Investigation of urban natural gas pipeline leak and resulting dispersion in a semi-closed space: A case of accident in Shiyan, China

Pipeline is the most common way for delivering natural gas to the urban areas. Nevertheless, pipeline leak accidents can pose significant threats to human life and property safety. This paper investigates the characteristics of urban natural gas pipeline leaks and the resulting gas dispersion in a semi -closed space using a 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model. The characteristics of a pipeline leak is examined considering the impact of shape, dimensions, and location of the aperture. The migration of natural gas in a semi -closed space is tracked, considering the impact of leak location and orientation. To illustrate the model, a real -life case study is conducted to simulate flammable gas release and dispersion resulting from an urban natural gas pipeline leak. The outcome can guide the monitoring and mitigating the consequences of urban natural gas pipeline leaks.