CFD modeling of plume and free surface behavior resulting from a sub-sea gas release

A 3D, transient, mathematical model was developed to simulate the plume and free surface behavior resulting from a sub-sea gas pipe rupture. A coupled volume of fluid (VOF) and discrete phase model (DPM) approach was used to account for the multiphase aspects. Turbulence was modeled using the standard k-epsilon approach The model was compared to experiments conducted in a 7 in deep rest basin and successfully predicted a wide range of experimental measurements. The model was also applied to gas release at large ocean depths to verify that the model is applicable to studies of realistic scenarios. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.