NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF LIQUID HYDROGEN LEAKAGE AND DISPERSION CONSIDERING ATMOSPHERIC STABILITY

Cheng Chonglyu; Shan Conghui; Zhang Mengfan; Xu Baopeng

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2023-1518

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1) : 383-390. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2023-1518

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF LIQUID HYDROGEN LEAKAGE AND DISPERSION CONSIDERING ATMOSPHERIC STABILITY

Cheng Chonglyu, Shan Conghui, Zhang Mengfan, Xu Baopeng

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Abstract

The flammable and explosive cloud resulting from a liquid hydrogen leak poses a serious safety hazard. Using a solver developed with OpenFOAM, an in-depth analysis of liquid hydrogen leakage and subsequent dispersion behavior was conducted. The solver employed a simplified evaporation model to determine the evaporation rate. Hydrogen cloud dispersion and heat transfer from the ground were simulated using separate gas-phase and solid-phase solvers. The conjugate heat transfer method was used to ensure continuous temperature and heat flux between the gas and solid regions. A logarithmic wind profile incorporating atmospheric stability was also utilized. The solver was validated using wind profile measurements and liquid hydrogen leakage experiments. The results showed stable atmospheric conditions, high temperatures, and large leakage volumes increased lateral dispersion of flammable hydrogen clouds. Additionally, a retention pit scheme reduced the evaporation rate by 99%, flammable cloud distance by 46%, and cloud height by 76%, effectively decreasing the hazardous range.

Key words

hydrogen / leakage （fluid） / atmospheric boundary layer / dispersion / numerical simulation

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Cheng Chonglyu, Shan Conghui, Zhang Mengfan, Xu Baopeng. NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF LIQUID HYDROGEN LEAKAGE AND DISPERSION CONSIDERING ATMOSPHERIC STABILITY[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2025, 46(1): 383-390 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2023-1518

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