Simulation of the Gas Distribution Law and Operational Risk Analysis of a Vertical Gas Tank in a Ventilation State

Chunli Yang, Yinqing Wang (), Yan Liu and Xiangchun Li
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Chunli Yang: Occupational Hazards Assessment and Control Technology Center, Institute of Urban Safety and Environmental Science, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing 100054, China
Yinqing Wang: School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing 100083, China
Yan Liu: Occupational Hazards Assessment and Control Technology Center, Institute of Urban Safety and Environmental Science, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing 100054, China
Xiangchun Li: School of Emergency Management and Safety Engineering, China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing 100083, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 19, 1-23

Abstract: As a type of airtight equipment, vertical gas tanks are prone to accumulations of toxic and harmful gases due to their poor ventilation and narrow space. This poses many safety hazards. Therefore, we conducted a FLUENT simulation for vertical gas tanks with different diameters. The results indicated that the larger the diameter, the longer the required ventilation time. It was necessary to monitor the gas concentration after ventilation for at least 6 h when the tank diameter was 2.6 m, after ventilation for at least 24 h when the tank diameter was 5.2 m, and after ventilation for at least 80 h when the tank diameter was 7.8 m. To ensure comprehensive monitoring, at least one monitoring point was required to be placed at the upper and lower ends of the vertical gas tank, respectively. Monitoring was initiated after these requirements were reached. A theoretical numerical analysis and an experimental verification analysis were conducted on the simulation results. The variation trend of the simulation value, the theoretical value, and the experimental test value were the same. The measured value of the ventilation duration was greater than the theoretical value of the ventilation duration and the simulation value of the ventilation duration. Therefore, the simulation results and theoretical analysis could be used for a risk analysis of gas tanks. The determination of ventilation characteristics via a simulation of vertical gas tanks has a practical significance when guiding on-site operations.

Keywords: vertical gas tank; FLUENT simulation; natural ventilation; gas transport; risk analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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