Consequence Analysis of an Unconfined Hydrogen Vapor-Cloud Explosion

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 10 Issue 4 (2005) pp 252-256

Consequence Analysis of an Unconfined Hydrogen Vapor-Cloud Explosion

Justo Lobato*, Manual Andres Rodrigo, Pablo Cañizares, Juan Francisco Rodríguez, and Jose Joaquin Linares

Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha. Campus Universitario s/n. 13004. Ciudad Real, Spain, jlobato@inqu-cr.uclm.es
Received December 21, 2005. Accepted March 21, 2005.

Published online: 11 July 2005

Abstract. This work describes the analyis of the consequences of an unconfined vapor-cloud explosion (UVCE) using the well-known TNT model. Using this model, overpressure generated by the explosion can be estimated. This is a key parameter for subsequent evaluation of the vulnerability of people and buildings by means of the PROBabilty unITs (PROBIT) model. In order to carry out a particular study, an example of this kind of explosion with hydrogen, a typical gas in fuel cells and dangerous enough to deserve analysis, is proposed. An algorithm is suggested for use in the calculations that determines the effect of the explosion at different distances. A Microsoft Excel 7.0 spreadsheet that checks the space–time evolution of the example explosion is provided as supporting material. Similar studies of other flammable chemicals can be performed using this type of analysis.

Key Words: In the Classroom; physical chemistry; consequence analysis; hydrogen; UVCE; Probit units; and TNT model

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: jlobato@inqu-cr.uclm.es)

Article in PDF format (341 KB) HTML format

Supporting Materials:

The Excel 7.0 spreadsheet file used in the analysis is available in a Zip file. (82 KB)