Simulation and Experimental Verification of Dispersion and Explosion of Hydrogen–Methane Mixture in a Domestic Kitchen

Haidong Xu (), Qiang Deng, Xiaomei Huang, Du Li and Fengwen Pan
Additional contact information
Haidong Xu: Weifang Municipal Public Utility Service Center, 332 Kangdong Street, Kuiwen District, Weifang 261000, China
Qiang Deng: School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400044, China
Xiaomei Huang: School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Shapingba District, Chongqing 400044, China
Du Li: WISDRI City Environment Protection Engineering Co., Ltd., No. 59 Liufang Road, East Lake Hi-Tech Development Zone, Wuhan 430200, China
Fengwen Pan: National Center of Technology Innovation for Fuel Cell, 169 Wei’an Road, High-Tech Zone, Weifang 261000, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: Hydrogen is a carbon-free energy source that can be obtained from various sources. The blending of hydrogen represents a transitional phase in the shift from natural gas systems to hydrogen-based systems. However, concerns about the safety implications of introducing hydrogen have led to extensive discussions. This paper utilizes Fluent 17.0 numerical simulation software to simulate the leakage of hydrogen-blended natural gas in a closed domestic kitchen and analyze the concentration distribution and its variation pattern after a leakage. An experimental platform is set up, and a mixture of nitrogen and helium gas is used as a substitute for hydrogen-blended natural gas for the simulations and experiments. The simulation results demonstrate that the leaked gas spreads and accumulates towards the top of the space, gradually filling the entire area as the leak persists. As the hydrogen content in the leaked gas increases, the dispersion capacity of the gas in the confined space also increases. Furthermore, as the flow rate of the leaked gas increases, the average concentration of the leaked gas rises, and the gas stratification in the confined kitchen diminishes. The concentration distribution observed in the experiments aligns with the simulation results. After establishing the feasibility conditions of the model, the dispersion of the hydrogen-blended natural gas in the kitchen is further simulated. The results suggest that blending hydrogen into the gas enhances the dispersion of the gas after a leak, leading to a wider distribution within the kitchen and an increased risk in the event of a leak. Additionally, this paper employs the CASD module of FLACS 11.0 software to construct a three-dimensional geometric model of the domestic kitchen for simulation studies on the explosion of hydrogen-blended natural gas in a confined space. By adjusting the hydrogen ratio in the combustible gases present in the space and examining the variations in hydrogen concentration and external conditions, such as opening or closing the door, the influence on parameters including the peak explosion pressure, explosion overpressure, explosion flame temperature, and explosion response time are examined. Furthermore, the extent of the explosion area is determined, and the effect of hydrogen on the blast is clarified.

Keywords: hydrogen-blended natural gas; numerical simulation; leakage and dispersion; domestic kitchen; explosion (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: 2024
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