Simulation of Possible Fire and Explosion Hazards of Clean Fuel Vehicles in Garages

Clean fuel is advocated to be used for sustainability. The number of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and hydrogen vehicles increasing globally. Explosion hazard a threat. On the other hand, use under consideration in Hong Kong. hazards these clean (LPG hydrogen) were studied are compared this paper. computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software Flame Acceleration Simulator (FLACS) was used. A car garage with rolling shutter as its entrance selected study. Dispersion LPG from leakage source ignition at higher position studied. same typical vehicle leaking 3.4 pounds (1.5 kg) 100 s, mass flow rate being equal 0.015 kgs−1. simulation has two tanks combined capacity 5 kg. entire tank would completely vented out about 333 s. Two scenarios CFD carried out. In first scenario, closed leaked or ignited 300 s after leakage. second scenario conducted gap height 0.3 m shutter. Predicted results explosion pressure temperature show that appropriate active fire engineering systems required when servicing garages. An vent an enclosed space such important reducing hazards.