Validation of FDS and FLACS-Fire codes against radiation from free horizontal hydrogen jet fires

Abstract

Hydrogen jet flames from accidental releases pose significant risks due to their extensive flame lengths, temperatures and associated radiation hazards. Various methodologies and tools have been developed to estimate the effects of hazardous jet fires, assessing the associated risks and enhancing the implementation of robust safety measures and mitigation strategies. This study assesses the predictive capabilities of two CFD tools, FDS and FLACS-Fire, in estimating thermal radiation from free horizontal hydrogen jet fires, utilizing 93 experimental heat flux measurements from literature. The findings increase confidence in CFD simulations, particularly before applying them to more complex scenarios, such as jet impingement on obstacles.