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Numerical investigation of LNG gas dispersion in a confined space: An engineering model

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Abstract

The present study has numerically investigated a dynamic methane leak and dispersion in a confined space. To establish a numerical prediction based engineering model of dynamic gas leak and dispersion in a confined space, numerical experiments are conducted for variation of a key parameter–leak hole size. Based on the numerical results data, an engineering model is developed. The parameters related to lower flammable limit of the methane were quantitatively analyzed to compare the potential risk due to a gas leak. To quantitatively investigate the flammable region, the longitudinal and transverse directional length is defined and studied. We found that the ratio between longitudinal and transverse directional length can be a bridge to model the flammable region. The aspect ratio of the flammable region is fitted by an exponential function to show the relation with time. Then, an oval-shape model is presented to predict flammable region. Oval-shape model is completed by the combination of aspect ratio relation and a function for transverse length. Finally, we compared the developed engineering model (oval-shape model) and numerical results. The engineering model can predict the flammable region quite well when it reaches steady state. It is expected that the established engineering model is valuable for the Quantitative risk assessment (QRA), initial emergency strategy preparation when a fuel gas leak accident happened in a Combined cycle power plant (CCPP). We hope it is also can be a kind of data base for power plant operation manual.

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Author notes

  1. Both authors contributed equally as co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sogang University, Seoul, 04107, Korea

    Longnan Li, Jinwook Choi & Daejoong Kim

  2. School of Mechanical System Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 156756, Korea

    Joowon Bang

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 17546, Korea

    Soyeong Lee & Seong Hyuk Lee

Authors
  1. Longnan Li
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  2. Jinwook Choi
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  3. Joowon Bang
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  4. Soyeong Lee
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  5. Seong Hyuk Lee
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  6. Daejoong Kim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daejoong Kim.

Additional information

Recommended by Editor Yong Tae Kang

Longnan Li is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Mechanical Engineering at Sogang University. He received the B.S. from Northeast Petroleum University in 2007. His doctoral research focuses on heat and mass transport in the micronano scale and its application to waste heat recovery.

Jinwook Choi is currently a M.S. student in Mechanical Engineering at Sogang University. He received the B.S. from Sogang University in 2015. His research focuses on the LNG leakage and dispersion behavior in the power plant.

Joo Won Bang is currently a M.S. student in Mechanical Engineering at Chung-Ang University. He received the B.S. from Kangwon National University in 2015. His research focuses on the LNG leakage and dispersion behavior in the power plant.

Soyeong Lee is currently a M.S. student in Mechanical Engineering at Chung- Ang University. She received the B.S. from Chung-Ang University in 2015. Her research focuses on the boiling heat transfer characteristics of impinging jet.

Seong Hyuk Lee received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from Mechanical Engineering at Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea, where he is currently a Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He has explored various research topics in computational fluid dynamics. His research mainly focuses on dynamic wetting behavior and interfacial phenomena during phase change and thermal energy control through surface treatment.

Daejoong Kim received the Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University, Stanford, California, in 2007. His B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering are from Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, in 1999 and 2001, respectively. He is currently a Professor at Sogang University in Mechanical Engineering.

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Li, L., Choi, J., Bang, J. et al. Numerical investigation of LNG gas dispersion in a confined space: An engineering model. J Mech Sci Technol 31, 4533–4540 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0853-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-017-0853-2

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