(197f) Lng Pool Fire Models: Similarities and Differences I

One of the risks associated with the transport, storage or regasification of LNG is that of a large spill, on land or water, leading to a pool fire that would impact nearby public and property. The validation for large LNG spills on water of the kind that would be encountered in the event of a breach in an LNG carrier tank is much less well established.

Several solid flame-based models have been developed over the years, and validated with respect to LNG and hydrocarbon pool fires of different sizes (up to 35 m diameter). These models predict similar heat flux hazards when applied to small-to-moderate size LNG pool fires (up to approximately 100 m). However, when these models are applied to large LNG pool fires (100 m diameter and greater), the predicted heat flux hazards vary widely. This paper will review the general solid flame theory and compare the assumptions and correlations adopted by the most common models. The paper will also compare the predicted heat fluxes by the various models as a function of pool size and other parameters, and discuss the similarities and differences.

While there is general agreement over the need for large-diameter (100 m or greater) LNG pool fire data, the scope of this type of test has, so far, remained rather vague. This paper will identify the critical parameters that need to be quantified by large-scale tests, to obtain a model that is robust for the type of scenarios that are being considered in ongoing risk assessment studies.