The effect of composition on the boiling rates of liquefied natural gas for confined spills on water

Abstract The rate of boiling of liquefied natural gas (LNG) spilled onto a water surface was experimentally measured in a confined area calorimeter. Increasing the concentration of ethane and propane resulted in higher boiling rates. In all cases, the vaporization rate was found to be very time dependent with concomitant variations in the LNG composition and temperature as well as in the character of the water where ice formed and increased in thickness. A qualitative theory is proposed to explain the effect of composition on the boiling rates and a quantitative model developed to predict boiling rates for LNG spills. This model is based on a numerical solution to the Stefan problem and is coupled to a vapor-liquid equilibrium model which tracks changes in LNG composition and temperature. Good agreement is obtained between predicted and experimental boiling rates with the use of a single adjustable parameter—which is itself correlated with initial LNG composition.

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