Diffusion from a steady source of short duration

Abstract Releases of short duration can result from safety valves, rupture disks, sudden failures of storage tanks, reactors, lines, etc. Models for atmospheric dispersion of continuous, constant flow rate or instantaneous emissions lack reliability in those instances, because they do not take into account certain indispensable parameters, such as release duration, release starting time and exposure time. This paper offers a mathematical model which has been developed and validated with field experiments, with the intention of supplying reference material for design purposes (relief valves, plant design and layout) or for predicting potential consequences of a leakage, such as fires, explosions, contaminations.