A Hydrogen Laminar Flame Velocity Correlation Based on Direct Numerical Simulation for Accidental Explosions

Hydrogen is a promising fuel for the energy transition due to its high energy content and zero carbon emissions when burnt. On the other hand, its wide flammability range, especially in confined, obstacle-filled industrial environments, poses an additional risk. This study presents a numerical analysis of premixed hydrogen-air flame propagation using STOKES (Shock Towards Kinetic Explosion Simulator), a RANS (Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes) CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code. A correlation for the laminar flame speed, derived from DNS (Direct Numerical Simulation) simulation, was verified in a geometry with cylindrical obstacles. The results confirmed that the model was able to reproduce key physical phenomena, including flame acceleration, turbulence-induced oscillations, and pressure wave interactions, supporting the use of the developed model for safety analysis in hydrogen combustion scenarios.