Effect of concentration and ignition position on vented methane–air explosions

Experiments were conducted in a 1 m³ vessel with a top vent to investigate the effect of methane concentration and ignition position on pressure buildup and flame behavior. Three pressure peaks (p₁, p₂, and P_ext) and two types of pressure oscillations (Helmholtz and acoustic oscillations) were observed. The rupture of vent cover results in p₁ that is insensitive to methane concentration and ignition position. Owing to the interaction between acoustic wave and the flame, p₂ forms in the central and top ignition explosions when the methane–air mixture is near–stoichiometric. When the methane–air mixture is centrally ignited, p₂ first increases and then decreases with an increase in the methane concentration. The external explosion-induced P_ext is observed only in the bottom ignition explosions with an amplitude of several kilopascals. Under the current experimental conditions, flame–acoustic interaction leads to the most serious explosions in central ignition tests. Methane concentration and ignition position have little effect on the frequency of Helmholtz and acoustic oscillations; however, the Helmholtz oscillation lasts longer and first decreases and then increases as the methane concentration increases for top ignition cases. The ignition position significantly affects the Taylor instability of the flame front resulting from the Helmholtz oscillation.     

Effects of vent layout and vent area on dynamic characteristics of premixed methane-air explosion in a tube with two side-vented ducts

To further elucidate the influence mechanism of side vents on the dynamic characteristics of gas explosions in tubes is helpful to design more reasonable vent layouts. In this paper, 9.5% methane-air explosion experiments were conducted in a tube with two side-vented ducts, and the effects of vent layouts and vent areas on the dynamic characteristics of explosion overpressure and flame propagation speed were investigated. The results demonstrate that under the same condition with a single vent area of 100 mm × 100 mm, when only the end vent is open, the maximum explosion overpressure and the maximum flame propagation speed are the highest among the five vent layouts. When the side vents 1 and 2 and the end vent are open, the maximum explosion overpressure is the lowest, and an unusual discovery is that the flame front changes into a hemispherical shape, finger shape, quasi-plane shape, tulip shape and wrinkled structure. When only side vent 1 is open, a unique Helmholtz oscillation occurs, and a new discovery is that there is a consistent oscillation relationship among the overpressure, flame propagation speed and flame structure. Helmholtz oscillation occurs only when a single vent area is 100 mm × 100 mm–60 mm × 60 mm, and the oscillation degree decreases with decreasing vent area. During the vent failure stage, the maximum explosion overpressure is generated, the flame front begins to appear irregular shape, and the flame propagation speed shows a prominent characteristic peak. After the vent failure stage, the driving effect of the end vent on the flame is higher than that of the side vent on the flame. Furthermore, the correlation equations of the mathematical relationships among the maximum explosion overpressure P_red, the static activation pressure P_stat and the vent coefficient K_v under four vent layouts are established, respectively.     

Dynamics of explosion venting in a compartment with methane-air mixtures

A series of experiments on explosion venting of methane-air mixtures are performed to scrutinize the pressure evolution as well as the flame dynamics and morphology at various vent conditions. Specifically, a premixed flame is ignited at the center of a polycarbonate cylindrical compartment, with three various vent areas considered (with negligible vent relief pressure). As expected, the highest maximum pressure is observed in the case of the smallest vent area. For all three cases, the pressure evolution experiences two major peaks, associated with the instants (i) when the maximum flame front surface area in the chamber is reached and (ii) when an external explosion occurs due to venting of unburned gases, respectively. For the fuel-rich mixtures, a flashback is observed subsequent to the external explosion, constituting the key outcome of the present work. The flame tip velocities show two general trends, namely, exponential acceleration towards the vent, while a flame propagates towards the blocked side of the compartment with no acceleration, which is important to know in the fire/explosion safety applications.     

Effects of hydrogen addition on the confined and vented explosion behavior of methane in air

Multi-component gas mixture explosion accidents occur and recur frequently, while the safety issues of multi-component gas mixture explosion for hydrogen–methane mixtures have rarely been addressed.Numerical simulation study on the confined and vented explosion characteristics of methane-hydrogen mixture in stoichiometric air was conducted both in the 5 L vessel and the 64 m³ chamber, involving different mixture compositions and initial pressures. Based on the results and analysis, it is shown that the addition of hydrogen has a negative effect on the explosion pressure of methane-hydrogen mixture at adiabatic condition. While in the vented explosion, the addition of the hydrogen has a significant positive effect on the explosion hazard degree. Additionally, the addition of hydrogen can induce a faster reactivity and enhance the sensitivity of the mixture by reducing the explosion time and increasing the rate of pressure rise both in confined and vented explosion. Both the maximum pressure and the maximum rate of pressure rise increase with initial pressure as a linear function, and also rise with the increase of hydrogen content in fuel. The increase in the maximum rate of pressure rise is slight when hydrogen ratio is lower than 0.5, however, it become significant when hydrogen ratio is higher than 0.5. The maximum rate of pressure rise for stoichiometric hydrogen-air is about 10 times the one of stoichiometric methane-air.Furthermore, the vent plays an important role to relief pressure, causing the decrease in explosion pressure and rate of pressure rise, while it can greatly enhance the flame speed, which will extend the hazard range and induce secondary fire damages. Additionally it appears that the addition of hydrogen has a significant increasing effect on the flame speed. The propagation of flame speed in confined explosion can be divided into two stages, increase stage and decrease stage, higher hydrogen content, higher slope. But in the vented explosion, the flame speed keeps increasing with the distance from the ignition point.     

密闭空间内天然气混合及爆炸传播规律研究

为研究密闭容器内甲烷-空气不均匀分布对混合气体燃烧的影响,将数值模拟和实验相结合,发现在重力作用下混合气体浓度分布不均匀,长径比越大的容器,混合气体浓度分布梯度越大。混合气体浓度分布影响气体火焰传播规律。宏观浓度为5%的甲烷与空气混合后,容器上部甲烷浓度高于5%,在该处点火时非均匀混合甲烷-空气火焰传播较快,非均匀混合气体的爆炸压力比均匀混合气体压力上升快,且分层混合气体的超压峰值高于均匀混合气体的值。由于浓度分布不均匀,点火位置影响甲烷/空气火焰传播的规律。     

The effect of vent size and concentration in vented gasoline-air explosions

Experimental data from vented explosion tests using gasoline-air mixtures with concentrations from 0.88 to 2.41% vol. are presented. A 2L vessel was used for the tests with vent sizes of 25 cm², 50 cm² and 100 cm². The tests were focused on the effect of gasoline vapor concentration and vent size on the pressure development and the flame behavior inside and outside the vessel. It was found that the inner flame propagation speed was mainly dependent on the initial concentration, while the maximum flame spreading distance was mainly influenced by the vent size. The external flame speed and duration could be influenced by the combination of the two properties. The internal pressure increases gradually with the flame propagated inside the vessel and decreased sharply when the vent failed. High-pressure durations containing pressure peaks were recorded by transducers in front of the vent and oscillations could be observed besides the vent. At any measure point, the maximum external pressures for A = 25 cm² or 50 cm² were significantly larger than those for A = 100 cm².     

Wire-mesh inhibition of jet fire induced by explosion venting

Explosion venting is widely applied in industrial explosion-proof designs due to the convenient, economical and practical features of this method. Natural gas is usually stored in storage tanks. If the gas in the vessel is mixed with air and encounters an ignition source, explosion venting might occur, producing jet fire, generating new secondary derivative accidents and causing casualties and property losses. In this paper, a set of test platforms including wire-mesh suppression devices is established to study the inhibition of jet fire induced by explosion venting by wire mesh. The experimental research shows that a wire mesh significantly inhibits the jet fire induced by explosion venting. The flame propagation velocity and pressure clearly decrease with increasing numbers of wire-mesh layers. The wire-mesh structure significantly affects the flame propagation, and the more layers of mesh there are, the better the suppression effect is. The flame temperature gradually decreases with the addition of the wire mesh. The mesh size significantly affects the pressure propagation of explosion venting. The explosion pressure gradually decreases with the addition of the wire mesh. With increasing distance between the wire mesh and the explosion vent, the maximum temperature first increases and then decreases, and the maximum explosion pressure first decreases and then increases. In the case of single gas cloud, the flame suppression effect is the most obvious when the wire mesh is 0.2 m away from the explosion vent. In the case of double gas clouds, the flame suppression effect is the most significant when the distance between the wire mesh and the first gas cloud is 0.4 m.     

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.     

甲烷-空气预混气体泄爆过程的实验研究

对甲烷-空气预混气体在球形容器和球形管道连通容器内的泄爆过程进行实验研究,根据实验结果得出在较小的泄压面积时,与密闭容器爆炸实验比较,不能降低容器内的最大压力,反而会增大容器内的最大压力。通过实验结果分析,泄爆口安装在远离点火源的位置,当发生预混气体爆炸时能较好地降低容器内的最大压力,起到保护容器的作用。     

Experimental study on vented gas explosion in a cylindrical vessel with a vent duct

A study of vented explosions in a length over diameter (L/D) of 2 in cylindrical vessel connecting with a vent duct (L/D = 7) is reported. The influence of vent burst pressure and ignition locations on the maximum overpressure and flame speeds at constant vent coefficient, K of 16.4 were investigated to elucidate how these parameters affect the severity of a vented explosion. Propane and methane/air mixtures were studied with equivalence ratio, Φ ranges from 0.8 to 1.6. It is demonstrated that end ignition exhibited higher maximum overpressures and flame speeds in comparison to central ignition, contrary to what is reported in literature. There was a large acceleration of the flame toward the duct due to the development of cellular flames and end ignition demonstrated to have higher flame speeds prior to entry into the vent due to the larger flame distance. The higher vent flow velocities and subsequent flame speeds were responsible for the higher overpressures obtained. Rich mixtures for propane/air mixtures at Φ = 1.35 had the greatest flame acceleration and the highest overpressures. In addition, the results showed that Bartknecht's gas explosion venting correlation is grossly overestimated the overpressure for K = 16.4 and thus, misleading the impact of the vent burst pressure.     

泄爆面特征参数对天然气爆炸超压峰值的影响规律

为揭示泄爆面特征参数对大尺度受限空间内天然气爆炸超压峰值结构的影响机制，基于典型房间特征，借助计算流体动力学技术研究不同泄爆面开启压力、开启时间以及泄压比等参数条件下室内天然气泄爆超压峰值结构的分布规律。研究结果表明:峰值Pb随开启压力和开启时间增加均呈线性增长趋势，而泄压比对Pb影响较小；峰值Pmfa与室内最大火焰面积有关，随开启压力、开启时间的增加和泄压比的减小，气体出流速度增大，进而产生更强的湍流，导致室内火焰面积和气体燃烧率增加，最终Pmfa增大；峰值Pext随泄压比增加呈快速降低趋势，同时开启压力和开启时间对Pext影响具有协同效应，共同促进Pext快速增加。     

不同形状受限空间内油气爆燃特性的实验研究

基于实验对4个不同形状的20L容器内的油气爆燃过程进行了研究,探讨了不同形状受限空间内爆炸压力荷载的变化和火焰行为的区别。结果表明:管道（短管和长管）的压力时序曲线较容积式受限空间（球形容器和立方体容器）的压力时序曲线更复杂,并且出现压力振荡;随着初始浓度的增加,超压值和平均升压速率均先增大后减小,在浓度为1.74%时达到最大值,此时,超压从大到小依次为:长管>短管>立方体>球形容器,平均升压速率从大到小依次为:短管>立方体>长管>球形容器;在爆燃初期,立方体中火焰行为为半球状层流火焰→扁平层流火焰,火焰速度先增大后减小,最大速度为12.5 m/s,长管中火焰行为为半球状层流火焰→拉伸指状火焰,火焰速度一直增大,最大速度为40 m/s。     

Experimental study of the venting characteristics of dust explosion through a vent duct

To further understand the dynamic mechanism of dust explosion through a vent duct, we designed a small-scale cylindrical vessel connected with a vent duct and performed a dust explosion venting experiment under different opening pressures using corn starch as the explosive medium in this study. The results show that weakening effect of duct on venting is positively correlated with the opening pressure. The explosion pressure in the duct presents a three-peak-structure with time, successively caused by the membrane breaking shock wave, the secondary explosion in the tube, and the continuous combustion, and decreases gradually with the propagation distance. Meanwhile, the three pressure peaks are positively correlated with the opening pressure, while the time interval between them goes to contrary. The increase of opening pressure leads to the increase of secondary explosion intensity and reverse flow in the vessel, further accelerates the reaction rate in the vessel, and then shortens the duration of combustion in the vessel until the phenomenon of flame reignition in the vessel disappears.     

障碍物对油气-空气混合气体泄压爆炸火焰传播特性影响

为了研究障碍物对油气泄压爆炸火焰传播特性的影响规律,进行了不同数量障碍物工况下的对比实验,并利用纹影仪和高速摄影仪记录了火焰传播过程,针对障碍物对火焰形态、火焰锋面位置及火焰传播速度的影响规律进行了研究,结果表明:圆柱体障碍物会导致油气泄压爆炸火焰形态产生褶皱和弯曲变形,诱导层流火焰向湍流火焰转变,加速火焰的传播,对油气泄压爆炸火焰的初始传播形态有显著影响;随着障碍物数量的增多,火焰锋面传播距离点火端的最大距离增大,但到达最远距离的时间减少;障碍物能够增强火焰的传播速度,尤其对障碍物下游火焰影响最为显著,随着障碍物数量的增多,火焰传播的最大速度也随之增大,但达到最大火焰传播速度的时间却随之减少;障碍物的存在增大了油气泄压爆炸过程外部爆炸压力,并且随着障碍物数量的增多,外部爆炸压力峰值增长幅度增大。     

球接管容器气体爆炸尺寸效应的试验研究与数值分析

为了解尺寸对球形容器连接管道甲烷-空气混合物爆炸的影响规律,利用Fluent软件,采用κ-ε湍流模型、涡耗散模型(简称EDC模型)、壁面热耗散、热辐射模型及SIMPLE算法,建立了球形容器连接管道内甲烷-空气混合物爆炸的数值模型,对容器与管道内甲烷-空气预混气体爆炸的尺寸效应进行了数值模拟。结果表明:随管道内径增大,球形容器内最大爆炸压力逐渐增大,管道末端最大爆炸压力变化无明显规律;而随管道长度增加,球形容器内最大爆炸压力逐渐减小;改变管道内径,较大体积球形容器内最大爆炸压力均大于较小体积球形容器内最大爆炸压力,最大爆炸压力上升速率的规律则相反,容器体积对管道末端最大爆炸压力的影响无明显规律。     

Prediction of the relief of gas explosion in a tubular vessel by venting using a mathematical model

The relief of a gas explosion in a tubular vessel by venting can be predicted by using a mathematical model. In this model, the flame acceleration is represented by an increase in the burning velocity. The movement of a vent cover can be included. The model assumes that the vent is blocked by the vent cover prior to the explosion. the venting ratio was the most influential parameter in terms of relieving the pressure. In the case of a large venting ratio, the flame acceleration made a highly significant contribution, whereas for small venting ratios, the weight of the vent cover contributed to the relief more than the flame acceleration. When the pressure is required to be reduced significantly, the venting ratio, the vent open pressure and the weight of the vent cover must all be reduced.     

Experimental study of the effect of nitrogen addition on gas explosion

Flame propagation and combustion characteristics of methane/air mixed gas in gas explosion were studied in a constant volume combustion bomb. Stretched flame propagation velocity, unstretched laminar flame propagation velocity, unstretched laminar combustion velocity and Markstein length were obtained at various ratios of nitrogen to gas mixture. Combustion stability at various ratios of nitrogen to gas mixture was analyzed by analyzing the pictures of flame propagation. Furthermore, the effect of initial pressure on the flame propagation and combustion characteristics of methane/air mixed gas in gas explosion was analyzed. The results show that the unstretched laminar flame propagation velocity, the unstretched laminar combustion velocity, Markstein length, flame stability, and the maximum combustion pressure decrease distinctly with the increase of nitrogen fraction in the gas mixture. At the same ratios of nitrogen to gas mixture, Markstein length, unstretched laminar flame propagation velocity and unstretched laminar combustion velocity decrease and the maximum combustion pressure increase with the increase of initial pressure of the gas mixture. When nitrogen fraction in the gas mixture is over 20%, the flame will be unstable and is easy to exterminate.     

Effects of premixed methane concentration on distribution of flame region and hazard effects in a tube and a tunnel gas explosion

Study of flame distribution laws and the hazard effects in a tunnel gas explosion accident is of great importance for safety issue. However, it has not yet been fully explored. The object of present work is mainly to study the effects of premixed gas concentration on the distribution law of the flame region and the hazard effects involving methane-air explosion in a tube and a tunnel based on experimental and numerical results. The experiments were conducted in a tube with one end closed and the other open. The tube was partially filled with premixed methane-air mixture with six different premixed methane concentrations. Major simulation works were performed in a full-scale tunnel with a length of 1000 m. The first 56 m of the tunnel were occupied by methane–air mixture. Results show that the flame region is always longer than the original gas region in any case. Concentration has significant effects on the flame region distribution and the explosion behaviors. In the tube, peak overpressures and maximum rates of overpressure rise (dp/dt)_max for mixtures with lower and higher concentrations are great lower than that for mixtures close to stoichiometric concentration. Due to the gas diffusion effect, not the stoichiometric mixture but the mixture with a slightly higher concentration of 11% gets the highest peak overpressure and the shock wave speed along the tube. In the full-scale tunnel, for fuel lean and stoichiometric mixture, the maximum peak combustion rates is achieved before arriving at the boundary of the original methane accumulation region, while for fuel rich mixture, the maximum value appears beyond the region. It is also found that the flame region for the case of stoichiometric mixture is the shortest as 72 m since the higher explosion intensity shortens the gas diffusion time. The case for concentration of 13% can reach up to a longest value of 128 m for longer diffusion time and the abundant fuel. The “serious injury and death” zone caused by shock wave may reach up to 3–8 times of the length of the original methane occupied region, which is the widest damage region.     

Fast flame speeds and rates of pressure rise in the initial period of gas explosions in large L/D cylindrical enclosures

Flame speeds and rates of pressure rise for gaseous explosions in a 76 mm diameter closed cylindrical vessel of large length to diameter ratio (L/D = 21.6), were quantitatively investigated. Methane, propane, ethylene and hydrogen mixtures with air were studied across their respective flammability ranges. Ignition was affected at one end of the vessel. Very fast flame speeds corresponding to high rates of pressure rise were measured in the initial 5–10% of the total explosion time. During this period 20–35% of the maximum explosion pressure was produced, and over half of the flame propagation distance was completed. Previous work has concentrated on the later stages of this type of explosion; the development of tulip flames, pressure wave effects and transition to turbulence. The initial fast phase is very important and should dominate considerations in pressure relief vent design for vessels of large L/D.     

煤尘挥发分及粒径对爆炸火焰长度的影响研究

为研究煤尘挥发分及粒径对爆炸火焰长度的影响及其变化规律,选取挥发分含量不同的四种典型烟煤煤样,分别制备成31.5、44、62.5、81.5、119、>150 μm六种粒径,利用煤尘爆炸性鉴定装置测试其爆炸火焰长度,并对其爆炸火焰长度变化规律进行分析。结果表明:随着挥发分含量的增加,不同粒径级别的煤尘爆炸火焰长度均呈增长趋势;在挥发分含量较低的区间,挥发分含量增加对爆炸火焰长度影响不大;在挥发分含量较高的区间,随着挥发分含量的增加其爆炸火焰长度也急剧增加,并且粒径越小增加的越快。对于同一实验煤样,随着粒径的增大,其爆炸火焰长度逐渐减小,粒径增大到150 μm以上时爆炸火焰几乎消失。爆炸火焰长度随粒径变化的变化率根据实验煤样的不同,呈现出两种变化规律,挥发分含量为18.99%和27.52%煤样的爆炸火焰变化率先增加再减小再增加,挥发分含量为32.20%和39.74%的煤样呈现先增加再减小的趋势,但四组实验煤样的爆炸火焰长度变化率都在44～62.5 μm的粒径变化量时达到最大值。