Numerical study of the action of convection on the volume and length of the flammable zone formed by hydrogen emissions from the vent masts installed on an international ship

International ships carrying liquefied fuel are strongly recommended to install vent masts to control the pressure of cargo tanks in the event of an emergency. However, the gas emitted from a vent mast may be hazardous for the crew of the ship. In the present study, the volume and length of the flammable zone (FZ) created by the emitted gas above the ship was examined. Various scenarios comprising four parameters, namely, relative wind speed, arrangement of vent masts, combination of emissions among four vent masts, and direction of emission from the vent-mast outlet were considered. The results showed that the convection acts on the volume and length of an FZ. The volume of an FZ increases when there is a reduction in convection reaching the FZ and when strong convection brings hydrogen from a nearby FZ. The length of the FZ is also related to convection. An FZ is elongated if the center of a vortex is located inside the FZ, because this vortex traps hydrogen inside the FZ. The length of an FZ decreases if the center of the vortex is located outside the FZ, as such a vortex brings more fresh air into the FZ.