的线性关系,从理论上解释了出口宽高比n(n=B/H,B是开口宽度;H是开口高度)越大,火焰越容易附壁的现象,并确定了不同开口及流速条件下,火焰附壁的临界条件。     

Fired equipment combustion chamber accidents: A historical survey

A historical analysis was carried out on 189 accidents that occurred in gas and oil fuel fired equipment. The variation of frequency as a function of time, the main causes leading to a fire or an explosion, as well as the consequences of the accidents were studied. Explosion was the most frequent accident, followed by fire; in a few cases the final outcome was a release. Accidents in gas fired combustion equipment were significantly more frequent than those in the liquid fired ones. The main causes were tube rupture and/or error in ignition/reignition sequences, followed by loss of flame in the combustion chamber and, with a minor frequency, entrance of non-expected fuel and presence of non-combusted materials. The consequences on people were much more important in case of explosions than in case of fires. Even though the equipment involving combustion chambers can be considered essentially safe, this historical analysis has shown that accidents continue to occur with certain frequency because the number of existing units is quite high and the possibility of human error during its operation and maintenance is still significant.     

基于微积分的LPG和CNG喷射火模型建立和三维数值模拟

由液体和气体泄漏引发的喷射火灾事故屡见不鲜,而现有的喷射火模型却有诸多缺陷。将喷射火形状近似为圆锥,鉴于液体和气体的泄漏速度随压强和温度均有变化、点源离地面会有一定高度、风速对火焰倾角也有影响、圆锥喷射中心线上每个点源对目标的热辐射均不同等实际情况,新建液体和气体扩展半径的计算方法,引入风速对火焰高度和火焰偏角的作用,比较AGA法和Thornton模型,发现AGA法更加符合实际,再利用微积分原理建立三维点源喷射火模型,展示火焰形状对目标的影响,从而得出热辐射的最终危险性。最后以LPG和CNG储罐喷射火事故为例进行对比验证,首次模拟出喷射火的形状,更清晰准确地展示了目标入射热辐射通量随目标点位置的变化和危险范围,可为火焰阵面处的消防安全决策提供参考。     

Utilization of regression technique to develop a predictive model for hazard radius from release of typical methane-rich natural gas

The aim of hazardous area classification around equipment handling or storing of flammable fluids is to avoid the ignition of those releases that may occur from time to time in the operation of these equipment. There is a point source approach for the classification of hazardous areas which can estimate hazard radius by using hole size and release pressure. Methane-rich natural gas is widely used or produced in the process industries. Till date, there exist no reference that represents hazard radii for the wide range of possible hole sizes and release pressures of this fluid. The aim of the present study was to propose a predictive model for estimation of hazard radii due to releases of typical methane-rich natural gas based on hole size and release pressure. In this study, a complete database of hazard radii due to a broad range of hole sizes and release pressures was provided using available discharge and dispersion models. A regression-based model for estimation of hazard radii was developed based on the provided database. Performance investigation of the proposed model and a case study showed that the results are reliable with an acceptable standard error.     

障碍物对天然气喷射火影响的数值模拟研究

为研究障碍物控制天然气喷射火对周围设施危害的有效性,基于流体力学基本原理与湍流模型,采用FDS模拟软件,分别研究高度为10 m的障碍物宽度和障碍物与泄漏孔间距对喷射火的影响。研究得出:障碍物对喷射火阻挡效果明显,减缓了火焰在速度方向的传播;障碍物越宽,控制火焰向前传播的效果越好,障碍物后方受火焰高温和热辐射危害越小,但随着宽度的增加,后方温度和热辐射下降率减小,障碍物宽3 m时,对火焰控制效果最好;随着障碍物与泄漏孔间距增加,障碍物后方热辐射先增加后减小,间距为5 m时,障碍物对火焰的控制效果最好,此时喷射火下游受保护的区域最宽。研究结果可为储气罐发生泄漏火灾事故处置及应急设施设计提供参考。     

Experimental research of LNG accidental underwater release and combustion behavior

Evaluating potential hazards caused by accidental LNG release from underwater pipelines or vessels is a significant consideration in marine transportation safety. The aim of this study was to capture the dynamic behavior of LNG jet released under water and to analyze its vapor dispersion characteristics and combustion characteristics on the water surface during different release scenarios. Controlled experiments were conducted where LNG was jet released from a cryogenic storage tank. The dynamic process of LNG being jet released from orifices of different sizes and shapes, as well as the rising plume structure, were captured by a high-speed camera. The leakage flow rate and pipeline pressure were recorded by a flow meter and pressure gauge, respectively. The concentration distribution that emanated from the water surface was measured utilizing methane sensors in different positions with various wind speeds. The flame combustion characteristics of LNG vapor clouds, which immediately ignited upon the enclosed water tank, were also recorded. Additionally, the mass burning rate of the flame on the water surface was evaluated, and a new correlation between the ratio of flame length and width was established. The results indicated a large dimensionless heat release rate (Q*) and a continuous release flow rate in a limited burning area. This study could provide greater understanding of the mechanisms of LNG release and combustion behavior under water.     

Fire and explosion assessment on oil and gas floating production storage offloading (FPSO): An effective screening and comparison tool

Fires and explosions have been identified as major potential hazards for Oil and Gas Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) installations and pose risk to personnel, assets, and the environment. Current fire and explosion assessment (FEA) tools require physical effect modeling software and follows standards from API, ISO, and engineering practices. However, the tools are not specific to any particular system such as an FPSO, and do not provide comprehensive guidance for safety engineers to perform FEA.This paper discusses the development of a screening and comparison tool for FEA on FPSOs and the incorporation of an expert system into the tool. The results are computerized using MS Excel/VBA to provide a structured and comprehensive assessment on each equipment and module handling natural gas, crude oil, methanol and diesel on FPSO topsides.This tool features built-in calculations for jet and pool fire size estimation for gas/liquid releases, and the ability to perform Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA) to specify the personnel and equipment risk for varying leak sizes and process conditions. Control and recovery measures are incorporated as an expert system based on report findings, engineering practices, and relevant standards. Bowtie analysis is applied in the tool to define detailed control and recovery measures for the FPSO based on the incident scenarios. An explosion assessment is performed by incorporating physical effect modeling software results.Unique features provided in the tool include fire and radiation contour mapping on an FPSO layout to help determine personnel and equipment risk more accurately and fire pump sizing that can be used to verify the amount of water deluge system required to mitigate fires and explosions. In addition, flexibility of data input (process data, failure rate data, etc.) and user interfaces assist safety engineers to screen and compare process alternatives, check design quality, and evaluate design options at any design stage.     

Evaluation of hazard range for the natural gas jet released from a high-pressure pipeline: A computational parametric study

In the present study, the hazard range of the natural gas (NG) jet released from a high-pressure pipeline was investigated. A one-dimensional integral model was combined with a release model to calculate the length and width (i.e., size), and the shape of NG jet release. The physical parameters affecting the jet release of NG were categorized into three types: source release, environmental and time parameters. The effects of each type of parameters on the gas jet release rate, size and shape were evaluated systematically. The results show that all of these parameters have important influence on the hazard range of NG jet release. The source release parameters, including the pipeline length, the operation pressure of the pipeline, the release hole diameter and the pipe diameter, dominate the gas release rate through a hole and therefore the length and width of gas jet release. The gas jet release rate and size are found to be highly correlative with these parameters in terms of power curve regression analysis. The environmental parameters including the atmospheric stability, the ambient wind speed and the source height, have no influence on the gas jet release rate but have influence on the hazard range of gas jet by the turbulent mixing and dilution of NG with air. The time parameters including the concentration averaged time and the valve closing time which are related to the unsteady state jet release of NG, also show the influence on the hazard range of gas jet release. The results show that the decreasing valve closing time and increasing gas concentration averaged time are in favor of reducing the length and width of gas jet release. In addition, these computational parametric studies indicate that the parameters of source release and time have no significant influence on the shape of gas jet release (i.e., jet length/width ratio, LWR) which can maintain the values between 7 and 8. However, the environmental parameters have influence on the shape of gas jet release. These comprehensive investigations provide useful database of evaluating the hazard range for NG jet released from a hole on a high-pressure pipeline and also provide the foundation of decision-making for further fire and/or explosion evaluation and people evacuation.     

多火源火旋风相互作用的实验研究

为研究多火源条件下火旋风的相互作用,利用四面边墙夹缝式实验装置对3种不同直径油盘形成的火旋风进行实验研究。由电子天平记录的燃料质量随时间变化曲线,得到准稳态阶段火旋风的质量燃烧速率;利用摄像机记录的火焰连续图像,获得火焰高度;基于实验现象及实验数据对质量燃烧速率、火焰高度和火焰形态的分析,提出多火源火旋风质量燃烧速率和火焰高度的半经验线性关系式。研究表明:大直径油盘形成的火旋风比小直径油盘更容易受到拖拽力和涡量的作用影响。     

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.     

氧化铁粒径对固体推进剂火焰特征参数影响的试验研究

针对5-氨基四氮唑/硝酸锶固体推进剂在实际应用中存在的推进剂火焰偏大、容易在灭火装置喷口处形成外喷火焰的问题,选用了微米氧化铁和纳米氧化铁作为催化剂,分别从火焰形态、质量损失速率、热释放速率、无量纲火焰高度模型几个角度开展研究,对比了两种不同粒径的氧化铁对5-氨基四氮唑/硝酸锶固体推进剂燃烧火焰的优化效果。根据燃烧试验结果,发现不论是富氧燃烧还是贫氧燃烧,在降低推进剂燃烧时的火焰高度方面,微米氧化铁均明显优于纳米氧化铁;在提高质量损失速率方面,微米氧化铁的加速效果也要优于纳米氧化铁。基于传统的液态燃料油池火发展的火焰高度预测模型,将无量纲火焰高度与热释放速率的分析关系应用到固体推进剂燃烧领域,考虑使用无量纲火焰高度的分析方法,对固体推进剂燃烧过程中的火焰高度进行预测,建立了5-氨基四氮唑/硝酸锶固体推进剂的无量纲火焰高度模型,发现不含氧化铁和含有氧化铁的5-氨基四氮唑/硝酸锶固体推进剂燃烧时的火焰高度与热释放速率的n次方成正比,该无量纲拟合可以对固体推进剂火焰高度进行预测。最终,得出了微米氧化铁比纳米氧化铁更适合作为催化剂被用于5-氨基四氮唑/硝酸锶推进剂中,有利于提高固体推进式灭火装置的灭火效果。