The multi-peaks structure of the blast wave generated by a liquid hydrogen storage tank BLEVE

Blast wave structure of boiling liquid expanding vapour explosions (BLEVE) for liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage is not fully understood. There is a lack of experimental and numerical studies on underlying physical phenomena. This study develops a CFD model able to simulate multiple pressure peaks of the blast wave accounting for both the effect of combustion on the strength of blast wave generated by the compressed gaseous hydrogen (CGH2) in ullage space, and the slower process of flashing boiling of the liquid phase resulted from pressure drop. The simulations reproduced the measured overpressures and multi-peak structure of blast wave observed in the BLEVE tests performed by BMW. It is confirmed that the larger first pressure peak is produced by the CGH2 shock fed by combustion. The flash boiling of LH2 during pressure drop produces a series of follow-up pressure waves. Combustion contribution to the entire blast wave dynamics is demonstrated.