A numerical model to simulate smouldering fires in bulk materials and dust deposits

A numerical model is presented which consists of a set of partial differential equations for the transport of heat and mass fractions of eight chemical species to describe the onset of self-ignition and the propagation of smouldering fires in deposits of bulk materials or dust accumulations. The chemical reaction sub-model includes solid fuel decomposition and the combustion of char, carbon monoxide and hydrogen.The model has been validated against lab-scale self-ignition and smouldering propagation experiments and then applied to predictions of fire scenarios in a lignite coal silo. Predicted reaction temperatures of 550 K and propagation velocities of the smouldering front of about 6 mm/h are in good agreement with experimental values derived from lab-scale experiments.     

Self-ignition of dust at reduced volume fractions of ambient oxygen

Experiments were performed to investigate the self-ignition behaviour of accumulations of four different technical dusts at oxygen volume fractions ranging from 1.3 to 21%. For this purpose a laboratory oven used for hot storage testing was modified to allow flushing with the pre-mixed oxygen/nitrogen mixture of the desired composition. It was found that for all sample volumes investigated the self-ignition temperatures were higher the lower was the oxygen volume fraction. In addition, the type of reaction changed obviously, since the apparent activation energy significantly decreased at oxygen volume fractions below 6%. However, it was still possible to observe exothermic effects at oxygen volume fractions as low as 1.3%. A numerical model was established to simulate the process of self-ignition including the coupled heat and mass transfer within the dust accumulation using a finite element solver. The model consists of six balance equations for the heat transfer and the transport of five chemical species. It shows that the model reflects self-ignition in dust accumulations with satisfying accuracy, as long as the input data generated by preceding experiments are reliable.     

Propagation of smouldering in dust deposits caused by glowing nests or embedded hot bodies

Smouldering fires in storage equipment are often caused by glowing nests or embedded hot bodies. Due to large temperature gradients near the glowing nest in a deposit of bulk material the detection of a smouldering fire is difficult and the smouldering fire may remain unnoticed until the reaction front breaks through the surface of the deposit. The present paper reports experimental investigations on thermal conditions, which may cause or promote an ongoing smouldering process, e.g. critical initial temperatures of embedded hot bodies or critical initial sizes of glowing nests. Propagation velocities of smouldering fires were dependent on the sample size, the oxygen content within the sample and on the caloric properties of three combustible dusts.     

The effect of admixed material on the flaming and smouldering combustion of dust layers

The rate of propagation of flame and the rate of propagation of smouldering in still air, have been investigated for several particle sizes, mixtures of coarse and fine dusts of the same material, and mixtures containing partially coarse dusts of limestone. Wood sawdust and grass dust were used as the industrial materials. Measurements were made by using a mold of acceptable dimensions. The results obtained indicated that the flaming and smouldering rates are dependent on the particle size and the depth of the layer and the values of the smouldering rates were found to be about 20% of the values obtained with flaming. Also, an admixture of fine dust of 50% of the same material to coarse dust for a 0.5 cm layer of both materials is sufficient to increase the values of the flaming rate by 61% for wood sawdust and the smouldering rate by 88% and 52% for wood sawdust and grass dust, respectively. The admixture of limestone as low as 10% was sufficient to produce zero propagation for both types of burning.     

瓦斯煤尘爆炸特性及抑爆方法研究进展

为探究瓦斯煤尘爆炸特性及抑爆机理,本文通过一系列实验,研究瓦斯、煤尘爆炸的速度和温度等特征,提出利用图像相关系数法和辐射测温原理计算火焰传播速度及温度场变化,定量分析影响煤尘爆炸的因素以及产物变化规律,揭示煤尘爆炸的宏微观机制。结果表明:火焰分形维数可以用来反应瓦斯爆炸强度,即当分形维数更接近2.2937时爆炸反应最为强烈,其爆炸过程中自由基最终生成浓度与CH 4初始浓度呈倒U型关系;当量比对煤粉火焰爆炸压力及速度也有一定影响,在最佳当量比的2倍左右时可以达到最大爆炸压力和最大火焰传播速度。另外本文亦采用泡沫陶瓷对瓦斯的多次爆炸和连续爆炸进行抑爆,发现不同厚度和孔隙的泡沫陶瓷具有不同的抑制效果,孔隙较大的泡沫陶瓷对爆炸能量有较好的抑制作用。     

Analysis of the chosen thermal and flammability parameters of dried sewage dust

The hazardous sludge disposal process in the form of landfills requires the determination inter alia of the flammable and explosion properties of dried sewage sludge dust, which has the ability to ignite and spontaneously combust when stored in silos. At a constant furnace surface temperature, the minimum ignition temperature of the sludge dust layer with a layer thickness of 5 mm is 270 °C, and for a layer thickness of 12.5 mm it is 250 °C. Two selected fire extinguishing powders for Class A, B, C and D fires were used in the study to determine the possibility of reducing the susceptibility of dried wastewater to ignition from heated surface, self-ignition and explosion parameters. The most effective extinguishing powder was ABC Favorit, which increased the value of the minimum ignition temperature of the layer (5 mm thick) to 360 °C and the spontaneous ignition temperature of the sludge with this powder increased by 22 °C at 169.6 cm³ in comparison to the sludge without extinguishing powder, respectively. The lowest self-ignition temperature of 136 °C was recorded for the largest tested volume (169.6 cm³) for dried sewage dust without any fire extinguishing powders. The biggest values of p_max and (dp/dt)_max dried sewage dust were recorded 4.8 bar and 113 bar/s respectively. By analysing the obtained test results, it can be assumed that dried sewage dust is a combustible material with properties similar to biomass.     

堆积状态下低品质煤临界自燃着火点测定与研究

为了研究低品质煤炭堆积状态下内部自热理论,采用临界自燃着火点理论和Frank-Kamenetskii 模型研究了煤堆内部热产生与热散失平衡理论以及煤堆表面的换热现象;并应用设计研发的煤堆热扩散率及温度监测实验装置和测定方法来评估低品质煤样（褐煤以及亚烟煤）临界自燃温度。结果表明:煤样堆积状态下临界自燃着火点温度可通过实验室内测定分析不同体积网框在不同环境温度条件下自热曲线得出;同体积条件下,临界自燃着火点随着煤品质的升高而增加;在140 ℃ 环境条件下,1#,2# 和3# 煤样在快速升温的前20 min内,温度变化趋势相似;在60~65 ℃,3种煤样出现温度转折点,升温速率开始减缓;根据煤样临界自燃着火点温度结合F-K热发火边界条件理论得出的堆积体积与着火点耦合关系式可预测大体积煤样自燃倾向性及临界自燃温度。     

不同挥发分煤尘层最低着火温度变化规律研究

针对煤化工等行业的沉积煤尘热自燃问题,运用煤尘层最低着火温度测试系统,研究了不同挥发分煤尘层的着火状态、不同挥发分及不同厚度煤尘层最低着火温度的变化规律。结果表明:煤尘层厚度为5 mm时,挥发分质量分数大于35%的煤尘在较低温度便出现着火现象,肉眼很容易观察到火星的出现,温度曲线波动剧烈,而对于挥发分质量分数小于15%的煤尘,通过煤尘层内部"温度达到450℃"来判断其着火;在灰分质量分数相当的情况下,煤尘层最低着火温度随挥发分增加呈严格递减的趋势变化;得到了煤尘层厚度和最低着火温度的函数关系式,通过试验得到了挥发分质量分数为37.45%煤尘的重要常数M和N。     

纵向风对隧道火灾拱顶最高温度及其位置的影响

研究了燃烧风洞内不同纵向风速、不同火源功率条件下,隧道近火源区顶部温度沿纵向分布情况。结果表明,纵向风对不同尺寸火源条件下的顶部温度的影响呈不同特征。对较小尺寸火源,隧道顶部温升随风速增加而减小至稳定值;而对较大尺寸火源,顶部温升随风速增加先增加后减小。对于矩形火源,当纵向风较小(0.5~1.5m/s)时,长边平行于纵向风时顶部最高温升大于长边垂直于纵向风的情况;而当纵向风较大(≥2 m/s)时,两种油盘放置方式的顶部最高温升一致。纵向风作用下,顶部最高温升位置向下游呈现"两次移动"特征,即随着纵向风速增加该位置先向下游移动,当风速达到某一值时,隧道拱顶的加热机制由对流和辐射共同主控转变为辐射单独主控,最高温升位置突变回到上游后再次逐渐向下游移动。     

Shock-induced ignition of hydrogen gas during accidental or technical opening of high-pressure tanks

This paper is devoted to the numerical and experimental investigation of hydrogen self-ignition as a result of the formation of a primary shock wave in front of a cold expanding hydrogen gas jet. Temperature increase, as a result of this shock wave, leads to the ignition of the hydrogen–air mixture formed on the contact surface. The required condition for hydrogen self-ignition is to maintain the high temperature in the area for a time long enough for hydrogen and air to mix and inflammation to take place.

Calculations of the self-ignition of a hydrogen jet are based on a physicochemical model involving the gas-dynamic transport of a viscous gas, the kinetics of hydrogen oxidation, the multi-component diffusion, and the heat exchange. We found that the reservoir pressure range, when a shock wave formed in the air during depressurization, has sufficient intensity to produce self-ignition of the hydrogen–air mixture formed at the front of a jet of compressed hydrogen. We present an analysis of the initial conditions (the hydrogen pressure inside the vessel, the temperature of the compressed hydrogen and the surrounding air, and the diameter of the hole through which the jet was emitted), which leads to combustion.     

Influence of inert materials on the self-ignition of flammable dusts

Flammable solid bulk materials, including dusts, often undergo spontaneous combustion and the spread of reaction fronts. By addition of inert substances, the ignition and combustion behavior can be influenced. In a series of experiments different types of coal were mixed with inert powders to study the effect of the composition on the self-ignition temperature and on the formal kinetic parameters.Hot storage tests as well as simultaneous-thermal analysis were used as experimental techniques with the latter being coupled to FTIR measurements to analyze the composition of gaseous reaction products.All conducted hot storage experiments led to the conclusion that the self-ignition temperature was increased by admixing inert material if the decomposition temperature of the inert matter was higher than the self-ignition temperature of the combustible component at the sample characteristic length. If (exothermic) decomposition of the inert material occurred before a noticeable growth of reaction rate of the combustible material, even a reduction in the self-ignition temperature could be observed. In addition, significantly higher maximum reaction temperatures were observed for the mixtures than for the combustible material alone.     

Experimental investigation on explosion flame propagation of wood dust in a semi-closed tube

In order to explore flame propagation characteristics during wood dust explosions in a semi-closed tube, a high-speed camera, a thermal infrared imaging device and a pressure sensor were used in the study. Poplar dusts with different particle size distributions (0–50, 50–96 and 96–180 μm) were respectively placed in a Hartmann tube to mimic dust cloud explosions, and flame propagation behaviors such as flame propagation velocity, flame temperature and explosion pressure were detected and analyzed. According to the changes of flame shapes, flame propagations in wood dust explosions were divided into three stages including ignition, vertical propagation and free diffusion. Flame propagations for the two smaller particles were dominated by homogeneous combustion, while flame propagation for the largest particles was controlled by heterogeneous combustion, which had been confirmed by individual Damköhler number. All flame propagation velocities for different groups of wood particles in dust explosions were increased at first and then decreased with the augmentation of mass concentration. Flame temperatures and explosion pressures were almost similarly changed. Dust explosions in 50–96 μm wood particles were more intense than in the other two particles, of which the most severe explosion appeared at a mass concentration of 750 g/m³. Meanwhile, flame propagation velocity, flame propagation temperature and explosion pressure reached to the maximum values of 10.45 m/s, 1373 °C and 0.41 MPa. In addition, sensitive concentrations corresponding to the three groups of particles from small to large were 500, 750 and 1000 g/m³, separately, indicating that sensitive concentration in dust explosions of wood particles was elevated with the increase of particle size. Taken together, the finding demonstrated that particle size and mass concentration of wood dusts affected the occurrence and severity of dust explosions, which could provide guidance and reference for the identification, assessment and industrial safety management of wood dust explosions.     

Numerical investigation and theoretical prediction of self-ignition characteristics of coarse coal stockpiles

Spontaneous combustion of coarse coal stockpiles in temporary coal storage yards was investigated numerically using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The main purposes of the numerical investigation were to identify the self-ignition characteristics of coarse coal stockpiles and formulate a theoretical model to predict the self-ignition time and locations of coarse coal piles. A mathematical model for self-ignition of coarse coal piles was developed and the process of spontaneous ignition of coarse coal stockpiles was simulated. The kinetic data of low-temperature oxidation reaction was obtained from the laboratory-scale experiments with bituminous coals taken from Jindi Coal Mine of Shanxi Province in China. The influence of moisture was ignored because the studied coal had low moisture content (mass concentration: 1.87%) and both coal and ambient environment were assumed to be saturated with moisture (or ambient environment was assumed to be dry). The effects of five variables (i.e. wind velocity, oxygen concentration, height, porosity, and side slope) on the spontaneous ignition in coarse coal piles were examined. Simultaneously, a theoretical prediction model was formulated in light of variable analyses and a great number of simulations.Compared to self-ignition characteristics of fine-particle coal piles, several self-ignition characteristics of coarse coal piles were identified by numerical investigation. Wind-driven forced convection plays a predominant role in self-heating of coarse coal piles. As wind velocity increases, the self-ignition location in the pile migrates from the lower part which is close to the surface of the windward side to the upper part near to the surface of the leeward side. Wind velocity increase exerts the positive or the negative effect on self-heating, which depends on a critical wind velocity value to sustain balances of both the heat and the availability of oxygen in the coarse coal pile. The behavior of self-ignition is remarkably sensitive to both oxygen concentration and height, and a coarse coal stockpile will not ignite spontaneously as long as one of two critical variable values is satisfied: oxygen concentration of 5% or height of 3 m. The theoretical prediction model suggests when and where countermeasures should be made to prevent the self-ignition in the coal stockpile with engineering accuracy.     

不同含水率煤尘在瓦斯爆炸诱导下爆炸传播规律研究

为了探究不同含水率煤尘在瓦斯爆炸诱导下的爆炸传播规律,利用自行搭建的直管瓦斯爆炸诱导煤尘二次爆炸实验系统,从冲击波压力和火焰传播速度2个方面,研究了不同含水率沉积煤尘在瓦斯爆炸诱导下的爆炸传播规律和原因。研究结果表明:当煤尘含水率小于40%时,管道内沉积煤尘会在瓦斯爆炸诱导下产生二次爆炸,同时沉积煤尘总量一定时,沉积煤尘二次爆炸产生的冲击波超压峰值和火焰传播速度随着煤尘含水率的增加先增大后减小;当沉积煤尘含水率为20% 时,煤尘二次爆炸产生的冲击波超压峰值、火焰传播速度峰值达到最大值,分别为1.657 MPa和468.060 m/s;当沉积煤尘含水率大于40%时,沉积煤尘无法产生二次爆炸,此时爆炸产生的威力小于单一瓦斯爆炸,火焰传播速度衰减较无煤尘的瓦斯爆炸更快,沉积煤尘起到抑制瓦斯爆炸传播的作用。研究结果可以为防治煤尘二次爆炸提供理论依据。     

Effect of admixture of solid inertant on fire hazard of dust layers oriented at varying degrees of inclination

Unlike metallic dust layers, the layer flammability levels (LFL) of non-metallic dust layers exhibit a wide range from Class 1 (No self-sustained combustion) to Class 6 (explosive combustion). However, determinations of layer flammability have not considered the effect of inclination angle, thereby potentially underestimating fire hazard of combustible dust layers in many industrial situations. In this research, inclined dust layers showed greater fire hazard than did horizontally oriented dust layers. For example, LFL of wood dust jumped from class 3 to class 5 when layers were positioned with an incline. Flame spread rate of PMMA dust layers increased from 1.8 to 3.6 mm/s when the angle of inclination increased from 0 to 40°. Even small amounts of solid inertant significantly decreased surface layer fires. The required amount of inertant to completely inert layer fires was far less than that for smoldering layer fires or dust explosions.     

Inerting effect of CaCO3 powder on flame spread of wood dust layer

The effect of CaCO₃ powder, a typical inert dust, on the flame spread characteristics of wood dust layers was studied using an experimental device to understand the ignition characteristics of and develop inert explosion-proof technology for deposited wood dust. The results showed that the flame spread velocity (FSV) of the mixed dust layer was affected by the dispersion effect of CaCO₃ powder and physical heat absorption. As the CaCO₃ powder mass fraction increased, the FSV of the dust layer first increased and then decreased, reaching a peak at a 50% mass fraction. Moreover, the front-end temperature of the flame gradually decreased, and the red spark faded. The combustion reaction of the mixed dust layer could be more completed, and the colour of the combustion residue changed from charcoal black to charcoal grey. The coupling effect of the initial temperature and wind speed can promote an increase in the FSV in the mixed dust layer. The Gauss–Amp model of the FSV of the wood dust layer and mass fraction of CaCO₃ powder showed that the peak of the FSV occurred when the mass fraction of CaCO₃ powder was between 40 and 50%. Thus, a good inerting and explosion-proof effect can be achieved by using CaCO₃ powder with a mass fraction of more than 50%; it can improve the whole inerting process. Inert explosion-proof technology should be considered when assessing fire and explosion risk of dust in real process industry situations.     

Flame propagation in hybrid mixture of coal dust and methane

To investigate the flame propagation through hybrid mixture of coal dust and methane in a combustion chamber, a high-speed video camera with a microscopic lens and a Schlieren optical system were used to record the flame propagation process and to obtain the direct light emission photographs. Flame temperature was detected by a fine thermocouple. The suspended coal dust in the mixture of methane and air was ignited by an electric spark. The flame propagation speeds and maximum flame temperatures of the mixture were analyzed. The results show that the co-presence of coal dust and methane improves the flame propagation speed and maximum flame temperature notably, which become much higher than that of the single-coal dust flame. The flame front temperature varies with the coal dust concentration.     

Synergistic inhibition of aluminum dust explosion by gas–solid inhibitors

The inhibition mechanism of gas-solid inhibitors on Al dust explosion was investigated experimentally in a closed cuboid chamber. The variation of parameters concerning flame propagation characteristic and explosion severity used to reflect the synergistic inhibition effect of gas-solid inhibitors on Al dust explosion were elucidated. The results showed that flame propagation velocity and explosion overpressure were inhibited with the increase of gas-solid inhibitors. The inhibition curves of gas-solid inhibitors within the experimental range were further obtained. The reason concerning the SEEP phenomenon was revealed through the GC-MS analysis. The combustion of ammonia enhanced the explosion overpressure when solid inhibitors performed at low concentration. The gas-phase product could be regarded as the inert gas as long as enough amount of inhibitors were added. To comprehend the inhibition mechanism of gas-solid inhibitors, X-ray diffraction was applied to figure out the crystal structure of explosion residue. The results indicated that both physical and chemical inhibition effects were imposed on Al dust explosion by gas-solid inhibitors, including endothermic decomposition, dilution of oxidizer, coverage of Al dust, and scavenger of free radicals. The results of this study will provide a scientific basis for the design of inhibition technology for the dust explosion.     

Configuration predictions of large liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pool fires using CFD method

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has potential pool fire risks due to its flammability. The configuration of pool fires plays a significant role when applying the solid flame model or point source model to assess the risks from heat radiation. However, no existing correlations can precisely predict the configuration of large LPG (100% propane) pool fires. To enhance the fundamental understanding on how pool diameter and wind velocity can influence the configuration of large LPG pool fires, an experimentally validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is employed to simulate fires using different burning rate models. Fire temperature profiles, flame heights, and flame tilts predicted by the CFD model were compared with empirical models and experimental data. Accordingly, new correlations for flame height and flame tilt as functions of pool diameter D and wind velocity u_w have been developed. The comparisons demonstrate that the new correlations have the best overall accuracy in the prediction of flame height and tilt for large LPG pool fires under different conditions (10 m ≤ D ≤ 20 m, 0 ≤ u_w ≤ 3 m·s⁻¹).     

Mechanisms of high-pressure hydrogen gas self-ignition in tubes

This paper describes a numerical and experimental investigation of hydrogen self-ignition occurring as a result of the formation of a shock wave. The shock wave is formed in front of high-pressure hydrogen gas propagating in a tube. The ignition of the hydrogen–air mixture occurs at the contact surface of the hydrogen and oxidant mixture and is due to the temperature increase produced as a result of the shock wave. The required condition for self-ignition is to maintain the high temperature in the mixture for a time long enough for inflammation to take place. The experimental technique employed was based on a high-pressure chamber pressurized with hydrogen, to the point of a burst disk operating to discharge pressurized hydrogen into a tube of cylindrical or rectangular cross section containing air. A physicochemical model involving gas-dynamic transport of a viscous gas, detailed kinetics of hydrogen oxidation and heat exchange in the laminar approach was used for calculations of high-pressure hydrogen self-ignition. The reservoir pressure range, when a shock wave is formed in the air that has sufficient intensity to produce self-ignition of the hydrogen–air mixture, is found. An analysis of governing physical phenomena based on the experimental and numerical results of the initial conditions (the hydrogen pressure inside the vessel, and the shape of the tube in which the hydrogen was discharged) and physical mechanisms that lead to combustion is presented.