Medium-scale experiments on vented hydrogen deflagration

A series of medium-scale experiments on vented hydrogen deflagration was carried out at the KIT test side in a chamber of 1 × 1 × 1 m³ size with different vent areas. The experimental program was divided in three series: (1) uniform hydrogen–air mixtures; (2) stratified hydrogen–air mixtures within the enclosure; (3) a layer deflagration of uniform mixture. Different uniform hydrogen–air mixtures from 7 to 18% hydrogen were tested with variable vent areas 0.01–1.0 m². One test was done for rich mixture with 50% H₂. To vary a gradient of concentration, all the experiments with a stratified hydrogen–air mixtures had about 4%H₂ at the bottom and 10 to 25% H₂ at the top of the enclosure. Measurement system consisted of a set of pressure sensors and thermocouples inside and outside the enclosure. Four cameras combined with a schlieren system (BOS) for visual observation of combustion process through transparent sidewalls were used. Four experiments were selected as benchmark experiments to compare them with four times larger scale FM Global tests (Bauwens et al., 2011) and to provide experimental data for further CFD modelling. The nature of external explosion leading to the multiple pressure peak structure was investigated in details. Current work addresses knowledge gaps regarding indoor hydrogen accumulations and vented deflagrations. The experiments carried out within this work attend to contribute the data for improved criteria for hydrogen–air mixture and enclosure parameters to avoid unacceptable explosion overpressure. Based on theoretical analysis and current experimental data a further vent sizing technology for hydrogen deflagrations in confined spaces should be developed, taking into account the peculiarities of hydrogen–air mixture deflagrations in presence of obstacles, concentration gradients of hydrogen–air mixtures, dimensions of a layer of flammable cloud, vent inertia, etc.     

Unified correlations for vent sizing of enclosures at atmospheric and elevated pressures

Innovative vent sizing technology is presented for explosion safety design of equipment at atmospheric and elevated initial pressures. Unified correlations for vent sizing are suggested. They are modifications of previously reported correlations verified thoroughly for experimental data on vented gaseous deflagrations under different conditions but only at initial atmospheric pressure. Suggested correlations are based on experimental data on vented deflagrations of quiescent and turbulent propane–air mixtures at initial pressures up to 0.7 MPa. Typical values of turbulence factor and deflagration–outflow interaction number are obtained for experimental vented deflagrations at initial pressures higher than atmospheric.

“Blind” examination of new vent sizing technology on another set of experiments with methane–air and propane–air mixtures has shown that predictions by suggested vent sizing technology are better than by the NFPA 68 guide for “Venting of Deflagrations”.

In the development of recently reported results for initial atmospheric pressure it has been concluded that the innovative vent sizing technology is more reliable compared to the NFPA 68 guide at elevated initial pressures as well. Moreover it is crucial that the calculation procedure remains the same for arbitrary deflagration conditions.     

Experimental study on vented deflagration of hydrocarbon fuel-air mixtures in a 20-L semi-confined cylindrical vessel with a slight static activation pressure

The overpressure peaks and flame propagation characteristics of hydrocarbon fuel-air mixtures vented deflagration in a 20-L cylindrical vessel with a slight static activation overpressure (P_ST = 2.5 kPa) and five vent opening ratio were studied by a series of experiments. The experiments focused on the effect of vent opening ratio on the overpressure peaks and flame propagation characteristics of hydrocarbon fuel-air mixture vented deflagration. The internal overpressure-time profiles and high-speed photographs of flame propagation processes were obtained. The results showed that three overpressure peaks were distinguished in the internal overpressure-time profiles, caused by the burst vent cover (p_burst), the acceleration of burnt gas (p_fv), and the fierce external deflagration of vented unburned fuel (p_ext), respectively. The changing of the vent opening ratio had almost no effect on the value of p_burst and (dp_burst/dt). With increasing vent opening ratio, the values of p_fv, p_ext, (dp_fv/dt) and (dp_ext/dt) showed a decreasing trend while the values of p_burst and (dp_burst/dt) were nearly constant. The flame presented a hemispherical shape before the vent cover ruptured then developed as a mushroom shape after accelerated to external field. There were three flame speed peaks during flame propagation process, resulted from venting flow acceleration, external deflagration, and axial heat flux formed by internal combustion. With the increase of vent opening ratio, all of the maximum flame speed, external average flame speed, maximum flame distance and external flame duration showed a downward trend, excepting for the internal average flame speed almost remained constant.     

Comparative analysis of test work studying factors influencing pressures developed in vented deflagrations

A test programme was developed to study factors that may influence the maximum pressure during venting developed during deflagration. The factors considered were vent burst pressure, vent mass, ignition source location, discharge ducting, downstream obstructions and water covers.     

穿越城市生活区的天然气管道泄漏连锁爆燃后果评估研究*

为评估城市天然气管道泄漏连锁爆燃事故后果,基于计算流体力学(CFD)方法构建穿越城市区域的天然气管道泄漏连锁爆燃后果预测与评估模型,以某城市生活区域为例,在城市生活区域建筑物内风场流动计算的基础上,模拟风场作用下可燃气体在城市建筑物空间内的运移规律,预测可燃气云的积聚区域;考虑意外点火的情况,计算城市生活区域内可燃气云爆燃灾害特征,预测爆燃超压、热辐射和高温的影响。研究结果表明:由于建筑物之间的阻挡与反射作用,建筑物下风向有明显的低风速区域,并在一定时间段后扩散过程趋于稳定;在爆燃火焰作用下,高温和热辐射会造成建筑物部分钢结构发生失效变形。     

井喷失控点火时间与方位探讨

利用计算流体力学方法(CFD)对井喷失控后天然气扩散过程进行研究,在有限元基础上建立模型,采用κ-ε紊流模型求解得出井喷失控后可燃性蒸气云随时间、风速变化的影响情况,求出稳态以后易爆区域的蒸气云形状。取5.0%和15%作为甲烷的爆炸上、下限,在不同区域进行点火求解爆燃结果,通过比较给出推荐的点火时间和点火方位。该研究成果可对井喷失控蒸气云爆燃危害性进行预测,有助于指导井喷失控进行点火放喷工作,避免爆燃事故的发生。     

Consequence prediction for dust explosions involving interconnected vessels using computational fluid dynamics modeling

Combustible dust explosions continue to present a significant threat toward operating personnel and pneumatic conveyance equipment in a wide variety of processing industries. Following ignition of suspended fuel within a primary enclosure volume, propagation of flame and pressure fronts toward upstream or downstream interconnected enclosures can result in devastating secondary explosions if not impeded through an appropriate isolation mechanism. In such occurrences, an accelerated flame front may result in flame jet ignition within the secondary vessel, greatly increasing the overall explosion severity. Unlike an isolated deflagration event with quantifiable reduced pressures (vent sizing according to NFPA 68 guidance), oscillation of pressure between primary and secondary process vessels leads to uncertain overpressure effects. Dependent on details of the application such as relative enclosure volumes, relief area, fuel type, suspended concentration, duct size, and duct length, the maximum system pressure in both interconnected vessels can be unpredictable. This study proposes the use of FLame ACceleration Simulator (FLACS) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to provide reliable consequence predictions for specific case scenarios of dust deflagrations involving interconnected equipment. Required minimum supplement to the originally calculated relief area (A_v) was determined through iterative simulation, allowing for reduced explosion pressures (P_red) to be maintained below theoretical enclosure design strengths (P_es).     

容积式受限空间油气爆燃火焰特征的实验研究

根据容积式受限空间油气爆燃火焰特征实验研究的需要,设计了实验系统,进行了不同油气体积分数下的油气爆燃模拟实验。基于实验所得的瞬时火焰信号数据与火焰图像,分析了不同油气体积分数下容积式受限空间内油气爆燃的火焰形态结构、传播速度、强度与持续时间等主要行为特征,所得结果对探索油气爆燃机理与基本规律具有重要参考意义。     

Scale effects on hydrogen–air fast deflagrations and detonations in small obstructed channels

An experimental study of flame propagation, acceleration and transition to detonation in hydrogen–air mixture in 2-m-long rectangular cross-section channel filled with obstacles located at the bottom wall was performed. The initial conditions of the hydrogen–air mixture were 0.1 MPa and 293 K and stoichiometric composition (29.6% H₂ in air). The channel width was 0.11 m and blockage ratio was 0.5 in all experiments. The effect of channel geometrical scale on flame propagation was studied by using four channel heights H of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.08 m. In each case, the obstacle height was equal to H/2 and the obstacle spacing was 2H.

The propagation of flame and pressure waves was monitored by four pressure transducers and four ion probes. The pairs of transducers and probes were placed at various locations along the channel in order to get information about the progress of the phenomena along the channel.

As a result of the experiments, the deflagration and detonation regimes and velocities of flame propagation in the obstructed channel were established.     

氢气爆燃作用下核电站安全壳力学响应数值模拟分析

在核电站严重事故中,由氢气爆燃产生的压力载荷会危及安全壳完整性致其失效,进而造成放射性物质泄漏的严重危害。通过ANSYS/Fluent有限元数值模拟软件,建立了安全壳有限元模型,并对安全壳内氢气爆燃过程以及其力学特性进行了数值模拟研究,获得了氢气爆炸过程中的超压值、升压速率、安全壳变形以及压应力分布。结果表明:爆燃波传递引起压强升高,火焰阵面处压强最高,爆燃波所经区域超压疾速上升随后快速下降;爆燃作用下,顶部壳体和下部筒体连接区域混凝土位移最大,最大压应力也集中分布在该区域,最易受到破坏。获得的结论可为安全壳结构抗爆设计和安全性研究提供理论参考。     

Turbulent deflagrations of mildly flammable refrigerant-air mixtures

With current concerns around global climate change, new hydrofluorocarbons with low Global Warming Potential (GWP) are being evaluated as alternative refrigerants. These alternative refrigerants, however, may be mildly flammable (as defined by the A2L safety group classification) and pose safety concerns for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) industry. Consequently, careful assessments of different flammability characteristics and risks for these refrigerants are essential for their safe use in actual applications. In this study, deflagration propagation measurements for different mildly flammable refrigerants, including difluoromethane (R-32) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (R-1234yf), were undertaken in different geometries including a 9.1-m long conduit test rig and a closed cubical 12.5 m³ volume. Different tests were conducted for full volume deflagrations as well as with and without obstructions. Turbulent deflagration speeds for well-mixed, refrigerant-air mixtures have been shown to be orders of magnitude larger than their corresponding laminar flame speed values that are used in classifying flammable refrigerants in safety standards. Testing has also quantified the resulting severity as measured by the event overpressure which was shown to worsen with increased congestion or confinement as a consequence of increased induced turbulence. This work illustrates the importance for severity evaluations for actual large-scale or congested geometries of concern in practical applications. Even for mildly flammable refrigerants characterized by laminar flame speeds <2 cm/s, which is lower than the 10 cm/s limit for A2L refrigerants, relatively fast deflagrations can be generated for very congested geometries where downstream turbulence is generated as the flame front passes over obstacles in these situations.     

微乳化柴油燃爆性能研究

为了研究微乳化柴油在静爆条件下的燃爆特性,利用高清摄像机、高速照相机和红外热成像仪分别获取各微乳化柴油样品无约束条件下燃爆过程以及爆炸温度场分布情况,着重分析比较生产工艺与抑爆剂对微乳化柴油燃爆性能的影响。实验结果显示,相同试验条件下,磁力搅拌、高速剪切、超声处理和静电喷雾工艺获得的微乳化柴油样品燃爆性能接近,与-10号柴油相比,爆炸火球体积分别降低了40.61%,37.91%,27.46%和34.01%。添加抑爆剂后,磁力搅拌工艺生产的微乳化柴油爆炸火球体积显著降低,仅为-10号军柴所产生火球的68.47%。研究结果表明,微乳化柴油具有一定的防火防爆效果,抑爆剂的添加对抑制火球温度和尺寸效果显著。     

气体爆燃火焰在狭缝中的淬熄

通过叙述可燃气体爆燃火焰在平行板狭缝中传播时产生淬熄的实验和理论研究结果，给出了甲烷，丙烷，乙炔，氢气等四种可燃气体与空气的预混气作为实验介质所进行的爆火焰淬熄实验中，火焰传播速度与淬熄直径、淬熄长度之间的关系。对于气体爆燃火争的淬熄理论模型进行了探讨，得到了有应用价值的结论。     

Propane-air mixture deflagration hazard with different ignition positions and restraints in large-scale venting chamber

In order to better assess the hazards of explosion accidents, propane-air mixture deflagrations were conducted in a large-scale straight rectangular chamber (with a cross-section of 1.5 m × 1.5 m, length of 10 m, and total volume of 22.5 m³). The effect of initial volume, ignition position, and initial restraints on the explosion characteristics of the propane-air mixtures was investigated. The explosion overpressure, flame propagation, and flame speed were obtained and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software was used to simulate the flame-propagation process and field flow for auxiliary analysis. The hazards of large-scale propagation explosion under weak and strong constraints were evaluated and the different phases of flame propagation under weak and strong constraints were discriminated. Results indicate that the hazards caused by propane deflagration under weak constraint are mainly caused by flame spread. And the maximum overpressure under strong constraint appeared at the front part of the chamber under the large-scale condition, which is consistent with the previous small-scale test. Moreover, the simulations of flame structures under weak and strong constraint are in good agreement with experimental results, which furthers the understanding of large-scale propane deflagration under different initial conditions in large-scale spaces and provides basic data for three-dimensional CFD model improvement.     

Experimental and numerical study of the fuel effect on flame propagation in long open tubes

Previous works (Daubech et al., 2019) were dedicated to gaseous flame acceleration along long pipes with a set of cases studied both experimentally and numerically. In these cases, the flammable mixture was initially quiescent and homogenously distributed. The impact of the tube diameter and material were studied trough both approaches for rather slow flames, the fuel being methane. While main features of the real flame were recovered by the chosen CFD method, some limits remained.A new experimental dataset is detailed and analyzed with a quicker flame, the fuel being hydrogen and the same experimental set-up as the one used for measuring slow flames. Thus, the fuel effect on the flame dynamics can be directly highlighted.A simple CFD approach is tested for recovering two distinct flame behaviors: a deflagration flame and another undergoing deflagration-to-detonation transition. Furthermore, the modelling results are used to propose elements of interpretation for flame acceleration.     

端部开口受限空间汽油蒸气爆燃超压特性研究

基于实验研究了端部开口半受限空间内汽油蒸气泄放爆燃特性,获得了受限空间 内外爆燃超压的变化规律。研究结果表明:受限空间内部超压随时间变化分为点火孕育 期、加速泄流期、外部爆燃期、波动振荡期、衰弱恢复期,爆燃过程中出现多超压峰值 现象且伴随有强烈的压力振荡;随着初始油气浓度的增大,受限空间外部爆燃超压先增 大后减小,外部爆燃超压最大浓度为1.70%;随着比例距离的增加,受限空间外部超压 值呈负指数规律衰减,且横向衰减速率要大于轴向衰减速率。     

Modelling the mitigation of a hydrogen deflagration in a nuclear waste silo ullage with water fog

During the decommissioning of certain legacy nuclear waste storage plants it is possible that significant releases of hydrogen gas could occur. Such an event could result in the formation of a flammable mixture within the silo ullage and, hence, the potential risk of ignition and deflagration occurring, threatening the structural integrity of the silo. Very fine water mist fogs have been suggested as a possible method of mitigating the overpressure rise, should a hydrogen–air deflagration occur. In the work presented here, the FLACS CFD code has been used to predict the potential explosion overpressure reduction that might be achieved using water fog mitigation for a range of scenarios where a hydrogen–air mixture, of a pre-specified concentration (containing 800 L of hydrogen), uniformly fills a volume located in a model silo ullage space, and is ignited giving rise to a vented deflagration. The simulation results suggest that water fog could significantly reduce the peak explosion overpressure, in a silo ullage, for lower concentration hydrogen–air mixtures up to 20%, but would require very high fog densities to be achieved to mitigate 30% hydrogen–air mixtures.     

粉尘爆炸研究方向初探

本文从现有的对粉尘爆炸特性的认识出发,分析了粉尘云特性,粉尘爆炸与爆轰,湍流对反应波阵面的加速几个方面,提出了近期应该在粉尘爆炸参数测试技术标准化、粉尘指数K_(st)、粉尘爆燃转炸轰的过程、泄炸机理以及控炸装置和控炸设计规范等方面的研究上下功夫,以便更有效地利用现有的试验条件,更快、更多、更好地解决工程实际问题。     

Flamelet surface density modelling of turbulent deflagrating flames in vented explosions

The performance of two reaction rate models based on the laminar flamelet concept have been examined by calculating the behaviour of turbulent flame deflagration inside a semi-confined explosion tube. The models formulate the mean rate of reaction as a function of a transport equation for the flamelet surface density. The difference in the models is in modelling the source/sink terms of the flamelet surface density transport equation. The models are validated using laser diagnostics of flame deflagration in methane–air flammable mixture. The predictions are compared with experimental results for propagation, pressure history and flame speed. Sensitivity to cross-flow effects are investigated through comparison between two- and three-dimensional calculations. The numerically simulated results show that experimental trends are well reproduced by both models.     

Study of the severity of hybrid mixture explosions and comparison to pure dust-air and vapour-air explosions

The explosion behaviour of heterogeneous/homogeneous fuel-air (hybrid) mixtures is here analysed and compared to the explosion features of heterogeneous fuel-air and homogeneous fuel-air mixtures separately.Experiments are performed to measure the pressure history, deflagration index and flammability limits of nicotinic acid/acetone-air mixtures in a standard 20 L Siwek bomb adapted to vapour-air mixtures. Literature data are also used for comparison.The explosion tests performed on gas-air mixtures in the same conditions as explosion tests of dust-air mixtures, show that the increase in explosion severity of dust/gas-air mixtures has to be addressed to the role of initial level of turbulence prior to ignition.At a fixed value of the equivalence ratio, by substituting the dust to the flammable gas in a dust/gas-air mixture the explosion severity decreases. Furthermore, the most severe conditions of dust-gas/air mixtures is found during explosion of gas-air mixture at stoichiometric concentration.