Quantitative risk assessment using a Japanese hydrogen refueling station model

Although hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are becoming widespread across Japan and are essential for the operation of fuel cell vehicles, they present potential hazards. A large number of accidents such as explosions or fires have been reported, rendering it necessary to conduct a number of qualitative and quantitative risk assessments for HRSs. Current safety codes and technical standards related to Japanese HRSs have been established based on the results of a qualitative risk assessment and quantitative effectiveness validation of safety measures over ten years ago. In the last decade, there has been much development in the technologies of the components or facilities used in domestic HRSs and much operational experience as well as knowledge to use hydrogen in HRSs safely have been gained through years of commercial operation. The purpose of the present study is to conduct a quantitative risk assessment (QRA) of the latest HRS model representing Japanese HRSs with the most current information and to identify the most significant scenarios that pose the greatest risks to the physical surroundings in the HRS model. The results of the QRA show that the risk contours of 10^?3 and 10^?4 per year were confined within the HRS boundaries, whereas the risk contours of 10^?5 and 10^?6 per year are still present outside the HRS. Comparing the breakdown of the individual risks (IRs) at the risk ranking points, we conclude that the risk of jet fire demonstrates the highest contribution to the risks at all of the risk ranking points and outside the station. To reduce these risks and confine the risk contour of 10^?6 per year within the HRS boundaries, it is necessary to consider risk mitigation measures for jet fires.     

Performance of insulated FRP-strengthened concrete flexural members under fire conditions

This paper presents the results of fire resistance tests on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthened concrete flexural members, i.e., T-beams and slabs. The strengthened members were protected with fire insulation and tested under the combined effects of thermal and structural loading. The variables considered in the tests include the applied load level, extent of strengthening, and thickness of the fire insulation applied to the beams and slabs. Furthermore, a previously developed numerical model was validated against the data generated from the fire tests; subsequently, it was utilized to undertake a case study. Results from fire tests and numerical studies indicate that owing to the protection provided by the fire insulation, the insulated CFRP-strengthened beams and slabs can withstand four and three hours of standard fire exposure, respectively, under service load conditions. The insulation layer impedes the temperature rise in the member; therefore, the CFRP–concrete composite action remains active for a longer duration and the steel reinforcement temperature remains below 400°C, which in turn enhances the capacity of the beams and slabs.     

Experimental and numerical analysis of fire scenarios involving two mechanically ventilated compartments connected together with a horizontal vent

This work deals with an experimental and numerical investigation of a fire scenario involving two rooms mechanically ventilated and connected together with a horizontal vent. The objective is to improve the understanding of the physical phenomena and to assess the capability of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulations to predict flow field for such a fire scenario. The study is based on a set of large‐scale fire experiments performed in the framework of the OECD PRISME‐2 project in the DIVA multi‐room facility of the Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) and of numerical simulations performed with the ISIS CFD code. The fire scenario consists of two rooms, one above the other, mechanically ventilated and connected to each other with a horizontal vent of 1 m². The fire is a heptane pool fire located in the lower room. The analysis focuses on the coupling between the burning rate, the flow at the vent, and the configuration of the mechanical ventilation. Several regimes of combustion are encountered from well‐ventilated steady fire to under‐ventilated unsteady and oscillatory fire. The results show that the burning rate is controlled by both the mechanical ventilation and the downward flow from the vent. The numerical simulations highlight the specific pattern of the oxygen concentration field induced by the downward flow at the vent.     

Experimental and numerical analysis of the influence of cable tray arrangements on the resulting mass loss rate and fire spreading

In the context of industrial buildings and power plants, electrical installations and cable trays represent a main fuel load and a potential initial fire source due to possible short circuits or comparable malfunction. Furthermore, a fire can spread from one tray to additional trays mounted above and/or horizontally on one tray. Because of the high significance of cable fires, several research projects have been carried out, investigating the fire behaviour of cables from small‐scale tests, eg, the cone calorimeter, up to large‐scale tests, analysing complete cable tray constructions. The goal of the work presented in this paper is the extension of the knowledge regarding the influence of geometrical parameters like the packing density and tray distance on the burning behaviour and fire spread of cable tray installations. The results are considered, together with test results from the literature, to quantify the main physical parameters describing the burning behaviour. In a next step, the general applicability of these parameters as input data for the parametrization of the source term of numerical simulations is shown. The test results show that the burning behaviour and the fire spreading highly depend on the cable arrangement of the cables on the cable tray, in combination with other boundary conditions. By applying the results as input for a fire simulation, the mass loss rate is considered appropriately.     

Experimental and numerical study on compressive performance of perforated brick masonry after fire exposure

This paper discusses the compressive performance of perforated brick masonry after fire exposure. Compressive strength tests of the mortar, clay perforated brick, and perforated brick masonry specimens were performed in accordance with ISO834 fire tests of different durations. The temperature distribution of the masonry materials and specimens was simulated using the finite element software ABAQUS, with the thermal parameters of masonry materials recommended by European standard Eurocode 6 and related literature. The compressive strength reduction factors of mortar and clay perforated brick exposed to different fire durations were calculated via the layered method suggested by European standard Eurocode 1. In addition, the compressive strength reduction factors after cooldown were obtained from the experimental data of the masonry materials, and by considering further reductions in the compressive strength after cooling from high temperatures. Experimental data of the masonry specimens were compared with the numerical results obtained using the reduction factors proposed in this work. The comparison revealed an overall acceptable approximation. Thus, the method presented in this paper can be used to evaluate the residual capacity of masonry structures after fire.     

四台矿均压硐室的优化与研究

四台矿属于近距离容易自燃煤层开采,综采工作面采用均压通风系统。在进风顺槽中布置的本巷均压硐室,风机吸风口距离均压风门近,吸风风流经过带式输送机,往往会造成均压风门漏风严重,均压硐室周围温度较高、煤尘较大。据此四台矿优化均压硐室布置方式,采用独立均压硐室代替先前的本巷均压硐室。对优化前后的数据进行研究分析,得出独立均压硐室的应用在减少风门漏风量,降低温度,抑制煤尘方面均有很大改善,实践证明了采用独立均压硐室的可行性及优点。     

Test methods for characterizing concrete properties at elevated temperature

Fire resistance of structural members is dependent on the thermal and mechanical properties of constituent materials and these properties vary as a function of temperature. Currently, there are limited standardized test procedures for evaluating thermal and mechanical properties of construction materials at elevated temperatures. This paper provides a review and assessment of test methods and procedures for evaluating high temperature thermal and mechanical properties of concrete. The drawbacks and variations in currently available test procedures and methods in standards are discussed. Recommendations on the most suitable methods and procedures for measuring thermal and mechanical properties at elevated temperature is presented. In addition, applicability of the proposed high temperature test methods and procedures is illustrated through a case study on conventional concrete specimens. Further, the need for developing standards by organizations such as American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), with standardized specifications and test procedures for measuring high temperature properties of construction materials, is laid out.     

薄煤层无煤柱开采综合防灭火技术

为了确保晋华宫8209无煤柱工作面在过留巷段期间的安全回采,分析了过留巷段前和过留巷段后采空区漏风与传统开采方式采空区漏风的区别,发现后留巷段后采空区处于一种开放式状态,增加了采空区的漏风量.为此提出了加强预报、喷洒阻化剂、进风顺槽端头封堵、采空区注浆注氮综合防灭火技术,其中进风顺槽端头封堵后采空区漏风量由175 m3/min降低到60 m3/min^90 m3/min,注氮9 d和10 d后5209巷回风流中CO和C2 H6气体浓度分别从0.0014%和0.0628%降到0.该综合防灭火技术有效防止了采空区自燃事故的发生,为无煤柱开采采空区防灭火提供了借鉴.     

Experimental study of the combustion characteristics of methanol‐gasoline blends pool fires in a full‐scale tunnel

The combustion characteristics of methanol‐gasoline blends pool fires were studied in a series of full‐scale tunnel experiments conducted with different methanol and gasoline blends. The parameters were measured including the mass loss rate, the pool surface temperature, the fire plume centerline temperature, the ceiling temperature, the smoke layer temperature profile, the flame height, and the smoke layer interface height. The gasoline components were analyzed by GC‐MS. The effects of azeotropism on the combustion characteristics of the different blends were discussed. On the basis of the results of the fire plume centerline temperature, the ceiling temperature, and the flame height, it shows that the tunnel fire regime gradually switches from fuel controlled to ventilation controlled with increasing gasoline fractions in the blends. The fire plume can be divided into 3 regions by the fire plume centerline temperature for the different blends. The N‐percentage rule to determine the smoke layer interface height is found to be applicable for tunnel fires with different blends for N = 26.     

Fire safety of thermoplastic polyurethane based on pyromellitic dianhydride

In this paper, pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) was firstly used as fire safety agent for thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). And, the fire safety improvement of PMDA in TPU was intensively investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), smoke density test (SDT), cone calorimeter test, and thermogravimetric/infrared spectroscopy, respectively. It has been found that PMDA could significantly improve the ignition level, and the LOI value increase to 28.5% when 8.0 wt% PMDA was incorporated into TPU; PMDA also could effectively suppress the smoke production and heat release during the combustion process. The peak heat release rate and total smoke release of the sample with 8.0 wt% PMDA were decreased by 68% and 22% compared with pure TPU in cone calorimeter test. The thermogravimetric/infrared spectroscopy results showed that PMDA could improve the thermal stability of TPU composites at high temperature and increased the release of CO₂, H₂O, and so on. All results confirmed that PMDA would have a good prospect in reducing the fire hazard of TPU.