CFD Modeling of LNG Flammable Vapor Cloud Dispersion

Abstract

The simulation of LNG flammable vapor cloud dispersion plays a key role in the safe design of LNG terminals and other facilities. With large scale and often complex release scenarios, the scope for model testing is limited and so computational fluid dynamics (CFD) offers a valuable predictive tool, particularly where uneven terrain or obstructions are present and simpler simulation methods may be insufficient. In this study, CFD is used to simulate a range of published LNG vapor and other dense gas dispersion experiments. Details of the setup used to model both the model scale and full scale releases included in the different datasets is presented with emphasis placed on the key model setup choices made in each case. In particular, factors such as the computational mesh and processing and interpretation of data from the completed run were examined. Finally, the numerical results computed are compared with experimental point-wise and arc-wise maximum concentration data to validate the CFD models. The individual challenges presented by each dataset and ability of the CFD model to reproduce experimental measurements in each case is analyzed and discussed.