Towards safer hydrogen utilization: tools to design against accidental deflagration
File(s)
Author(s)
Bisio, Valentina
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Accidental deflagrations pose significant and potentially catastrophic threat to the energy industry, given the profound consequences they can entail for people, assets and the environment. The growing interest in hydrogen as a carbon-free energy carrier will result in the building of new hydrogen plants and the repurposing of existing infrastructure; this requires thorough safety considerations. This work develops methods to predict structural loading due to accidental deflagrations of hydrogen or hydrocarbons.
Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations able to capture flame propagation, its acceleration due to flame front instabilities, the pressure waves originating from the expanding flame and their interactions with obstacles are conducted. After validation against experimental works available in the literature, the simulations are used to study a range of scenarios, from unconfined and uncongested environment to closed volumes with congestion. For each scenario we develop methods to analytically predict the pressure histories on structures.
A number of experimental setups is analysed. In particular, the Fluid-Structure Interaction between an ignited flammable mixture and its containing shell is examined, since in all experimental setups some form of containment of the premixed flammable mixture is in place. An analytical model to estimate the impacts on the pressure wave due to the presence of the containment shell is developed.
The estimation and measurements of pressure waves originated in accidental deflagrations can be affected by uncertainties. For this reason Monte Carlo analyses were conducted, using analytical models, to quantify how these uncertainties in can propagate to the loading exerted on structures surrounding a deflagration event.
This work introduces fundamental predictive tools that can be used in design by industrial engineers and also contribute to an improved understanding of the phenomena associated to accidental deflagrations.
Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations able to capture flame propagation, its acceleration due to flame front instabilities, the pressure waves originating from the expanding flame and their interactions with obstacles are conducted. After validation against experimental works available in the literature, the simulations are used to study a range of scenarios, from unconfined and uncongested environment to closed volumes with congestion. For each scenario we develop methods to analytically predict the pressure histories on structures.
A number of experimental setups is analysed. In particular, the Fluid-Structure Interaction between an ignited flammable mixture and its containing shell is examined, since in all experimental setups some form of containment of the premixed flammable mixture is in place. An analytical model to estimate the impacts on the pressure wave due to the presence of the containment shell is developed.
The estimation and measurements of pressure waves originated in accidental deflagrations can be affected by uncertainties. For this reason Monte Carlo analyses were conducted, using analytical models, to quantify how these uncertainties in can propagate to the loading exerted on structures surrounding a deflagration event.
This work introduces fundamental predictive tools that can be used in design by industrial engineers and also contribute to an improved understanding of the phenomena associated to accidental deflagrations.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2023-11-01
Date Awarded
2024-03-01
License URL
Advisor
Tagarielli, Vito
Montomoli, Francesco
Sponsor
Baker Hughes
Publisher Department
Aeronautics
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)