Numerical study on the spontaneous ignition of pressurized hydrogen during its sudden release into the tube with varying lengths and diameters

Fuel cell vehicles (FCV) and other hydrogen systems with pressurized hydrogen has a safety hazard of spontaneous ignition during its sudden release into the tube. Tube parameter is a key factor affecting the spontaneous ignition of pressurized hydrogen. In this paper, a numerical study on the spontaneous ignition of pressurized hydrogen during its sudden release into the tube with varying lengths and diameters is conducted. The models of Large Eddy Simulation (LES), Eddy Dissipation Concept (EDC), Renormalization Group (RNG), 10-step like opening process of burst disk and 18-step detailed hydrogen combustion mechanism are employed. 6 cases are simulated based on the previous experiments. Numerical results show that the possibility of spontaneous ignition of pressurized hydrogen increases inside the longer and thinner tubes, which agrees with the experimental results. The increasing of tube length has little influence on the shock wave formation and propagation inside the tube. However, there exists critical tube lengths for the generation of Mach disk and the normal shock wave: the maximum and minimum distances for the generation of the Mach disk in 10 mm diameter tube are 7.8 and 6.7 mm, respectively. As for the normal shock wave, these critical values are 22.1 and 19.4 mm, respectively. In addition, the formation times and initial positions of Mach disk and normal shock wave are delayed inside the thicker tube. Due to the shock-affected time increases with the increasing of tube length, the temperature could rise to the critical ignition temperature and triggers the spontaneous ignition due to the sufficient tube length even though the less hydrogen/air mixture and the contact surface with lower temperature is produced inside the thicker tube. Finally, a simple time scale analysis is conducted.     

Numerical studies on minimum ignition energies in methane/air and iso-octane/air mixtures

In this study, the dependence of minimum ignition energies (MIE) on ignition geometry, ignition source radius and mixture composition is investigated numerically for methane/air and iso-octane/air mixtures. Methane and iso-octane are both important hydrocarbon fuels, but differ strongly with respect to their Lewis numbers. Lean iso-octane air mixtures have particularly large Lewis numbers. The results show that within the flammability limits, the MIE for both mixtures stays almost constant, and increases rapidly at the limits. The MIEs for both fuels are also similar within the flammability limits. Furthermore, the MIEs of iso-octane/air mixtures with a small spherical ignition source increase rapidly for lean mixtures. Here the Lewis number is above unity, and thus, the flame may quench because of flame curvature effects. The observations show a distinct difference between ignition and flame propagation for iso-octane. The minimum energy required for initiating a successful flame propagation can be considerably higher than that required for initiating an ignition in the ignition volume. For iso-octane with a small spherical ignition source, this effect was observed at all equivalence ratios. For iso-octane with cylindrical ignition sources, the phenomenon appeared at lower equivalence ratios only, where the mixture's Lewis number is large. For methane fuel, the effect was negligible. The results highlight the significance of molecular transport properties on the decision whether or not an ignitable mixture can evolve into a propagating flame.     

Experimental investigation on spontaneous ignition caused by pressurized hydrogen suddenly release into an S-shaped tube

An experimental investigation on the effects of continuous semicircular curved structure on spontaneous ignition during pressurized hydrogen suddenly release was conducted. An S-shaped tube with 700 mm in length and 10 mm in diameter was used in our experiments, and a straight tube with the same configuration was adopted for comparison. The results show that the continuously generated rarefaction waves and reflected shock waves make the pressure curves in the S-shaped tube more complicated. Meanwhile, the mean velocity and intensity of the leading shock wave undergo considerable attenuation when it propagates in the S-shaped structure. By comparing with the straight tube, the minimum critical pressure condition for spontaneous ignition in the S-shaped tube is slightly difficult to reach, but the difference is not huge. Nevertheless, the S-shaped structure can effectively promote hydrogen-air mixing and make combustion more intense. A secondary overpressure peak detected by the pressure transducer near the nozzle occurs in the spontaneous ignition cases and no such pressure increase is caught in the non-ignition cases. The transition from spontaneous combustion flame to a jet flame at the nozzle and the complete out-tube jet flame development process are captured and discussed.     

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.     

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.     

Experimental investigation on shock waves generated by pressurized gas release through a tube

An experimental investigation on the flow structures and the strength of shock waves generated by high-pressure gas release through a tube into air was conducted. The results demonstrated that a leading shock wave was generated in front of the compressed gas jet and the shock wave speed increased firstly, then decreased and finally kept constant with an increase of the propagation distance in the tube. The experimentally measured Mach numbers of shock waves were close to those calculated from the theory of ideal shock tube flow. After spouting out of the tube, the normal shock quickly developed into a hemispherical shape. The Mach disk was observed in the under-expanded jet. For high-pressure combustible gas release, the concept of theoretical critical pressure of ignition was introduced and several theoretical critical pressures of common gaseous fuels were obtained.     

立体结构障碍物对甲烷预混火焰传播影响的研究

使用自行设计的火焰加速试验系统,研究了3种立体结构障碍物对管道内预混火焰传播速度和超压的影响。选用长方体、正四棱柱和圆柱,其阻塞比均为40%。结果表明,管道内障碍物对火焰传播的初始阶段起阻碍作用,当火焰越过障碍物后,障碍物加速火焰传播过程。有障碍物时管道内最大火焰传播速度和峰值超压比无障碍物时要大。随着点火距离的增大,管道中最大火焰传播速度和超压先变大后减小。当障碍物位于约6倍管径处时,对管道中火焰传播速度和超压影响最大。点火距离的改变对火焰传播速度的影响大于对管道内超压的影响。     

Numerical study of the effect of obstacles on the spontaneous ignition of high-pressure hydrogen

A numerical simulation of the spontaneous ignition of high-pressure hydrogen in a duct with two obstacles on the walls is conducted to explore the spontaneous ignition mechanisms. Two-dimensional rectangular ducts are adopted, and the Navier–Stokes equations with a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism are solved by using direct numerical simulations. In this study, we focus on the effects of the initial pressure of hydrogen and the position of the obstacles on the ignition mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that the presence of obstacles significantly changes the spontaneous ignition mechanisms producing three distinct ignition mechanisms. In addition, the position of the obstacles drastically changes the interaction of shock waves with the contact surface, and spontaneous ignition may take place at a relatively low pressure in some obstacle positions, which is attributed to the propagation direction and interaction timing of two reflected shock waves.     

Experimental studies on the ignition behavior of pure silane released into air

Silane is a well known pyrophoric gas which normally ignites upon contact with air. However, a silane release from a pressure source may not always lead to prompt ignition and frequently the ignition occurs when the release is shutoff. In a confined space, significant quantities of silane can accumulate prior to autoignition leading to an explosion, causing significant damage. To date, the mechanism and condition of pure silane ignition upon release into air has not been completely explained. Thus there is a need for additional experimental investigations covering a wide range of release conditions to enable a full understanding of silane ignition and explosion characteristics.This work presents a series of tests that aims to uncover the precise condition for pure silane ignition upon release into air. Tests were performed for releases at controlled and steady velocities. Steady flow of silane to a burn box and nitrogen to the desired vent stub are first established through mass flow controllers. An electrically controlled four-way switching valve is used to switch the silane and nitrogen flow such that steady silane flow without acceleration to the vent stub can be established. With careful control of vent conditions, we are able to find a reproducible critical exit velocity for prompt ignition of steady silane releases for different vent diameters. If the releases are reduced to below the critical exit velocity, prompt ignition of silane release is ensured. Above this critical exit velocity, silane can be released indefinitely into air without any ignition. The critical exit velocity is found to vary with the vent diameter. This relationship between the critical exit velocity and the vent diameter suggests that the silane release without prompt ignition was most likely caused by quench of the reactive kernel from the scalar dissipation between the release gas and the ambient air. Analysis of locations where prompt ignition occurred from the clips from high speed video camera found that the most reactive ignition kernel occurs in the range when the ratio of volumetric flow rate of entrained air to the silane flow reaches 0.322 ± 0.076, which is equivalent to the most reactive silane concentration of 75.6% in air. The implications from these results are discussed with emphasis on the safety of silane supply systems and operation practices.     

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。     

Investigation of spark ignition processes of laminar strained premixed stoichiometric NH3-H2-air flames

A knowledge of the ignition properties of ammonia (NH${}_3$)/hydrogen (H${}_2$) mixtures is important because of their abundance in chemical engineering processes, and also because of their prospective role as fuels in future energy systems. In particular, the question arises if and how important characteristics like ignition limits and minimum ignition energies in NH${}_3$/H${}_2$ mixtures are related to the physical conditions. To address this question, this work studies ignition process in ammonia/hydrogen mixtures by numerical simulations. These track the evolution of ammonia/hydrogen mixtures during and after the deposition of a certain ignition energy, using a detailed treatment of chemical reactions and molecular transport. Studies on the influence of different system parameters on the minimally required ignition energy are performed. These are the strain rate, hydrogen content, pressure and initial (pre-ignition) temperature. Significant findings include a quasi-linear correlation between the transition strain rate, defined as the strain rate below which no external energy is required to initiate successful ignition (auto-ignition) and a characteristic reaction rate, defined as the inverse of ignition delay time in homogeneous, quiescent mixtures. Also, the relative decay of minimum ignition energy with increasing hydrogen content is less pronounced for higher pressures. Analysis of the results supports a knowledge-based approach towards fail-proof ignition devices and reliable prevention of hazards. The simulations are used for assessing the ignitability of ammonia and its mixtures with hydrogen.     

爆炸形成过程中火焰加速的试验研究

为预防和控制工业爆炸事故,并为脉冲爆轰发动机的研究提供理论指导,分析火焰加速导致的燃烧转爆轰过程的影响因素。采用爆轰管探讨障碍物的阻塞比、混合物的组成、初始压力和点火能等4个因素对爆炸性气体火焰速度和爆轰压力的影响规律。试验结果表明:障碍物的存在能大大提高火焰速度和爆轰压力;爆轰压力随管内障碍物阻塞比的增大先变大后减小,并在阻塞比为0.498,燃料种类为天然气,化学当量比为1时达到最大;爆轰压力还随混合气体初始压力的增大和点火能的提高而增大。选择适宜的条件可大大提高火焰加速速率,促进燃烧向爆轰过程转变。     

Determination of turbulent burning velocities of dust air mixtures with the open tube method

Correlating turbulent burning velocity to turbulence intensity and basic flame parameters-like laminar burning velocity for dust air mixtures is not only a scientific challenge but also of practical importance for the modelling of dust flame propagation in industrial facilities and choice of adequate safety strategy. The open tube method has been implemented to measure laminar and turbulent burning velocities at laboratory scale for turbulence intensities in the range of a few m/s. Special care has been given to the experimental technique so that a direct access to the desired parameters was possible minimising interpretation difficulties. In particular, the flame is propagating freely, the flame velocity is directly accessible by visualisation and the turbulence intensity is measured at the flame front during flame propagation with special aerodynamic probes. In the present paper, those achievements are briefly recalled. In addition, a complete set of experiments for diametrically opposed dusts, starch and aluminium, has been performed and is presented hereafter. The experimental data, measured for potato dust air mixtures seem to be in accordance with the Bray Gülder model in the range of 1.5 m/s<u′<3.5 m/s. For a further confirmation, the measurement range has been extended to lower levels of turbulence of u′<1.5 m/s. This could be achieved by changing the mode of preparation of the dust air mixture. In former tests, the particles have been injected into the tube from a pressurised dust reservoir; for the lower turbulence range, the particles have been inserted into the tube from above by means of a sieve–riddler system, and the turbulence generated from the pressurised gas reservoir as before. For higher levels of turbulence, aluminium air mixtures have been investigated using the particle injection mode with pressurised dust reservoir. Due to high burning rates much higher flame speeds than for potato dusts of up to 23 m/s have been obtained.     

燃烧管中烟煤粉粉尘云传播参数的试验研究

利用自行设计的长29.6 m,内径199 mm,配有特殊扬尘装置的大犁卧式燃烧爆炸管道试验系统,对弱点火条件下烟煤粉与空气两相悬浮流中的爆炸过程进行了试验研究,用压电传感器测量了管内各测点的压力信号,观测到快速爆燃的状态稳定,分析了爆燃波稳定传播机理.结果表明:在煤粉浓度为300g/m~3及弱点火条件下,悬浮烟煤粉粉尘云中爆燃波能够稳定传播,且稳态传播距离持续20 m以上,峰值超压和波速平均值分别约为70 kPa和430m/s.     

彩虹粉引燃危险性实验研究

为了研究彩虹粉引燃危险性,应用固体燃烧速率试验仪初步甄别了彩虹粉传播燃烧能力,发现堆垛状彩虹粉固体火焰传播危险性较低;采用粉尘爆炸筛选装置,判定彩虹粉具有爆炸性;应用最小点火能测定装置测定彩虹粉粉尘云的最小点火能在24~60 mJ之间,最优爆炸浓度为1 167 g/m3;应用快速筛选量热仪测试,彩虹粉在227℃开始分解;固体自燃点测试仪显示彩虹粉在250℃附近会发生自燃。向彩虹粉内添加不同比例相近粒径分布的食用盐粉体进行抑爆研究,结果证明食用盐对彩虹粉具有明显的抑爆效果。     

Ignition tests for electrical and mechanical equipment subjected to hot surfaces

This paper reports some experimental work on hot surface ignition temperatures of dust deposits. Dust layers up to 75 mm in depth were ignited using a modified version of the standard 5 mm layer apparatus. The measured ignition temperatures show good agreement with predictions using the method given in EN 50281-2-1. Ignition temperatures of conical dust deposits over an electrically heated box were not predictable, but were not too dissimilar from the ignition temperatures of the thick layers. Both tests gave adequate reproducibility in round robin tests. Rotating steel wheels in contact, immersed in a dust deposit produce the frictional hot surfaces. A relation between the power lost by friction and the surface temperature developed has been derived. The surface temperatures leading to ignition were close to the ignition temperatures for the conical deposits on the heated box. The similarities between the ignition temperatures of dust deposits in several configurations indicate that a simple test for ignition temperature measurement could have wide application in dusty environments.     

Hazard evaluation of hydrogen–air deflagration with flame propagation velocity measurement by image velocimetry using brightness subtraction

Deflagration phenomena in hydrogen–air mixtures initially filled in 1.4 m³ spherical latex balloons were measured using a high-speed digital video camera and pressure transducers. The image velocimetry using brightness subtraction was introduced to eliminate the background effects for obtaining accurate time evolution records of flame propagation velocity. The maximum flame propagation velocity of about 100 m/s was observed with maximum overpressure 15 kPa at 1 m from ignition point. According to the detailed flame propagation velocity records, there were long deceleration durations. The observed maximum overpressure was smaller than the overpressure estimated by the basis of the observed maximum flame propagation velocity and the pressure wave theories of spherical flames. A new blast curve plot of scaled overpressure vs. distance was tentatively proposed.     

An investigation of flammability limits of gaseous mixtures at reduced pressures

An experimental investigation of flammability limits of hydrogen, methane and propane in air and oxygen at reduced pressures was carried out. A slow influence of sizes of an experimental vessel of a diameter higher than 125 mm on the flammability limits was revealed, but an influence of a type of an oxidizer (air or oxygen) and an ignition energy is significant. Critical values of an initial pressure for a possibility of a flame propagation were determined. The limiting values of the ignition energy were determined, for which an elevation of this parameter does not influence the critical pressure and the flammability region. A qualitative interpretation of obtained experimental results is given, which is based on a peculiarities of a flame initiation.     

钻井井喷爆炸事故分析及对策

针对井喷爆炸事故造成的巨大经济和环境问题,从消除井场点火源出发,讨论了井喷发生后防止爆炸的问题。基于井喷爆炸事故统计信息,利用事故树法,分析了井场可能存在的点火源,在此基础上提出井场防止井喷爆炸的措施。分析发现井喷爆炸主要分布在井喷后小于5分钟和井喷后大于1小时时间段,点火源主要为井场存在的点火源和后续抢救工作时带入的点火源;井场点火源主要分为明火、电火花、撞击火花和静电火花,通过井喷爆炸事故统计分析,电火花和撞击火花同样应该引起重视。     

Modeling the initial flame acceleration in an obstructed channel using large eddy simulation

The propagation and acceleration of a flame surface past obstructions in a closed square channel was investigated using large eddy simulation. The dynamic Smagorinsky–Lilly subgrid model and the Boger flame surface density combustion model were used. The geometry is essentially two-dimensional with fence-type obstacles distributed on the top and bottom surfaces, equally spaced along the channel length at the channel height. Flame propagation, however, is three dimensional as ignition occurs at a point at the center of the channel cross-section. The effect of obstacle blockage ratio on the development of the flame structure was investigated by varying the obstacle height. Three-dimensional cases were simulated from the initiation of a combustion kernel through spark ignition to the acceleration of the flame front at speeds up to 80 m/s. The transition from laminar flame propagation to turbulent flame propagation within the “thin reaction zone” regime was observed in the simulations. By analyzing the development of the three dimensional flame surface and unburned gas flow field, the formation of several flame structures observed experimentally are explained. Global quantities such as the total flame area and centerline flame velocity were ascertained and compared to the experimental data. High amplitude oscillations in the centerline flame velocity were found to occur from a combination of the unburned gas flow field and fluctuations in the volumetric burning rate.