ARTICLE:

• MODELING THE FORMATION OF FLAMMABLE ENVIRONMENTS WITHIN PARTIALLY EMPTY LIQUID FUEL CONTAINERS  download article

R. Bunama
Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

G. A. Karim
Deptartment of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4

ABSTRACT

A two dimensional axisymmetric mathematical model has been developed to describe the transient formation of flammable environment within the confines of a partially empty open topped liquid fuel container. The space above the liquid surface is occupied by a binary mixture consisting of the fuel vapor and a gas. The numerical solution using a finite volume scheme were carried out for n-pentane as the vapor and air as the gas. The effects of mass, energy, and momentum transport on the temporal progression of the flammable zone were considered. The natural convective flows induced by the temperature and concentration gradients within the gaseous phase were presented. The effects of changes in the ambient temperature and presence of liquid traces on the container sidewalls on the transport process and the formation of the flammable environments were examined.

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381-388 pages

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