Simulation of Fireball and Blast Wave from a Hydrogen Tank Rupture in a Fire

This study aims at the development of predictive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for the assessment of hazard distances from fireball and blast wave resulted from high-pressure hydrogen storage tank rupture in a ¦re. Two simulations, without and with radiation submodel, are carried out and compared against experimental data and predictions by the analytical model published recently [1]. The CFD model gives insights into the dynamics of both the blast wave and thefireball. The longest of hazard distances determined by pressure and thermal loads (both temperature and thermal dose) are determined. The simulations have reproduced well experimental parameters such as blast wave decay, overpressure dynamics at different locations, including the timing of the blast wave arrival, as well as fireball shape and size. One of the advantages of the CFD model with radiation is the ability to calculate hazard distance by thermal dose.