Abstract
Based on the dissipation rate conservation equations of turbulent kinetic energy in the k-ε turbulence model, a complicated three-dimensional finite element model of a kitchen filled with gas mixture is developed by using the open source field operation and manipulation (OpenFOAM). Two representative kitchens were used to investigate the propagation law of the shock wave of a gas explosion inside a building by considering the key characteristics of the blast shock wave. The influence of some crucial parameters, such as initial conditions and kitchen parameters, on the properties of the blast shock wave is investigated. The basic steps to predict the peak pressure of the blast shock wave are given in consideration of the initial condition and the kitchen whilst the injury effect of the blast shock wave on the humans and animals is evaluated. The research results indicate that the pressure time history and the peak pressure space distribution are greatly influenced by the kitchen design layout. The coupled interaction between the initial temperature and gas volume concentration, especially at the upper and lower explosion limits of the gas, significantly affects the peak pressure. The peak pressure varies significantly with the opening and the buffer; however, it has little relation with the width, length, and height of the kitchen. The proposed method can accurately and effectively predict the peak pressure of the blast shock wave inside buildings. In terms of the peak pressure space distribution of the explosion shock wave, the peak pressure is much higher than the threshold of the killing pressure, which is unsafe for the humans and animals in the building.
Highlights
With the acceleration of the urbanization process, urban gas gradually becomes an important part of the energy in citizen’s daily life over the last few decades [1, 2] resulting from its irreplaceable advantages, such as high efficiency, cleanness and cheapness
Urban gas leakage in the process of being used is very likely to cause an explosion inside a building and leads to a chain of disastrous consequences [3, 4]. erefore, the research into the propagation law of the shock wave of a gas explosion inside buildings has been widely concerned by the researchers and engineers in this field [5]
In terms of the peak pressure space distribution of the explosion shock wave, the peak pressure is much higher than the threshold of the killing pressure which is unsafe for the humans in the building
Summary
With the acceleration of the urbanization process, urban gas gradually becomes an important part of the energy in citizen’s daily life over the last few decades [1, 2] resulting from its irreplaceable advantages, such as high efficiency, cleanness and cheapness. With the help of the CFD numerical simulation method, Wang et al [15] mainly analyzed the gas leakage and diffusion, blast shock wave, and flame propagation process of a real gas explosion inside the building, and discussed about the reason for this accident through it. Based on the characteristics of the building structure, Li et al [16] proposed a hybrid method that combines the numerical simulation and the analytical solutions to predict the internal and external pressures from the vented gas explosion in a large enclosure, and verified the reliability and accuracy of this method by the experimental data. Several research problems associated with the propagation law of the blast shock wave caused by a gas explosion remain unclear as a result of the limitations of the study subjects and the experimental conditions. A new method is proposed to estimate the properties of the blast shock wave inside the building. is present study can provide the technological support and theoretical basis for the potential risk assessment on the living beings [18]
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