Consequence Analysis of Gas Explosion in Underground Common Utility Tunnels

The purpose of this study is to figure out the effects of blast overpressure in gas piping leakage in underground common utility tunnels through the explosion simulation tool FLACS (Flame Acceleration Simulator) and find and apply methods that can reduce the risk.

 

Common utility tunnels are facilities to jointly bury pipes in underground spaces. Placing gas piping in common utility tunnels has the advantages of reducing the risk of corrosion and preventing the physical damage due to civil engineering works and excavating work on the ground. However, when an explosion has occurred in a common utility tunnel, the consequences could be larger in that it is a closed space. Nevertheless, studies on underground common utility tunnels are currently limited to fire accidents. Therefore, risks due to explosions should be quantitatively studied.

Therefore, in this study, the effects of explosions were analyzed assuming cases where gases leaked from gas piping in underground common utility tunnels exploded. In addition, blast overpressures were evaluated for diverse scenarios regarding ignition sources, leakage locations, and discharge rates and the results were statistically derived. Blast overpressures high enough to cause dangerous situations of the underground common utility tunnels were observed. Methods that can reduce the risk, that is, methods that can reduce the frequency of explosions, and methods for designs of internal structures of common utility tunnels that can mitigate the consequences will be presented.