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April 2015
Water curtains and jets are recognized as a useful mean of mitigating gas cloud.
History of researches conducted on the effects of water curtains on dispersion of
gas clouds can be summarized on the
– CASIMIRE code, an engineering code CASIMIRE has been developed as
described by Hald K., Dandrieux A., Dusserre G, & Buchlin J.-M. (2003). With
respect to the water-curtains configuration (type of nozzles, nozzle spacing,
operating pressure, spray height) the code may evaluate the mitigation
efficiency for the different applications stated above.
– Karin Hald presented theses “Forced Dispersion of Heavy Gas Clouds by Water
Curtains -Experimental and Numerical Approaches” presented the physical
phenomena's related to water curtins.
This study uses CFD simulation as the main tool to investigate the physical effects of water
curtains in gas dispersion. FDS program is utilized for this study .
The study is done on two phases as follows:
Phase 1:
A simple model with single water spray , no wind or gas leak is investigated by changing the
following parameters:
Water flow rate
Water speed
Water droplet size
The air mass and velocity (gas phase) are investigated through the different cases studied and
a correlation between those parameters are found.
Phase 2:
A model with the following:
Gas leak source (Methane)
Water spray curtain by monitors and Nozzles setup as per results from phase 1
5 m/s wind speed.
The water curtain / jet effect is studied by Methane detectors and gas Methane fraction iso
surfaces. The direction of applying the curtain is studied in three cases:
1- With wind direction
2- Against wind direction
3-crossing wind direction
The purpose of this phase is to get better understanding on water curtains effects
on the gas phase (air).
The model used is simple water nozzle spraying water at 45 degrees angle
considering different flow-rates, speeds and droplet sizes.
The test results shows that water jets works as an air pump that pumps air in the
direction of water stream as seen in test case 1 velocity profile in the x direction
shown below.
Case 1: 3 m/s air velocity ISO surface Case 1: 5 m/s air velocity ISO surface
Case 3: 5m/s air velocity ISO surface Case 3: 3m/s air velocity ISO surface
Case 4: 5m/s air velocity ISO surface Case 4: 5m/s air velocity ISO surface
The average mass flow rate per square meter is measured in line with the
average air mass flow in the table below
l/m m/s um kg/s.m2
case
flow speed size Avg Flow
1 33 15 50 0.48
2 33 50 50 0.93
3 33 100 50 1.09
7 33 50 100 0.61
8 33 50 300 0.44
4 100 15 50 0.75
5 100 50 50 1.16
6 100 100 50 1.23
9 100 100 800 0.44
10 1200 80 250 1.82
11 1200 40 250 1.89
12 1200 80 50 1.11
13 7400 40 250 2.11
Correlation between the 3 parameters and air mass flow is conducted using non
linear regression, the results can be concluded as follows
. .
Q
Where Q is the air average mass flow in Kg/s.m2
∅ Water flow rate in L/s, Vw is the water velocity in m/s and is the droplet size in um
A model with gas release and water monitors are defined where water is activated
after the gas cloud shape is stabilized
The effect of water curtain is investigated through Methane volume fraction
measurement by methane detectors and iso surfaces.
The main assumptions are as follows:
– Wind speed assumed 5 m/sec
– Gas released is methane at 15kg/s, released horizontally downwind.
– A building with an open door assumed 22 meters from the release source.
– Gas sensors located 8m, 15m from release source and inside the building.
– Different arrangement of fire monitors and nozzles investigated at different
cases.
Number of monitors: 6
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 1200 L/min per monitor.
Velocity: 40 m/sec
Drop Size: 250m
Direction: Against the wind and gas
cloud direction.
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height
2 outside and one inside the building.
Methane 01 :is 8 meters from
release source
Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
Methane 03: is inside the building
Gas Cloud iso-surface shape for Gas Cloud iso-surface shape for
50000 PPM at 25 sec 10000 PPM at 25 sec
Gas Cloud iso-surface shape for Gas Cloud iso-surface shape for
50000 PPM at 35 sec 10000 PPM at 35 sec
Water Startup
Water Startup
Number of monitors: 3
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 1200 L/min per monitor.
Velocity: 40 m/sec
Drop Size: 250 m
Direction: Against the wind and gas
cloud direction. Monitors 4 meters
apart directed towards the center
◦
Monitor (21 )
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height
2 outside and one inside the building.
Methane 01 :is 8 meters from
release source
Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
Methan2 03: is inside the building
20 DNV GL © 2014 16 November 2014
Phase 2: Case 2 gas cloud animation
Number of monitors: 6
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 1200 L/min per monitor.
Velocity: 40 m/sec
Drop Size: 250 m
Direction: Cross wind and gas cloud
direction.
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height 2
outside and one inside the building.
Methane 01 :is 8 meters from release
source
Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
Methan2 03: is inside the building
Number of monitors: 3
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 1200 L/min per monitor.
Velocity: 40 m/sec
Drop Size: 250 m
Direction: Cross wind and gas cloud
direction.
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height 2
outside and one inside the building.
Methane 01 :is 8 meters from release
source
Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
Methan2 03: is inside the building
Number of Nozzles: 16
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 450 L/min per Nozzle.
Velocity: 60 m/sec
Drop Size: 100 m
Direction: Downwards (Vertical)
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height
2 outside and one inside the building.
Methane 01 :is 8 meters from
release source
Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
Methan2 03: is inside the building
Water Curtains and jets can be effective in diverting and diluting of buoyant
hydrocarbon gas clouds.
Water flow acts like air pump, the effectiveness of that pump depends on
– the generated air momentum (mass and velocity).
– Direction of the water jet, it is more effective if the water jet is upwind
– Cross wind can be effective but more water power is needed (case 2, 3 and 4).
– The case where the water jet was downwind showed very minor effects.
Water jet from monitors should oscillate to increase area coverage (60 degree
span).
Water curtains from deluge nozzles (downwards) reduces gas readings but they
are not as effective as water jets.
Hesham Fandy
Hesham.Fandy@DNVGL.com
www.dnvgl.com