Numerical simulation of tanks containing pressurized gas exposed to accidental fires: Evaluation of the transient heat up

Fires may impact on process and storage equipment causing severe damages and potential accident escalation. In the present study, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was set up for pressurized vessels exposed to accidental fires, aimed at determining the transient behaviour of the stored fluid during the heat-up. The model was developed for vessels containing pressurized flammable gases, such as methane, propane and hydrogen. The ANSYS FLUENT software was used in order to implement a twodimensional circular geometry considering a medium scale spherical tanker. The presence of a heat resistant coating was considered in the analysis. The model allowed predicting the velocity and temperature profiles, thus obtaining the pressurization rate in the vessel and providing key indications for the evaluation of the vessel resistance.