Numerical simulation of leakage and diffusion distribution of natural gas and hydrogen mixtures in a closed container

The transportation and utilization of hydrogen blended natural gas have received extensive attention. The dangerous characteristics of hydrogen such as high diffusivity and wide flammability/explosion limit also increase the leakage risk of hydrogen blended natural gas. In this paper, a numerical model is established for the leakage and diffusion of hydrogen blended natural gas in a closed container. The evolution of the distribution, diffusion law and flammable area of different proportions of hydrogen blended natural gas after leaking into a closed container is investigated. The results show that the flammable area with low hydrogen ratios (20% and below) will disappear within 2.7 s-11.1 s after the leakage, which is relatively safer, while the high hydrogen ratio (80% and above) reaches 3875 s-4555 s with a significant increase in risk duration. After the 50% hydrogen ratio leakage, the thickness of the flammable area is higher than 15.67% for the 80% hydrogen ratio and 30.25% higher than pure hydrogen at 120 s after leakage, and the risk is higher in a short time. Due to the difference in the diffusion rates between methane and hydrogen, hydrogen diffuses to the middle and lower part of the enclosed container faster, and the risk in the middle and lower part also deserves attention.(c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This paper establishes a numerical model to study the leakage and diffusion of hydrogen blended natural gas in a closed container. The results show that the flammable area with high hydrogen ratios has a longer risk duration, while the flammable area with low hydrogen ratios is relatively safer. The difference in diffusion rates between methane and hydrogen leads to faster diffusion of hydrogen to the middle and lower part of the enclosed container.