OIL & GAS

Water Curtin effects on gas clouds

Presented by Hesham Fandy

Principle Consultant Risk Management Avdisory

April 2015

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Background

 Water curtains and jets are recognized as a useful mean of mitigating gas cloud.
 History of researches conducted on the effects of water curtains on dispersion of
gas clouds can be summarized on the
– CASIMIRE code, an engineering code CASIMIRE has been developed as
described by Hald K., Dandrieux A., Dusserre G, & Buchlin J.-M. (2003). With
respect to the water-curtains configuration (type of nozzles, nozzle spacing,
operating pressure, spray height) the code may evaluate the mitigation
efficiency for the different applications stated above.
– Karin Hald presented theses “Forced Dispersion of Heavy Gas Clouds by Water
Curtains -Experimental and Numerical Approaches” presented the physical
phenomena's related to water curtins.

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Background

 Many factors determines the effectiveness of water curtains that includes

– Water Flow Rate.
– Water Speed.
– Water droplet size.
– Water Direction to gas cloud.
– Wind Speed.
– Gas leak release rate.
– Gas leak speed.
 The study presented explores the different parameters that determine the water
curtains and jets effectiveness.
 The study shows that water curtains / jets acts as air pump which have a dilution
and directing effect similar to natural wind effect.

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Study methodology

 This study uses CFD simulation as the main tool to investigate the physical effects of water
curtains in gas dispersion. FDS program is utilized for this study .
 The study is done on two phases as follows:
Phase 1:
A simple model with single water spray , no wind or gas leak is investigated by changing the
following parameters:
 Water flow rate
 Water speed
 Water droplet size
The air mass and velocity (gas phase) are investigated through the different cases studied and
a correlation between those parameters are found.

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Study methodology

Phase 2:
A model with the following:
 Gas leak source (Methane)
 Water spray curtain by monitors and Nozzles setup as per results from phase 1
 5 m/s wind speed.

The water curtain / jet effect is studied by Methane detectors and gas Methane fraction iso
surfaces. The direction of applying the curtain is studied in three cases:
1- With wind direction
2- Against wind direction
3-crossing wind direction

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PHASE 1

 The purpose of this phase is to get better understanding on water curtains effects
on the gas phase (air).
 The model used is simple water nozzle spraying water at 45 degrees angle
considering different flow-rates, speeds and droplet sizes.
 The test results shows that water jets works as an air pump that pumps air in the
direction of water stream as seen in test case 1 velocity profile in the x direction
shown below.

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Phase 1: Case 1 1200 L/min, 40 m/sec and 250 um

 Case 1: 3 m/s air velocity ISO surface  Case 1: 5 m/s air velocity ISO surface

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Phase 1: Case 2 1200 L/min, 80 m/sec and 250 um

 Case 2: 5m/s air velocity ISO surface

 Case 2: 3m/s air velocity ISO surface

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Phase 1: Case 3 1200 L/min, 80 m/sec and 50 um

 Case 3: 5m/s air velocity ISO surface  Case 3: 3m/s air velocity ISO surface

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Phase 1: Case 4 1200 L/min, 80 m/sec and 500 um

 Case 4: 5m/s air velocity ISO surface  Case 4: 5m/s air velocity ISO surface

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PHASE 1

 The average mass flow rate per square meter is measured in line with the
average air mass flow in the table below
l/m m/s um kg/s.m2
case
flow speed size Avg Flow
1 33 15 50 0.48
2 33 50 50 0.93
3 33 100 50 1.09
7 33 50 100 0.61
8 33 50 300 0.44
4 100 15 50 0.75
5 100 50 50 1.16
6 100 100 50 1.23
9 100 100 800 0.44
10 1200 80 250 1.82
11 1200 40 250 1.89
12 1200 80 50 1.11
13 7400 40 250 2.11

 Correlation between the 3 parameters and air mass flow is conducted using non
linear regression, the results can be concluded as follows

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PHASE1: Conclusions
 Water velocity and mass flow rates (water momentum) have the major effects on
the air mass flow rate
 The droplet size has some effect on the air mass flow rate, the effect is scattered
and have weak correlation. However from the different cases medium droplet size
have better effects than fine and large size drops.
– For this study
– 10-100 um is considered as fine (fog) droplet (50 um is used)
– 100-500 um is considered as medium size droplet (250 um is used)
– 500-1200 um is considered as large droplet size (800 um is used)
 The equation binding air mass flow per m2 to the three parameters can be
presented as follows:

. .
Q
 Where Q is the air average mass flow in Kg/s.m2
 ∅ Water flow rate in L/s, Vw is the water velocity in m/s and is the droplet size in um

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PHASE 2

 A model with gas release and water monitors are defined where water is activated
after the gas cloud shape is stabilized
 The effect of water curtain is investigated through Methane volume fraction
measurement by methane detectors and iso surfaces.
 The main assumptions are as follows:
– Wind speed assumed 5 m/sec
– Gas released is methane at 15kg/s, released horizontally downwind.
– A building with an open door assumed 22 meters from the release source.
– Gas sensors located 8m, 15m from release source and inside the building.
– Different arrangement of fire monitors and nozzles investigated at different
cases.

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Phase 2 : Case 1

Number of monitors: 6
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 1200 L/min per monitor.
Velocity: 40 m/sec
Drop Size: 250m
Direction: Against the wind and gas
cloud direction.
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height
2 outside and one inside the building.
 Methane 01 :is 8 meters from
release source
 Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
 Methane 03: is inside the building

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Phase 2: Case 1 gas clouds at 25 sec

Gas Cloud iso-surface shape for Gas Cloud iso-surface shape for
50000 PPM at 25 sec 10000 PPM at 25 sec

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Phase 2: Case 1 gas clouds at 35 sec

Gas Cloud iso-surface shape for Gas Cloud iso-surface shape for
50000 PPM at 35 sec 10000 PPM at 35 sec

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Phase 2: Case 1 gas cloud animation

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Phase 2: Case 1 Gas sensor 1 Readings

Water Startup

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Phase 2: Case 1 Gas sensor 2 Readings

Water Startup

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Phase 2: Case 2

Number of monitors: 3
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 1200 L/min per monitor.
Velocity: 40 m/sec
Drop Size: 250 m
Direction: Against the wind and gas
cloud direction. Monitors 4 meters
apart directed towards the center
◦
Monitor (21 )
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height
2 outside and one inside the building.
 Methane 01 :is 8 meters from
release source
 Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
 Methan2 03: is inside the building
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Phase 2: Case 2 gas cloud animation

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Phase 2: Case 2 Methane 1 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 2 Methane 2 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 2 Methane 3 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 3

Number of monitors: 6
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 1200 L/min per monitor.
Velocity: 40 m/sec
Drop Size: 250 m
Direction: Cross wind and gas cloud
direction.
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height 2
outside and one inside the building.
 Methane 01 :is 8 meters from release
source
 Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
 Methan2 03: is inside the building

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Phase 2: Case 3 gas cloud animation

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Phase 2: Case 3 Methane 1 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 3 Methane 2 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 3 Methane 3 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 4

Number of monitors: 3
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 1200 L/min per monitor.
Velocity: 40 m/sec
Drop Size: 250 m
Direction: Cross wind and gas cloud
direction.
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height 2
outside and one inside the building.
 Methane 01 :is 8 meters from release
source
 Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
 Methan2 03: is inside the building

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Phase 2: Case 4 gas cloud animation

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Phase 2: Case 4 Methane 1 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 4 Methane 2 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 4 Methane 3 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 5

Number of Nozzles: 16
Activation Time: After 35 Sec
Flow Rate: 450 L/min per Nozzle.
Velocity: 60 m/sec
Drop Size: 100 m
Direction: Downwards (Vertical)
Methane Sensors: 3 at 2 meters height
2 outside and one inside the building.
 Methane 01 :is 8 meters from
release source
 Methane 02: is 15 meters from
release source
 Methan2 03: is inside the building

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Phase 2: Case 5 gas cloud animation

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Phase 2: Case 5 Methane 1 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 5 Methane 2 sensor

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Phase 2: Case 5 Methane 3 sensor

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Phase 2 : Conclusions

 Water Curtains and jets can be effective in diverting and diluting of buoyant
hydrocarbon gas clouds.
 Water flow acts like air pump, the effectiveness of that pump depends on
– the generated air momentum (mass and velocity).
– Direction of the water jet, it is more effective if the water jet is upwind
– Cross wind can be effective but more water power is needed (case 2, 3 and 4).
– The case where the water jet was downwind showed very minor effects.
 Water jet from monitors should oscillate to increase area coverage (60 degree
span).
 Water curtains from deluge nozzles (downwards) reduces gas readings but they
are not as effective as water jets.

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Safeguarding life, property
and the environment

Hesham Fandy
Hesham.Fandy@DNVGL.com

www.dnvgl.com

SAFER, SMARTER, GREENER

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