Simulation analysis of accidents in ship fuel bunkering operations

This paper uses PHAST software to quantitatively simulate leakage, diffusion, and fire scenarios that may occur during diesel bunkering operations. Key accident consequences—including vapor cloud diffusion range, jet fire thermal radiation, and pool fire hazards—are analyzed under various leakage apertures and wind conditions. The simulation results indicate that the maximum liquid pool radius reaches 7.9 m, while the maximum lateral diffusion distance of flammable vapor cloud is 39.3 m. For thermal radiation from pool fires, the fatality, severe injury, and minor injury radii are up to 21.8 m, 29.2 m, and 45.1 m, respectively. Furthermore, a non-linear relationship is observed between wind speed and explosion overpressure impact distances: for medium leaks (25 mm), the overpressure damage distance first increases and then decreases with rising wind speed, whereas for large leaks (90 mm), it first decreases and then increases. These findings provide a scientific basis for establishing safety distances and optimizing emergency response strategies in bunkering operations.