Hazard analysis of parallel fueling of LOX/kerosene at space launch site: Accident scenario construction and lab-scale experiments

IF 3.3 3区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, CIVIL

Fire Safety Journal Pub Date : 2025-07-29 DOI:10.1016/j.firesaf.2025.104487

Zehua Yang , Chaoying Li , Zheng Yan , Kaiyu Zou , Jian Chen , Wenbin Yao , Shouxiang Lu , MingJun Xu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Liquid oxygen (LOX)/Rocket kerosene propulsion systems play a crucial role in space missions worldwide, offering advantages such as high thrust, safe storage, and low environmental impact. The physical properties of liquid fuels enable parallel fueling, significantly reducing launch preparation time. However, the safety of parallel fueling of LOX and rocket kerosene remains insufficiently assessed. Given that kerosene flammability increases with oxygen leakage, a comprehensive hazard analysis is essential. This study investigates potential oxygen-enriched fire scenarios arising from LOX and kerosene contact during parallel fueling at the launch sites. A series of small-scale fire experiments were conducted to quantify the effect of oxygen concentration on the ignition, combustion, and fire spread conditions and patterns of rocket kerosene. Based on experimental findings and accident scenarios analysis, a hazard analysis of the launch site and its surrounding environment was performed. Insights into hazard mitigation were also provided.

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航天发射场液氧/煤油平行加注的危害分析：事故情景构建和实验室规模实验

液氧(LOX)/火箭煤油推进系统在全球空间任务中发挥着至关重要的作用，具有高推力、安全储存和低环境影响等优点。液体燃料的物理特性使平行加注成为可能，大大缩短了发射准备时间。然而，液氧和火箭煤油平行加注的安全性评估仍然不够充分。考虑到煤油的可燃性随着氧气泄漏而增加，全面的危害分析是必不可少的。本研究调查了在发射场平行加油过程中液态氧和煤油接触可能引起的富氧火灾情况。为了量化氧浓度对火箭煤油点火、燃烧和火势蔓延条件和模式的影响，进行了一系列小规模的火灾实验。在试验结果和事故情景分析的基础上，对发射场及其周围环境进行了危害分析。还提供了关于减轻灾害的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Fire Safety Journal 工程技术-材料科学：综合

CiteScore

5.70

自引率

9.70%

发文量

153

审稿时长

60 days

期刊介绍： Fire Safety Journal is the leading publication dealing with all aspects of fire safety engineering. Its scope is purposefully wide, as it is deemed important to encourage papers from all sources within this multidisciplinary subject, thus providing a forum for its further development as a distinct engineering discipline. This is an essential step towards gaining a status equal to that enjoyed by the other engineering disciplines.