A two dimensional axisymmetric computational model based on a finite difference scheme has been developed to model the transient formation of flammable atmospheres upon the diffusion of fuel vapour following the exposure of liquid fuel surfaces to air within cylindrical vessels at constant pressure and initial temperature. The Transient equations of Momentum, Energy, Species Continuity and Transport properties are solved.
Two typical common fuels, n-pentane and methanol where modeled. The effects of convection and temperature gradients produced by the extraction of the latent heat of vaporization from the liquid fuel surface were taken into account and the thermodynamic and transport properties were taken to be variable. The results of the 3-D axisymmetric model were compared with the corresponding values obtained using a 1-D model and checked favorably with some experimental results obtained with n-pentane and air.
