Modelling of hydrocarbon gas and liquid leaks from pressurized systems

Abstract

Safety is one of the most important aspects that should be guaranteed for all the employees of any industry. For oil and gas platforms, the first step will fall into the optimum design of depressurization systems for emergency cases. If a hydrocarbon leak occurs due to the rupture of pressure vessels gaseous hydrocarbon leaks can create a gas cloud that could end up as a gas explosion accidents. The Transient Hydrocarbon Leak Tool (TLT) can calculate the correct leak size and duration as well as the correct final wall temperature needed as the building block for the whole process safety analysis. TLT has been validated against many experimental studies confirming and agrees well with the data because of its robust thermodynamic analysis, based on Partial Phase Equilibrium (PPE). The model has been upgraded to the last version of Python Programing Languge and Windows 64 bits. The current state of the model can manage a diversity of fluid components due to its easy compatibility with Multiflash. New vessel geometry is now available for both vertical and horizontal orientations, where domed heads have been included. TLT can now use a transient backpressure profile to make a difference between ambient leak and flare rate. In addition, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) using Tkinter has been created, making it easy and practical to use for everyone. The present study will show the new results based on the further improvements made as well as using both the previous and new experiments found on literature.