Abstract
Clean fuel is advocated to be used for sustainability. The number of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and hydrogen vehicles is increasing globally. Explosion hazard is a threat. On the other hand, the use of hydrogen is under consideration in Hong Kong. Explosion hazards of these clean fuel (LPG and hydrogen) vehicles were studied and are compared in this paper. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software Flame Acceleration Simulator (FLACS) was used. A car garage with a rolling shutter as its entrance was selected for study. Dispersion of LPG from the leakage source with ignition at a higher position was studied. The same garage was used with a typical hydrogen vehicle leaking 3.4 pounds (1.5 kg) of hydrogen in 100 s, the mass flow rate being equal to 0.015 kgs−1. The hydrogen vehicle used in the simulation has two hydrogen tanks with a combined capacity of 5 kg. The entire tank would be completely vented out in about 333 s. Two scenarios of CFD simulation were carried out. In the first scenario, the rolling shutter was completely closed and the leaked LPG or hydrogen was ignited at 300 s after leakage. The second scenario was conducted with a gap height of 0.3 m under the rolling shutter. Predicted results of explosion pressure and temperature show that appropriate active fire engineering systems are required when servicing these clean fuel vehicles in garages. An appropriate vent in an enclosed space such as the garage is important in reducing explosion hazards.
Highlights
Clean fuel [1,2,3] is expected to be widely used for vehicles in advocating for sustainability
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is suitable for different types of vehicles, e.g., vans, truck and buses, this fuel is mainly used in passenger cars including taxis in many dense urban Asia-Oceania areas, such as Hong Kong
A garage, three fects of surface at the of roller to the convective flow field scenarios at different operation times judging from the fire investigation report are conIn the preliminary study of the explosion behaviour of an LPG taxi in a garage, threesidered: scenarios at different operation times judging from the fire investigation report are considered:
Summary
Clean fuel [1,2,3] is expected to be widely used for vehicles in advocating for sustainability. LPG is suitable for different types of vehicles, e.g., vans, truck and buses, this fuel is mainly used in passenger cars including taxis in many dense urban Asia-Oceania areas, such as Hong Kong. A roller shutter is provided at x = 8.1 m tion) as shown in Figure 2a is used in the simulation. Scenario of leakage from a hole in the fuel tank, the mass flow rate would be 0.21 kgs−1. The leakage ing source of PRV.is located at the centre of the garage with a height of 0.45 m above floor level, i.e., x = 4.05 m, y = 1.45 m and z = 0.45 m. LPG is discharged through a rectangular nozzle of dimensions 0.3 m by 0.3 m with a downward (−z) leakage direction
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
