Development of a model for simulating the variability of the physical properties of substances, stored in various storage tanks, in the presence of an external heat source

Abstract

In this paper a mathematical model for simulating the variability of the physical properties of substances stored in various storage devices (pressurised or cryogenic tanks etc.), in the presence of an external heat source, is presented. Design/construction characteristics including tank geometry, and all possible safety features (safety valves, liquid pump out, water deluge systems, water curtains, fire walls, external cooling by fixed or mobile fire fighting appliances) are taken into account in the model formulation. As an application example the case of an ammonia cryogenic storage tank is examined. In this example heat input arises from an adjacent storage tank being on fire and the time dependence of pressure and temperature of the tank and its content properties are calculated. The modular design of the model and the promising results allow the inclusion of the model developed in other more complicated packages (e.g. DOMINO) in order to simulate accident evolution sequences in parallel with various operational interventions or additional safety features.