Objective

The objective is to know the distribution of explosive cloud formed from leaking Propane through a pressurized cylinder & to determine maximum flammable cloud formed from it.

Design Approach

Study has been done in two phases:

1. Transient CFD simulation of Propane leak and formation of flammable cloud.

2. Transient FSI simulation of explosion of the flammable cloud coupled with the response of partition plate.

A transient CFD simulation is performed and the flammable cloud tracked in time. Inside of the Propane cylinder itself is not modeled, but the cylinder pressure adjusted to the quantity of leak.

Conclusion

Due to high density of Propane, it is coming down from leak location and is distributed over the ground.

Over the time, leaked Propane sustains sufficient momentum coming out, and therefore spreads slightly away from the OXCE unit.

With this Propane distribution, the maximum explosive cloud volume observed is 6.4 cubic meter within the flammable limits of Propane.

This maximum explosive cloud volume of Propane attained in duration of 17.5 seconds after commencing of leak.