Experimental investigation of gas explosion in single vessel and connected vessels

Gas explosion in connected vessels usually leads to high pressure and high rate of pressure increase which the vessels and pipes can not tolerate. Severe human casualties and property losses may occur due to the variation characteristics of gas explosion pressure in connected vessels. To determine gas explosion strength, an experimental testing system for methane and air mixture explosion in a single vessel, in a single vessel connected a pipe and in connected vessels has been set up. The experiment apparatus consisted of two spherical vessels of 350 mm and 600 mm in diameter, three connecting pipes of 89 mm in diameter and 6 m in length. First, the results of gas explosion pressure in a single vessel and connected vessels were compared and analyzed. And then the development of gas explosion, its changing characteristics and relevant influencing factors were analyzed. When gas explosion occurs in a single vessel, the maximum explosion pressure and pressure growth rate with ignition at the center of a spherical vessel are higher than those with ignition on the inner-wall of the vessel. In conclusion, besides ignition source on the inner wall, the ignition source at the center of the vessels must be avoided to reduce the damage level. When the gas mixture is ignited in the large vessel, the maximum explosion pressure and explosion pressure rising rate in the small vessel raise. And the maximum explosion pressure and pressure rising rate in connected vessels are higher than those in the single containment vessel. So whenever possible, some isolation techniques, such as fast-acting valves, rotary valves, etc., might be applied to reduce explosion strength in the integrated system. However, when the gas mixture is ignited in the small vessel, the maximum explosion pressures in the large vessel and in the small vessel both decrease. Moreover, the explosion pressure is lower than that in the single vessel. When gas explosion happens in a single vessel connected to a pipe, the maximum explosion pressure occurs at the end of the pipe if the gas mixture is ignited in the spherical vessel. Therefore, installing a pipe into the system can reduce the maximum explosion pressure, but it also causes the explosion pressure growth rate to increase.     

Experiment-based investigations of magnesium dust explosion characteristics

An experimental investigation was carried out on magnesium dust explosions. Tests of explosion severity, flammability limit and solid inerting were conducted thanks to the Siwek 20 L vessel and influences of dust concentration, particle size, ignition energy, initial pressure and added inertant were taken into account. That magnesium dust is more of an explosion hazard than coal dust is confirmed and quantified by contrastive investigation. The Chinese procedure GB/T 16425 is overly conservative for LEL determination while EN 14034-3 yields realistic LEL data. It is also suggested that 2000-5000 J is the most appropriate ignition energy to use in the LEL determination of magnesium dusts, using the 20 L vessel. It is essential to point out that the overdriving phenomenon usually occurs for carbonaceous and less volatile metal materials is not notable for magnesium dusts. Trends of faster burning velocity and more efficient and adiabatic flame propagation are associated with fuel-rich dust clouds, smaller particles and hyperbaric conditions. Moreover, Inerting effectiveness of CaCO₃ appears to be higher than KCl values on thermodynamics, whereas KCl represents higher effectiveness upon kinetics. Finer inertant shows better inerting effectiveness.     

粉尘爆炸特征和预防措施探讨

随着现代工业的发展,粉末技术得到了广泛应用,使得粉末产物日益增多.许多粉体加工企业对粉体的相关危害知识没有深刻的认识,这些物质在安全生产、储存、运输和应用过程中,安全管理比较混乱,没有做到很好的防护,缺乏必要的防火防爆设施,再加上操作人员思想上的麻痹大意.粉尘爆炸的危险性大大增加,粉尘爆炸的事故也频繁发生.粉尘爆炸具有很强的破坏力,往往造成重大人员伤亡和严重损失,已经越发成为工业安全不可忽视的重要问题.本文从粉尘爆炸的基本特征出发,论述了粉尘爆炸的机理、条件、特点.根据粉尘爆炸需要的条件,从可燃物、助燃物和点火源三个方面,提出了在实际生产中,预防粉尘爆炸的一些具体措施,以期指导安全生产.     

Experiment-based investigations on the effect of ignition energy on dust explosion behaviors

Explosion behaviors of typical light metal and carbonaceous dusts induced by different ignition energies were investigated based on systematic experiments in a Siwek 20 L vessel. Comparative analysis reveals that the explosion mechanism of carbonaceous dust is the volatile combustion, whereas the mechanism for light metal dust mainly features the surface heterogeneous oxidation. Influences of ignition energy on severity and flammability limit are much more significant for carbonaceous dust than light metal, especially for the powder with less volatile. An innovative approach was introduced to derive flame thickness from the pressure–time trace. The relation between explosion induction time and combustion duration of ignitor was also analyzed. Results show inappropriate ignition energy will cause under-/over-driving in the thermodynamic/kinetic characteristic measurements. In this way, a dimensionless parameter pressure ratio was introduced to evaluate the under-driving, while two methods by using flame thickness and induction time respectively, were proposed to evaluate over-driving. To improve the accuracy of dust explosion tests, authors advocate that explosion severity determination should be conducted at the critical ignition energy. Moreover, a comparison between the European and Chinese flammability limit determination procedures was also conducted, indicating that EN 14034-3 is suitable for light metal but not for carbonaceous, while GB/T 16425 appears to be slightly conservative for both carbonaceous and light metal dusts.     

Some observations on explosion development in process pipelines and implications for the selection and testing of explosion protection devices

In recent years there has been continuing interest in the potential hazards from detonations in pipelines. The interest has arisen in several instances due to the introduction of vapour recover systems, as part of measures to limit environmental emissions. These environmental pressures initially coincided with the preparation of new European-wide test procedures for explosion arrester devices and, more recently, moves to develop a new international ISO standard for the certification and approval of detonation arrester devices. It is an opportune time therefore to review current understanding of explosion development in pipelines and to consider the implications for plant design and explosion arrester selection and testing.     

利用物理模型对立式水管锅炉爆炸前运行压力的估算

在一起立式水管锅炉爆炸事故分析中,由于现场损坏严重,安全附件和记录均已经严重破损,不能够有效提供锅炉爆炸前运行参数。基于安全评价理论中的物理爆炸模型,通过现场飞出碎片的测量,对该锅炉爆炸前的能量和运行压力进行了估算。该估算结果与其他方法进行评估的结果相一致,为事故分析提供了重要参考依据。     

Effect of scale on the explosion of methane in air and its shockwave

Explosion experiments using premixed gas in a duct have become a significant method of investigating methane-air explosions in underground coal mines. The duct sizes are far less than that of an actual mine gallery. Whether the experimental results in a duct are applicable to analyze a methane-air explosion in a practical mine gallery needed to be investigated. This issue involves the effects of scale on a gas explosion and its shockwave in a constrained space. The commercial software package AutoReaGas, a finite element computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code suitable for gas explosions and blast problems, was used to carry out the numerical simulation for the explosion processes of a methane-air mixture in the gallery (or duct) at various scales. Based on the numerical simulation and its analysis, the effect of scale on the degree of correlation with the real situation was studied for a methane-air explosion and its shockwave in a square section gallery (or duct). This study shows that the explosion process of the methane-air mixture relates to the scales of the gallery or duct. The effect of scale decreases gradually with the distance from the space containing the methane-air mixture and the air shock wave propagation conforms approximately to the geometric similarity law in the far field where the scaled distance (ratio of the propagation distance and the height (or width) of the gallery section) is over 80.     

氧气瓶爆炸事故性质认定及原因分析

在事故现场勘查的基础上,通过材料成分、力学性能、金相组织与断口、碎片附着物以及充装气体成分等检测和试验,结合爆炸能量的理论估算,对一起氧气瓶爆炸事故的性质和原因进行了系统分析。结果表明：瓶体存在的脱碳、微裂纹及局部腐蚀凹坑这些类裂纹缺陷在爆炸产生的巨大载荷下诱发了气瓶的开裂及扩展,其宏观断口表现为韧脆交替的快速断裂特征。依据碎片抛射距离估算的气瓶实际爆炸能量远大于其发生物理爆炸所产生的能量,气瓶爆炸属于化学爆炸。气瓶内存在的碳烃类油脂有机物以及瓶阀关闭时产生的摩擦热或静电火花是氧气瓶发生化学爆炸的直接原因。     

多功能球形爆炸容器研究

20L球形爆炸容器是通用的研究气体、可燃液体蒸气和粉尘等爆炸参数的重要仪器。本文以现有的压力容器标准为依据,将爆炸瞬态载荷转换成等效静态载荷,运用动力系数法,研究出了一种可用来做气体、可燃液体蒸气和粉尘爆炸实验的球形爆炸容器。用此球形爆炸容器进行液压实验和爆炸极限实验,实验得到甲烷的爆炸下限为4.5%,上限为14.0%;乙醇蒸气爆炸下限为2.5%,上限为15.0%;10μm镁粉粉尘爆炸下限为45g/m3,实验所得数据与文献中的差别不大。结果证明本文所设计的多功能球形爆炸容器科学合理,能够满足爆炸实验要求。     

Influence of laneway support spacing on methane/air explosion shock wave

A laneway support system provides an available way to solve problems related to ground movements in underground coal mines, but also poses another potential hazard. Once a methane/air explosion occurs in a laneway, inappropriate design parameters of the support system, especially the support spacing, likely have a negative influence on explosion disaster effects. The commercial software package AutoReaGas, a computational fluid dynamics code suitable for gas explosions, was used to carry out the numerical investigation for the methane/air explosion and blast process in a straight laneway with different support spacing. The validity of the numerical method was verified by the methane/air explosion experiment in a steel tube. Laneway supports can promote the development of turbulence and explosion, and also inhibit the propagation of flame and shock wave. For the design parameters in actual laneway projects, the fluid dynamic drag due to the laneway support plays a predominant role in a methane/air explosion. There is an uneven distribution of the peak overpressure on the same cross section in the laneway, and the largest overpressure is near the laneway walls. Different support spacing can cause obvious differences for the distributions of the shock wave overpressure and impulse. Under comparable conditions, the greater destructive effects of explosion shock wave are seen for the laneway support system with larger spacing. The results presented in this work provide a theoretical basis for the optimized design of the support system in coal laneways and the related safety assessments.     

Fire and explosion hazards during filling/emptying of tanks

Loading and unloading operations produce 8% of all accidents which occur in process plants and in the transportation of hazardous materials. A survey of 738 accidents was performed, allowing the identification of the accident type distribution and of their cause. Some considerations on flammable mixtures are also presented, and the procedures to avoid these mixtures occurring when filling or emptying a tank are briefly discussed.     

Simplified model for the evaluation of the effects of explosions on industrial target

The evaluation of vulnerability of process equipment to explosion is a central issue in the analysis of industrial risks. In this work, we have developed a simplified model, however based on fundamental equations, which includes structural and fluid–dynamic parameters for the target (the industrial equipment) and for the impacting pressure wave (shock waves) or object (fragment, debris) produced by different type of chemical explosions.The validity of methodology has been assessed by case histories. Several insights on the dynamic of structural interaction of the explosion with the target have been obtained, with specific reference to escalation effects.The model derives from the well-known Johnson's number, often adopted in impact engineering.     

Methods for more accurate determination of explosion severity parameters

Accurate determination of explosion severity parameters (p_max, (dp/dt)_max, and K_St) is essential for dust explosion assessment, identification of mitigation strategy, and design of mitigation measure of proper capacity. The explosion severity parameters are determined according to standard methodology however variety of dust handled and operation circumstances may create practical challenge on the optimal test method and subsequent data interpretation. Two methods are presented: a statistical method, which considers all test results in determination of explosion severity parameters and a method that corrects the results for differences of turbulence intensity. The statistical method also calculates experimental error (uncertainty) that characterises the experimental spread, allows comparison to other dust samples and may define quality determination threshold. The correction method allows to reduce discrepancies between results from 1 m³ vessel and 20-l sphere caused by difference in the turbulence intensity level. Additionally new experimental test method for difficult to inject samples together with its analysis is described. Such method is a versatile tool for explosion interpretation in test cases where different dispersion nozzle is used (various turbulence level in the test chamber) because of either specific test requirements or being “difficult dust sample”.     

Experimental study on the feasibility of explosion suppression by vacuum chambers

In view of the invalidity of suppression and isolation apparatus for gas explosion, a closed vacuum chamber structure for explosion suppression with a fragile plane was designed on the base of the suction of vacuum. Using methane as combustible gas, a series of experiments on gas explosion were carried out to check the feasibility of the vacuum chamber suppressing explosion by changing methane concentration and geometric structure of the vacuum chamber. When the vacuum chamber was not connected to the tunnel, detonation would happen in the tunnel at methane volume fraction from 9.3% to 11.5%, with flame propagation velocity exceeding 2000 m/s, maximum peak value overpressure reaching 0.7 MPa, and specific impulse of shock wave running up to 20 kPa s. When the vacuum chamber with 5/34 of the tunnel volume was connected to the flank of the tunnel, gas explosion of the same concentration would greatly weaken with flame propagation velocity declining to about 200 m/s, the quenching distance decreasing to 3/4 of the tunnel length, maximum peak value overpressure running down to 0.1-0.15 MPa and specific impulse of shock wave below 0.9 kPa s. The closer the position accessed to the ignition end, the greater explosion intensity weakened. There was no significant difference between larger section and smaller vacuum chambers in degree of maximum peak value overpressure and specific impulse declining, except that quenching fire effect of the former was superior to the latter. The distance of fire quenching could be improved by increasing the number of the vacuum chambers.     

Development of algorithms for predicting ignition probabilities and explosion frequencies

A project was performed for the Explosion Research Cooperative to develop algorithms for predicting the frequencies of explosions based on a variety of design, operating and environmental conditions. Algorithms were developed for estimating unit-based explosion frequencies, such as those reported in API Recommended Practice 752, but in more detail and covering a much broader range of chemical process types. The project also developed methods for predicting scenario-based explosion frequencies, using frequencies of initiating events and conditional probabilities of immediate ignition and delayed ignition resulting in explosion. The algorithms were based on a combination of published data and expert opinion.     

Lower explosion limit of hybrid mixtures of burnable gas and dust

Hybrid mixtures – mixtures of burnable dusts and burnable gases – pose special problems to industries, as their combined Lower Explosion Limit (LEL) can lie below the LEL of the single substances. Different mathematical relations have been proposed by various authors in literature to predict the Lower Explosion Limit of hybrid mixtures (LEL_hybrid). The aim of this work is to prove the validity or limitations of these formulas for various combinations of dusts and gases. The experiments were executed in a standard 20 L vessel apparatus used for dust explosion testing. Permanent spark with an ignition energy of 10 J was used as ignition source. The results obtained so far show that, there are some combinations of dust and gas where the proposed mathematical formulas to predict the lower explosible limits of hybrid mixtures are not safe enough.     

Development of an organizational framework for studying dust explosion phenomena

To develop a predictive dust explosion model or theory many considerations of the interaction between several complex multiscale processes are required. Due to practical considerations only some of the processes may be fully resolved, while the rest must be approximated or neglected. The current study focuses on constructing an organizational framework for dust explosion model development. The framework is organized based on progression of the explosion in time and geometric scale of the important features. Suggested methodologies are given to investigate the small-scale features and develop feed-forward approximations for predictive models at the larger system-scale. The concepts developed through constructing the organizational framework are applied to closed volume dust explosion testing and classification of several sources of experimental variance for this system is given.     

基于完全因素分解法的能源效率影响因素研究

“十二五”是我国全面建成小康社会的关键阶段,又由于环境和资源禀赋方面的制约,提高能源效率成为我国经济和社会发展的内在需求.从能源强度的角度出发,分析了我国产业结构和能源效率现状,采用完全因素分解法,从产业结构的角度人手对全国能源效率的影响因素进行了研究.结果表明,技术因素是我国能源效率提高的主要推动力,第二产业对能源效率的影响远远大于第一和第三产业.     

石化行业中某些碳氢燃料爆炸危险性分析

借助于激波管测定了几种碳氢燃料和空气混合物的爆轰极限、临界起爆能。根据这些实验数据，分析了所研究的碳氢燃料的爆炸危险性。同时根据烷烃和烯烃键的不同饱和度，分析了它们爆炸危险性差别的原因。     

A new simple methodology for evaluation of explosion risk in underground coal mines

The key objective of this paper is the presentation of a new risk assessment tool for underground coal mines based on a simplified semi-quantitative estimation and assessment method.In order to determine the risk of explosion of any work process or activity in underground coal mines it is necessary to assess the risk. The proposed method is based on a Risk Index obtained as a product of three factors: frequency of each individual scenario P_ucm, associated severity consequences C_ucm and exposure time to explosive atmospheres E_ucm. The influence of exposure time is usually not taken into account up to now. Moreover, the exposure to explosive atmospheres may affect factors of hazardous event probability as much as its consequences. There are many definitions of exposure to explosive atmospheres but in the case of underground coal mines the exposure is defined as frequency risk of firedamp and coal dust. The risk estimation and risk assessment are based on the developed of a risk matrix.The proposed methodology allows not only the estimation of the explosion risk but also gives an approach to decide if the proposal investment is well-justified or not in order to improve safety.