Hydrogen is an enabler for de-carbonising the energy system in Europe by 2050.
In the UK, several projects are investigating the feasibility of gradually blending hydrogen into the natural gas pipelines with the aim of reaching 100% hydrogen in the gas network. However, the safe use of hydrogen as a fuel presents different challenges than conventional hydrocarbon-based fuels.
To understand the behaviour of hydrogen-natural gas mixtures, advanced consequence models are powerful tools that can be used to support the design process and estimate the consequences of potential accidents.
During the 17th EFCE International Symposium on Loss Prevention and Safety Promotion in Process Industries, Gexcon’s Research Engineer Melodía Lucas will present a paper entitled “CFD Analysis of Explosions with Hydrogen-Methane-Air Mixtures in Congested Geometries“.
In her presentation, Melodía will discuss the predictive capabilities of two combustion models for an explosion for hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen-methane blends.
The analysis involves the default combustion model in the commercial version (FLACS v21.2), and a new combustion model implemented in an in-house development version where the model for premixed turbulent combustion incorporates Markstein number effects (FLACS v21.2 IH).
Experiments performed by Shell in unconfined pipe racks, some of which were part of the EU-funded project NaturalHy, are considered.
The simulation results from both versions of FLACS are within a factor of 2 of the overpressures observed in the experiments. However, FLACS v21.2 IH appears to give an improved representation of the overpressure trend with variations in the hydrogen equivalence ratio observed in the experiments.
Presentation detail
Title: CFD Analysis of Explosions with Hydrogen-Methane-air Mixtures in Congested Geometries
Author(s): Melodía Lucas, Helene Hisken, Trygve Skjold, Bjørn J. Arntzen
Session: Risk Assessment
Presenter: Melodía Lucas
Date & Time: Tuesday, 7 June 2022 – 05:10 – 05:30 PM CEST
Location: Vienna House Diplomat, Hall Prague A+B
