Analysis and Model/Data Comparisons of Large-Scale Releases of Nitrogen Tetroxide

摘要

A series of large-scale spills (3 to 5 m exp 3 ) of nitrogen tetroxide (N sub 2 O sub 4 ) was performed at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) for the Air Force Engineering and Services Laboratory, Environics Division. The purpose of these experiments was to study the evaporation rates and heavy gas dispersion aspects of realistic size releases of N sub 2 O sub 4 , a rocket fuel oxidizer for the Titan II missile system. The Titan II complexes are currently being decommissioned, resulting in an increase in the overland transportation of this toxic material. The N sub 2 O sub 4 vapor is heavier-than-air and forms a nitric acid mist in close to the spill area. As it disperses downwind, it dissociates to nitrogen dioxide (NO sub 2 ), which has a TLV level of 3 ppm. The field experiment is described and the accuracy of the experimental results are discussed. The predictions of several source strength and simple Gaussian dispersion models are compared to the results. (38 references, 20 figures, 10 tables. (ERA citation 10:024298)