Numerical analysis of physical barriers to mitigate the gas tank explosion effects using computational fluid dynamics

Abstract

In many urban buildings, there is the presence of gas central storage, which contain pressurized tanks. One of the main risks in these places is an explosion, which may or may not is followed by fire. In general, the shock wave formed by this phenomenon is disastrous and can cause material damage and even fatalities. Recent research has contributed to understanding protective systems against this phenomenon; however, it is necessary to advance in developing protection devices for gas central storage. From this perspective, the implementation plan of these devices in order to mitigate the harmful effects of explosions are essential to raise the safety level in construction. Physical protection barriers are appropriate solutions for the protection of buildings, especially in places where it is impossible to bury gas reservoirs. In addition to the potential to reduce back pressure levels, protective walls, when properly designed, can also prevent the spread of debris from the explosion. Another kind of barrier that influences the propagation of the shock wave close to the ground is the ditches, whose function is related to the absorption and redirection of wave energy. Understanding the positioning, geometry, and overpressure attenuation potential of physical barriers are essential in developing safer and more reliable projects. This article aims to study protective barriers in buildings with pressurized gas tanks. The study was developed numerically using the Autodyn software. This program is a tool based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The protective capacity of the proposed types of protection regarding the mitigation of incident overpressures was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively.