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Thèses et HDR

PhD defense of Yanwei LIANG

Title: Numerical modeling accidental release of cryogenic liquid: application to liquid hydrogen (LH2) risk assessment
Supervision: Y. Qu, J.-M. Ghidaglia
Defended 06/06/2025

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Yanwei LIANG

Numerical modeling accidental release of cryogenic liquid: application to liquid hydrogen (LH2) risk assessment

Abstract

This thesis investigates liquid hydrogen (LH2) leaks by using OpenFOAM CFD modeling to enhance safety amid growing energy and environmental concerns. It reviews nearly all LH2 release studies—571 articles (346 selected after screening)—tracing research back to the 1960s with notable growth post-2016. A predictive model based on the PIMPLE algorithm has been developed and it has been validated with NASA experiments data. It accurately simulates the core thermodynamic and fluid dynamic processes of LH2 release. Sensitivity analyses reveal that higher wind speeds enhance downwind diffusion while longer leak durations enlarge affected areas; ground roughness and atmospheric pressure also influence diffusion, though temperature has little effect. An innovative air wall method, outperforming bund walls, offers strong protective benefits, particularly when activated early and with increased airflow under higher wind conditions.

Keywords

liquid hydrogen, computational fluid dynamics, phase transition, dispersion

Supervision

Jury

  • Iraj MORTAZAVI, Professeur au CNAM Paris, Rapporteur
  • Jean-Philippe BRAEUNIG, Directeur de Recherche, CEA CESTA, Rapporteur
  • Frédéric Dias,  Professeur à l’ENS Paris-Saclay, Examinateur
  • Laure QUIVY, Maîtresse de conférences à l’ENS Paris-Saclay, Examinatrice

References