Plume dispersion behaviour and hazard identification for large quantities of liquid hydrogen leakage

Modeling and Analysis of the Flow Characteristics of Liquid Hydrogen in a Pipe Suffering from External Transient Impact

Pipes can be subjected to external transient impacts such as accidental collision, which affects the safe operation of storage and transportation systems for liquid hydrogen. Fluid–structure coupling calculation for a pipe under external transient impact is performed, and the flow characteristics of liquid hydrogen in the pipe are analyzed. The pipe deforms and vibrates when suffering from external transient impact. Liquid hydrogen pressure in a cross-section plane increases along the pipe deformation direction. Additionally, external transient impact enhances the disturbance of liquid hydrogen near the pipe wall. The increased flow resistance and the energy induced by the deformed pipe both affect the flow of liquid hydrogen, and contribute to the fluctuated characteristics of liquid pressure drop. In addition, the phase state of liquid hydrogen remains unchanged in the pipe, indicating that little of the induced energy is transformed into the internal energy of liquid hydrogen. The work provides theoretical guidance for the safe operation of liquid hydrogen storage and transportation systems.

Numerical Analysis of the Hydrogen Dispersion Behavior in Different Directions in a Naturally Ventilated Space

Studies on hydrogen leakage have mainly focused on the influences of location and geometrical configuration on the distribution of the hydrogen in various spaces. The present study developed a simplified model for the leakage diffusion of hydrogen in an enclosed cuboid space with two vents, at the top and at the bottom, respectively. The effect of different leakage positions on the diffusion of the hydrogen was analyzed. The results showed that when hydrogen diffused vertically from the bottom to the top of the space, the farther the leakage position was from the vent on the side wall, the more hydrogen accumulated. When the hydrogen leaked in the vertical direction from the floor, the distance between the leakage position and the bottom vent had little effect on the horizontal diffusion speed of the hydrogen at the top of the space. The diffusion speed for the leakage in the horizontal direction was faster than that in the vertical direction. When the hydrogen leaked in the horizontal direction from the side wall, the height of the leakage had little effect on the horizontal diffusion speed of the hydrogen at the top of the space. Stratification occurred for models set up in the present study whenever the envelope of 1% mole fraction, or 4% mole fraction, of hydrogen extended to the whole ceiling.