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MODELLING OF EXPLOSION RISK AREAS IN A FUNCTION OF TERRAIN TOPOGRAPHY, WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION FOR A GAS MIXTURE OF PROPANE-BUTANE TYPE

Agnieszka Kalbarczyk-Jedynak

Abstract

At the age of an increasing demand for energy we reach to an ever wider range of substances giving a possibility of its generation. A constant need for energy supplies is so strong that we are not prevented by the danger related to the storage or transport of such substances. Although we try to eliminate any risks, even a small human error may contribute to a tragedy. In the case of substantial and sudden depressurization it is impossible to conduct in situ tests at a large scale. An attempt at conducting an in situ, test involving a leak of a small amount of a given substance, and then approximating it for a greater concentration is not adequate for a real situation. At a concentration that is less that the lower flammability limit or at a concentration greater than the upper flammability limit the risk of explosion does not exist. Moreover, in order to estimate the scope of damage caused by an uncontrolled depressurization of a tank, a series of factors, such as: yield and geometry of emission source, discharge speed, concentration of released substance, relative density, temperature and volatility of a liquid, ventilation, mechanical obstacles, climate conditions or terrain topography, need to be taken into consideration. The article presents the results of a numerical analysis of the danger zone range for a mixture of propane and butane gases. The objective is to determine the sizes of explosion risk areas in a function of terrain topography and weather conditions. A simulation presents how the range of a danger zone changes for various percentage concentrations of both gases in a mixture. Determining the ranges of danger zones is important with respect to the safety of local population or the people working in direct contact with the released substance. The possibility of predicting danger zones enables creating systems supporting the decisions taken in the event of a breakdown or an environmental disaster.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2018/1.4/s06.079

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