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

Donatella Cirrone; DV Makarov; Vladimir Molkov

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.04.222

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

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Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	416-430
Number of pages	15
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	133
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.04.222
Publication status	Published (in print/issue) - 2 Jun 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors

Funding

This research has received funding from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership under grant agreement No 101101381 ( ELVHYS ) and No 101137743 (DelHyVEHR). ELVHYS and DelHyVEHR projects are supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership ( CHP ) and its members. Co-funded by the European Union . University of Ulster in Horizon Europe Project ELVHYS is supported by UKRI grant number 10063519 . DelHyVEHR is co-funded by the UK Research and Innovation and the Swiss Confederation. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Hydrogen JU. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. The authors would like to acknowledge EPSRC for funding the project Kelvin-2 \u201CTier 2 High-Performance Computing Services\u201D in Northern Ireland, EP/T022175/1 .

Funders	Funder number
European Commission
10063519
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council	EP/T022175/1
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Keywords

Liquid hydrogen
Storage tank
Tank rupture in fire
Blast wave
BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion)
Multiple peak structure of blast wave
CFD
Validation
CFD model

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.04.222

1-s2.0-S0360319925018919-mainFinal published version, 7.38 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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

abstract = "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.",

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author = "Donatella Cirrone and DV Makarov and Vladimir Molkov",

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doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.04.222",

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T1 - The multi-peaks structure of the blast wave generated by a liquid hydrogen storage tank BLEVE

AU - Cirrone, Donatella

AU - Makarov, DV

AU - Molkov, Vladimir

PY - 2025/6/2

Y1 - 2025/6/2

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Liquid hydrogen

KW - Storage tank

KW - Tank rupture in fire

KW - Blast wave

KW - BLEVE (boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion)

KW - Multiple peak structure of blast wave

KW - CFD

KW - Validation

KW - CFD model

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003913837

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.04.222

DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.04.222

M3 - Article

SN - 0360-3199

VL - 133

SP - 416

EP - 430

JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

ER -

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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