Numerical simulation of leakage, dispersion and explosion behavior of LPG in kitchen

Abstract

ABSTRACT The frequent occurrence of kitchen gas explosion accidents has raised widespread attention to gas safety. This article takes kitchen as the research object, and explores the dispersion law of LPG leakage in kitchens and the influence of ignition at different leakage time on explosion consequences by establishing LPG leakage and explosion models. The results show that the process of LPG leakage in a closed kitchen can be divided into three stages: initial kinetic energy dominant stage, gravity expansion stage, and passive dispersion stage. Propane forms a non-uniform concentration field in the kitchen that gradually decreases from bottom to top, filling the entire kitchen in 583 s. When an explosion occurred in the kitchen center, the initial burst of flame spreads around in a fireball. After 115 ms and 122 ms, the explosion overpressure causes the door and window to be destroyed respectively, and the flames stretch toward the door and window. The flames are then concentrated mainly in the lower area where the fuel is more adequate. In the later stage of the deflagration reaction, the flame propagates toward the upper area of the kitchen under buoyancy. The explosion consequences of LPG non-uniform gas clouds show a pattern of first intensifying and then weakening with the leakage time. The explosion consequences are most severe when ignited about 300 s after the leakage. The maximum explosion overpressures at the center of the kitchen, door, and window were 67.15 kPa, 28.12 kPa, and 27.92 kPa, respectively. The research results can provide reference for emergency response, consequence assessment, and kitchen safety design for kitchen LPG leakage and explosion accidents..