DISPERSION OF CNG FOLLOWING A HIGH-PRESSURE RELEASE
This report discusses the results of tests to determine the dispersive behavior of compressed natural gas (CNG) when released in enclosed areas such as transit bus facility, and presents the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center's (VNTSC) conclusions concerning the results. The FTA sponsored the tests as part of an effort to evaluate the adequacy of the current convention concerning safeguards against CNG-related fires in transit buildings where CNG-powered buses are fueled, stored, or maintained. This convention embraces the belief that precautions need to be taken only at or near the ceilings of the buildings. It is based on the premise that, since CNG is primarily methane and methane is approximately one-half the density of air at ambient temperature and pressure, any natural gas released would immediately rise to the ceiling as a buoyant plume.
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Corporate Authors:
Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
Cambridge, MA United States 02142Federal Transit Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Gaumer, R L
- Raj, P K
- Publication Date: 1996-5
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
- Pagination: 64 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Bus transportation; Compressed natural gas; Fire prevention; Fires; Safety
- Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00724373
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Federal Transit Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-VNTSC-FTA-95-14,, FTA-MA-26-7021-96-2
- Files: TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Sep 2 1996 12:00AM