Temperature profile across the combustion zone propagating through an iron particle cloud

Knowledge of the mechanism of combustion zone propagation during dust explosion is of great importance to prevent damage caused by accidental dust explosions. In this study, the temperature profile across the combustion zone propagating through an iron particle cloud is measured experimentally by a thermocouple to elucidate the propagation mechanism. The measured temperature starts to increase slowly at a position about 5 mm ahead of the leading edge of the combustion zone, increases quickly at a position about 3 mm ahead of the leading edge, reaches a maximum value near the end of the combustion zone, and then decreases. As the iron particle concentration increases, the maximum temperature increases at lower concentration, takes a maximum value, and then decreases at higher concentration. The relation between the propagation velocity of the combustion zone and the maximum temperature is also examined. It is found that the propagation velocity has a linear relationship with the maximum temperature. This result suggests that the conductive heat transfer is dominant in the propagation process of the combustion zone through an iron particle cloud.     

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.     

Effects of particle thermal characteristics on flame microstructures during dust explosions of three long-chain monobasic alcohols in a half-closed chamber

To reveal clearly the effects of particle thermal characteristics on flame microstructures during organic dust explosions, three long-chain monobasic alcohols, solid at room temperature and similar in physical-chemical properties, were chosen to conduct experiments in a half-closed chamber. In the experiments, the dust materials were dispersed into the chamber by air to form dust clouds and the hybrids were ignited by an electrical spark. A high-speed optical schlieren system was used to record the flame propagation behaviors. A fine thermocouple and an ion current probe were respectively used to measure the flame temperature profile and the reaction behaviors of the combustion zone. Based on the experimental results, combustion behaviors and flame microstructures in dust clouds with different thermal characteristics were analyzed in detail. As a result, it was found that the dust flame surfaces were completely covered by cellular structures that significantly increased the flame frontal areas. Flame propagated more quickly and the number of the cellular cells increased as increasing the volatility of the particles. On the contrary, maximum temperature and the thickness of the preheated zone decreased as increasing the volatility of the particles. According to the ion current profile, the particles in the preheat zone were pyrolyzed to intermediate radicals and the radicals' fraction in the higher volatile dust flame was higher than that in the lower volatile dust flame.     

Flame propagation mechanisms in dust explosions

To reveal the effects of particle characteristics, including particle thermal characteristics and size distributions, on flame propagation mechanisms during dust explosions clearly, the flame structures of dust clouds formed by different materials and particle size distributions were recorded using an approach combining high-speed photography and a band-pass filter. Two obviously different flame propagation mechanisms were observed in the experiments: kinetics-controlled regime and devolatilization-controlled regime. Kinetics-controlled regime was characterized by a regular shape and spatially continuous combustion zone structure, which was similar to the premixed gas explosions. On the contrary, devolatilization-controlled regime was characterized by a complicated structure that exhibited heterogeneous combustion characteristics, discrete blue luminous spots appeared surrounding the yellow luminous zone. It was also demonstrated experimentally that the flame propagation mechanisms transited from kinetics-controlled to devolatilization-controlled while decreasing the volatility of the materials or increasing the size of the particles. Damköhler number was defined as the ratio of the heating and devolatilization characteristic time to the combustion reaction characteristic time, to reflect the transition of flame propagation mechanisms in dust explosions. It was found that the kinetics-controlled regime and devolatilization-controlled regime can be categorized by whether Damköhler number was less than 1 or larger than 1.     

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.     

Effect of flame propagation regime on pressure evolution of nano and micron PMMA dust explosions

Experiments using an open space dust explosion apparatus and a standard 20 L explosion apparatus on nano and micron polymethyl methacrylate dust explosions were conducted to reveal the differences in flame and pressure evolutions. Then the effect of combustion and flame propagation regimes on the explosion overpressure characteristics was discussed. The results showed that the flame propagation behavior, flame temperature distribution and ion current distribution all demonstrated the different flame structures for nano and micron dust explosions. The combustion and flame propagation of 100 nm and 30 μm PMMA dust clouds were mainly controlled by the heat transfer efficiency between the particles and external heat sources. Compared with the cluster diffusion dominant combustion of 30 μm dust flame, the premixed-gas dominant combustion of 100 nm dust flame determined a quicker pyrolysis and combustion reaction rate, a faster flame propagation velocity, a stronger combustion reaction intensity, a quicker heat release rate and a higher amount of released reaction heat, which resulted in an earlier pressure rise, a larger maximum overpressure and a higher explosion hazard class. The complex combustion and propagation regime of agglomerated particles strongly influenced the nano flame propagation and explosion pressure evolution characteristics, and limited the maximum overpressure.     

丙烷/空气拉伸火焰传播稳定性实验研究

为了揭示空气中丙烷火焰传播特性,利用纹影系统记录了预混气体小能量点火条件下火焰形成与传播过程,得到了火焰表面的微观结构特征,分析了混合气体火焰的稳定性及其影响因素。结果表明:丙烷/空气混合物火焰发展过程及其表面微观特征与浓度直接相关;当混合物浓度接近爆炸上下限时,火焰扩展速率整体不大于0.5 m/s,燃烧区域向上漂浮,浮力成为影响火焰失稳的主导因素;当混合物浓度靠理论配比时,火焰呈规则球形扩展,火焰稳定性按照先减弱后增强的趋势发展,火焰表面褶皱的形成及演化规律是热扩散不稳定性和流体力学不稳定性共存与竞争的作用结果。     

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 moisture and particle size distribution on flame propagation of L-lysine sulfate powder

Lysine is an essential amino acid for human body, and lysine sulfates are at risk of fire and explosion during the production and processing. However, there is no public report on the lysine sulfate powder explosion hazard research. In this paper, the effects of moisture, mass concentration and particle size on the flame propagation behaviors of L-lysine sulfate powder were studied in a vertical pipe. The results showed that the flame propagation could be divided into 3 stages: free propagation, acceleration and attenuation, in which the acceleration was owed to the positive feedback of combustion reaction, gas expansion and turbulence. Moisture content could promote the flame propagation of L-lysine sulfate powder to a certain extent, but it had a strong inhibitory effect on the explosion when the moisture content was too large. The flame propagation velocity increased with the decrease of the average particle size of powder,.With the increase of the particle concentration, the flame propagation velocity of powder explosion increased first and then decreased, that was, there was an optimal concentration of powder explosion, and the powder was more sensitive to the change of concentration in the range of low concentration.     

Detailed analysis of flame propagation during dust explosions by UV band observations

It is important to sufficiently understand the phenomena during the dust explosions in order to take appropriate measures preventing dust explosion accidents. However, at present basic knowledge on flame propagation mechanisms during dust explosions is not enough. In this study, therefore, the flame propagation mechanisms during dust explosions are examined by detailed analyses using a special observation at UV band. Small scale experiments were performed to analyze flame propagating processes in detail. In the experiments, the stearic acid was used as the combustible particle, suspended particles were ignited by an electric spark, and flame propagation through the combustible dust was observed by using a special observation system at UV band. The leading combustion zone is observed to consist of discrete burning blue spot flames by the observation using ordinary photograph system. It is questionable how the leading flame of such discrete structure propagates. In this study, high-speed video images at UV band through a band-pass filter were taken to detect OH emission from combustion reaction zone. Using this method, the propagating flame could be detected clearly and the flame propagation mechanism could be examined in detail. In the conditions performed in this study, discrete flame propagation was not observed and the leading flame was observed to propagate continuously. This result is of importance for understanding the flame propagation phenomena during dust explosion.     

Inerting characteristics of ultrafine Mg(OH)2 on starch dust explosion flame propagation

Experiments on the flame propagation of starch dust explosion with the participation of ultrafine Mg(OH)₂ in a vertical duct were conducted to reveal the inerting evolution of explosion processes. Combining the dynamic behaviors of flame propagation, the formation law of gaseous combustion products, and the heat dissipation features of solid inert particles, the inerting mechanism of explosion flame propagation is discussed. Results indicate that the ultrafine of Mg(OH)₂ powders can cause the agglomeration of suspended dust clouds, which makes the flame combustion reaction zone fragmented and forms multiple small flame regions. The flame reaction zone presents non-homogeneous insufficient combustion, which leads to the obstruction of the explosion flame propagation process and the obvious pulsation propagation phenomenon. As the proportion of ultrafine Mg(OH)₂ increases, flame speed, flame luminescence intensity, flame temperature and deflagration pressure all show different degrees of inerting behavior. The addition of ultrafine Mg(OH)₂ not only causes partial inerting on the explosion flame, but also the heat dissipation of solid inert particles affects the acceleration of its propagation. The explosion flame propagation is inhibited by the synergistic effect of inert gas-solid phase, which attenuates the risk of starch explosion. The gas-solid synergistic inerting mechanism of starch explosion flame propagation by ultrafine Mg(OH)₂ is further revealed.     

Study on the deflagration reaction process of oil gas in long-narrow confined space based on PLIF and flame spectra

Oil gas explosion in long-narrow confined space is a typical unsteady combustion process. To study the reaction process, two experiment techniques are adopted in this research. One is planner laser induced fluorescence, which is used to achieve the transient measurement of free radicals in unsteady premixed combustion field. The other one is the spectral testing technique, which is used to measure the luminescence spectrum characteristics of oil gas combustion flame. The distribution of OH radical and CH radical at different positions in the combustion field, the common partition of deflagration flame structure under different oil gas concentrations, and the main luminescence spectra of radicals such as OH, CH, C₂, C₃, CO₂, H₂O and HCO are obtained. By comparing the above three aspects, the combustion reaction process of premixed mixture is revealed, driven by the coupling effect of chemical reaction and fluid flow in the process of explosion propagation. The process can be described briefly as follows. In the “outer flame zone”, large hydrocarbon molecules are mainly transformed to small molecules and free radicals by means of pyrolysis, dehydrogenation and oxidation. In the “inner flame zone”, carbon particles and combustion products produced and gathered after relevant reactions.     

铝粉尘云燃烧火焰形态分析实验研究

为探索铝粉尘云燃烧火焰形态和灾变演化,基于改造的竖直开口实验管道,借助高速摄像仪和离子探针,研究火焰结构及变化,分析粒径因素对铝粉火焰前锋形态的影响。实验结果表明:铝粉燃烧能量的释放和空间束缚使燃烧转为爆燃,火焰前锋下方存在大片的燃烧反应区;铝粉粒径越小,颗粒氧化层破裂需要的热应力越小,越容易被点燃;随着铝粉粒径减小,热膨胀对火焰传播速度的影响明显增强。     

Flame-propagation behavior and a dynamic model for the thermal-radiation effects in coal-dust explosions

To reveal the flame-propagation behavior and the thermal-radiation effects during coal-dust explosions, two coal-dust clouds were tested in a semi-enclosed vertical combustion tube. A high-speed video camera and a thermal infrared imaging device were used to record the flame-propagation process and the thermal-radiation effects of the fireball at the combustion-tube outlet. The flame propagated more quickly and with a higher temperature in the more volatile coal-dust cloud. The coal-dust concentration also significantly affected the propagation behavior of the combustion zone. When the coal-dust concentration was increased, the flame-propagation velocity and the fireball temperature increased before decreasing overall. Based on the experimental results, a dynamic model of the thermal radiation was employed to describe the changes in the fireballs quantitatively and to estimate the thermal-radiation effects during coal-dust explosions.     

通风状况对乳胶泡沫材料燃烧特性影响

设计小尺寸实验平台,研究不同通风管道风速对乳胶泡沫材料燃烧特性的影响。在不同风速条件下进行实验,获得材料表面温度分布、质量损失速率、火焰高度和火蔓延速率等特性参数。实验结果表明,在管道风速为0,1.5,3,4.5,6 m/s时,平均火焰蔓延速率分别为0.24,0.20,0.23,0.25,0.24 cm/s,最大质量损失速率分别为2.80,2.26,2.65,3.18,3.63 g/s。在有风条件下,随着风速的增加,火焰燃烧过程变得更加剧烈,最大质量损失率变大。实验样品的燃烧过程可以分为3个阶段:初始生长、完全燃烧和熄灭。最大火焰高度发生在燃烧过程的第2阶段,不同管道风速下的最大火焰高度分别为96.39,72.83,90.68,94.96,95.32 cm。     

基于燃烧相互作用的PMMA相向火蔓延特性实验研究*

为探究耦合燃烧作用对固体可燃物火蔓延的影响,开展基于燃烧相互作用的聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯（polymethyl methacrylate,PMMA）相向火蔓延特性实验研究。通过对不同宽度PMMA板进行相向火蔓延实验,获取火焰图像、温度场、质量损失速率等燃烧特性参数,分析相向火蔓延的过程特点与燃烧机理。研究结果表明:相向火蔓延过程中存在4个典型阶段,即快速发展阶段、相对稳定阶段、相互作用阶段、融合燃尽阶段;PMMA板宽度对相向火蔓延燃烧特性的影响较为显著,体现在热解区长度、相对稳定状态维持时间、质量损失速率等参数变化上。研究结果可为建筑物保温材料的火灾预防抑制提供参考。     

Effects of multiple annular obstacles on flame propagation of local corn starch dust in a vertical pipe

With high-speed camera technology, the propagation behavior of explosion flame for the local dust cloud of corn starch in a semi-open vertical pipe under the action of the annular obstacle was studied experimentally, and the blockage rate and the annular obstacle numbers as well as impact of dust cloud concentration on the flame propagation were investigated. The researches showed that both the blockage rate and the annular obstacle numbers have significant effects on the flame speed and propagation process for the dust cloud explosion of corn starch. The increase of the blockage rate of such annular obstacles will cause that the combustion of dust cloud with high concentration is mainly concentrated in the lower part of the pipe. The increase of the annular obstacle numbers will lead to the acceleration of combustion of the dust cloud. With the increase of the blockage rate and the annular obstacle numbers, the maximum flame speed shows a trend of the first increasing and then decreasing, and the phenomenon of accelerated propagation of the flame becomes more and more obvious, however, the distance of continuous acceleration for the flame is gradually decreased and the maximum flame speed is farther from the outlet of the pipe. Under the action of such annular obstacles, the concentration of dust cloud has a significant effect on the flame speed and shape of the dust cloud of the corn starch. The increase of the concentration of the dust cloud will decrease the acceleration effect of such annular obstacles to result in maximum flame speed showing a trend of the first increasing and then decreasing. However, the acceleration distance of the flame is longer, and the maximum flame speed is closer to the outlet of the pipe. The increasing concentration will make the flame speed develop more slowly, the flame color will be darker, and the flame segmentation phenomenon will be more obvious.     

不同粒径易自燃煤常温氧化实验研究*

为探究易自燃煤在常温条件下的氧化特性,自行设计煤常温封闭氧化实验装置,采用实验研究与回归分析2种方法,分析易自燃煤发生氧化反应的气体变化过程,探究3种粒径煤样在20 ℃有限空间内的耗氧与产气特征。结果表明:易自燃煤样在16 d常温封闭氧化过程中,容器内O2体积浓度呈指数衰减、CO和CO2体积浓度呈指数增长的变化规律;在0.06~0.83 mm范围内,粒径越大,易自燃煤耗氧速率越大,CO和CO2产生速率则先增大后减小;介于中间的粒径为0.13~0.25 mm易自燃煤氧化反应最强烈,更容易发生氧化。研究结果对揭示生产环境温度下煤粒粒径对煤自燃的影响有一定的意义。     

Propagation and extinction of dust flames in narrow channels

This article has investigated the propagation and extinction of aluminum dust cloud flame in a narrow channel. The burned and burning dust particles act as heat sources and the channel walls act as heat sinks. In this method, discrete heat source has been used to analyze dust combustion in a narrow channel. Using the superposition of sources and sinks, the preheat zone temperature is predicted as an indicator of flame propagation or extinction. Dust concentration and channel width are two major parameters which affect the quenching distance and flame propagating speed. Wall temperature affects the heat loss; and by preheating the walls, quenching distance is reduced and flame propagation speed is increased.     

Structure of flames propagating through aluminum particles cloud and combustion process of particles

Structure of flames propagating through aluminum particles clouds and combustion processes of the particles have been examined experimentally to understand the fundamental behavior of a metal dust explosion. The combustion process of individual aluminum particles in a flame propagating through the aluminum particles cloud has been recorded by using a high-speed video camera with a microscopic optical system, and analyzed. The flame is shown to be consisted of a preheat zone of about 3 mm thick, followed by a combustion zone of 5–7 mm thick. In the combustion zone, discrete gas phase flames are observed around each aluminum particle. Also an asymmetric flame around a particle is observed, which might be caused by an ejection of aluminum vapor from a crack of oxide shell surrounding the particle.