Cold Hydrogen Blowdown Release: An Inter-comparison Study

Hydrogen dispersion in stagnant environment resulting from blowdown of a vessel storing the gas at cryogenic temperature is simulated using different CFD codes and modelling strategies. The simulations are based on the DISCHA experiments that were carried out by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Pro-Science (PS). The selected test for the current study involves hydrogen release from a 2.815 dm3 volume tank with an initial pressure of 200 barg and temperature 80 K. During the release, the hydrogen pressure in the tank gradually decreased. A total of about 139 gr hydrogen is released through a 4 mm diameter. The temperature time series and the temperature decay rate of the minimum value predicted by the different codes are compared with each other and with the experimentally measured ones. Recommendations for future experimental setup and for modeling approaches for similar releases are provided based on the present analysis. The work is carried out within the EU-funded project, PRESLHY.