Treatment of denser-than-air releases in an advection-diffusion model: Thermodynamic effects

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6014541

Ermak, D L; Lange, R

The manufacture, transportation, and use of hazardous chemicals is increasing world-wide, and with this increase has come an increase in the frequency of serious chemical accidents. This situation emphasizes the need for realistic simulations of toxic and dense gas releases for both emergency response and planning purposes. To meet this need, we are modifying an existing advection-diffusion, particle-in-cell type model to include the dispersion effects associated with denser-than-air releases. In this paper, we present the mathematical description of this approach to treating the thermal transport within a cold, heavy gas cloud. A section briefly describes the overall dense-gas, advection-diffusion, particle-in- cell model. This is followed by a more detailed description of the thermodynamics. First the case of adiabatic mixing is treated, and then the more complex situation with ground heating is considered. Two example problems are also presented to demonstrate the validity of the method. 15 refs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOD; Department of Defense, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6014541
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC-106798; CONF-910659--12; ON: DE91010152
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990200 -- Mathematics & Computers
ADVECTION
ALKANES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DENSITY
DIFFUSION
FLOW MODELS
GAS SPILLS
GASEOUS DIFFUSION
GENERAL CIRCULATION MODELS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SPILLS
HEATING
HYDROCARBONS
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SIMULATION
THERMODYNAMICS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
TURBULENCE
WIND