U.S. Coast Guard Liquefied Natural Gas Research at China Lake

摘要

For the past decade the Coast Guard has been studying the behavior of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and similar flammable, liquefied gases as part of its efforts in marine safety. In recent years this effort has been concentrated at the U.S. Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, California. This program included such liquefied gases as propane, butadiene, and ethylene oxide. A comprehensive test program was developed, including the preparation of a theoretical model for deflagration to detonation transition; shock tube test to develop the properties of confined deflagration and detonation; large pool and cloud fires, of both LNG and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG); and the development of gas sensors ad their testing in the field. From this work has come a better understanding of the consequences of liquefied flammable gas spills in general and LNG spills in particular; specifically that the combustion of methane is generally of a lower order than that of most other liquefied gases, and that unconfined LNG vapor clouds are unlikely to detonate. Importantly, models for LNG pool and cloud fires have been developed. Finally, several new gas sensors have been developed and have undergone field testing. (Author)