Experimental study on the characteristics of hydrogen sulfide-containing gas leakage jets using schlieren technique

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a major by-product in both primary energy extraction and enhanced recovery operations. Uncontrolled leakage of H2S-containing gases during transportation poses severe threats to human safety and environmental integrity in the vicinity. Consequently, research into the dynamic characteristics of H2S-containing gas leakage jets is of significant importance. Given that the jet phase of leaking H2S-containing gas is influenced by multiple factors, this study employs schlieren apparatus and high-speed videography to conduct experimental investigations on the leakage jets of H2S-containing gas mixtures. The effects of H2S concentration, leakage orifice diameter, and internal gas flow velocity on the jet behavior of the gas mixture were analyzed. The results indicate that, under the combined influence of internal/external pressure differentials, gradual kinetic energy dissipation, and the molar mass of the gas itself, the leaking gas exhibits distinct phenomena, including vortex formation, kinetic energy dissipation, and plume diffusion. The influence of H2S concentration, leakage orifice diameter, and internal gas flow velocity on the jet distance of the leaking gas was quantified, elucidating the relationships between these factors and the jet distance. Furthermore, the relative impact of these multiple factors on the jet behavior was quantified, establishing the hierarchy of influence as leakage orifice diameter > leakage flow velocity > concentration ratio. This work supplements the existing body of research on H2S-containing gas leakage jets from an experimental perspective.