铝粉爆炸无火焰泄压技术及装备研究

为有效防止粉尘爆炸泄爆引起的二次爆炸及火灾问题，基于泄压理论、消火机理，设计开发无火焰泄压装置，装置主要由消火结构、底座、爆破片及夹持机构组成，消火结构由不锈钢金属丝网组成。选择铝粉尘为测试粉尘，通过自建除尘系统试验平台进行试验研究。结果表明:无火焰泄压装置可成功阻止火焰传播，装置释放的冲击波在5 m外均小于5 kPa，除尘系统内部最大泄爆压力为0.1 MPa，装置前端火焰传播速度均大于100 m/s。     

基于1 m3泄爆装置的墨粉爆炸泄压机制研究*

为了研究墨粉在爆炸泄压过程中燃烧与流动的变化机制,通过改变泄爆片尺寸、墨粉浓度以及泄爆片的惯性力等参数对爆炸泄放过程中反应釜中压力以及外场火焰形态变化进行试验研究,同时与完全封闭空间内不同墨粉浓度的压力曲线对比。研究结果表明:相同泄爆开口尺寸下,粉尘浓度与受控爆炸压力（采用爆炸泄压保护措施后工业腔体内产生的压力）负相关;开口尺寸增加可以提升泄压效率;结合外场火焰形态的变化情况揭示声动火焰不稳定性对反应釜中压力发展的影响;通过无惯性泄爆试验的对比证明泄爆片惯性对受控爆炸压力的影响不可忽视。     

大型相连容器中火焰传播的研究

为了进一步了解相连装置中粉尘爆炸的火焰传播行为和压力发展,为该结构的安全防护设计提供有价值的信息,采用大型实验装置对相连容器中玉米淀粉/空气混合物爆炸时的火焰传播行为进行了实验研究,同时采用已开发的数值模型对实验进行仿真计算。实验表明:粉尘浓度的变化对粉尘爆炸的火焰传播行为有重要影响;在粉尘浓度很低的情况下,火焰仍然能够在管道中加速传播且爆炸发展的最终结果相当猛烈。数值模型采用欧拉-拉格朗日方法模拟两相流现象,通过求解非稳态的湍流两相反应流守恒方程对实验进行二维仿真,计算结果与实验结果符合性较好,表明该模型可以很好地应用于粉尘爆炸火焰传播的研究。     

灭火泄爆门的研制（QVD）

研制了一种能够重复使用的泄爆装置──灭火泄爆门，在１５升改进型哈特曼装置中对玉米淀粉和硅钙粉作了粉尘爆炸泄爆实验。结果表明，泄爆过程中火焰完全被捕集住，泄爆门开启压力在０．００１～０．０５ＭＰａ间，可按用户的需要调节，虽然这种灭火泄爆门灭焰捕集部分体积较小，但其泄瀑效率可高达７％。     

球形容器内可燃气体泄爆过程的数值模拟

利用流体力学软件Fluent对球形容器泄爆过程中流场进行数值模拟,分析泄爆导管长度和泄放压力对爆炸压力和爆炸强度的影响,以及泄爆过程中火焰阵面和速度场的变化。研究表明,泄爆过程增大了燃烧火焰的面积,燃烧火焰在泄爆过程中发生湍流,燃烧速度得到极大地加速,泄爆导管对于容器内的高压气体的泄放起到了约束作用,泄爆导管的长度是影响泄爆过程中容器内部压力变化的重要因素。     

玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸危险性研究

为研究玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸危险性,采用哈特曼管式爆炸测试装置和20 L球爆炸测试装置对200目(<75μm)以下的玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸危险性进行评估,基于静电火花和粉尘质量浓度对粉尘爆炸的影响,对玉米淀粉的静电火花最小点火能量、爆炸下限质量浓度、最大爆炸压力和爆炸指数进行了研究,根据试验结果对玉米淀粉爆炸危险性进行分级。试验结果表明:温度在25℃,喷粉压力为0.80 MPa,粉尘质量浓度在250～750 g/m3范围内,粉尘的最小点火能量随着粉尘质量浓度增加而降低,其最小点火能量在40～80 mJ之间;在点火能量为10 kJ时,粉尘爆炸下限质量浓度在50～60 g/m3之间;在粉尘质量浓度为750 g/m3时,爆炸压力达到最大,为0.66 MPa;在粉尘质量浓度为500 g/m3时,爆炸指数达到最大,为17.21 MPa.m/s,其粉尘爆炸危险性分级为Ⅰ级。     

爆破片—易熔合金泄压装置在CNG长管拖车火灾环境下的响应行为研究

针对CNG长管拖车爆破片—易熔合金塞组合装置独特的结构形式及其在火灾事故中的响应特点,采用火烧试验的手段探究了爆破片—易熔合金塞组合泄压装置发生动作的外部受火条件及内在泄放规律。试验结果表明,在火焰包覆工况下,易熔合金能迅速融化,瓶内气体安全泄放,且泄放压力低于设计泄放压力;然而在隔离火焰的工况下,仅靠热传导作用无法实现易熔合金在较短的时间内动作,致使气瓶长期处于火灾的环境下,加大了气瓶爆炸风险。     

外部条件对玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸特性的影响

为了探明外部条件对玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸特性参数的影响,利用20 L球形爆炸装置进行试验测试,探讨了点火能量及粉尘含水量对粉尘爆炸特性的影响,对比研究了CaCO_3和Al(OH)_3两种惰性介质的抑爆效果。结果表明:随点火能量增加,粉尘最大爆炸压力和最大升压速率呈线性上升,在高质量浓度下,粉尘爆炸压力受点火能量的影响更显著;添加CaCO_3和Al(OH)_3能够降低玉米淀粉的爆炸压力,相对于CaCO_3的物理抑爆,Al(OH)_3的物理-化学抑爆效果更佳;玉米淀粉粉尘的最大爆炸压力及爆炸升压速率随粉尘含水量降低而不断增大。     

高密度聚乙烯粉尘燃爆特性及泄爆实验研究

为研究高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)粉尘燃爆及其泄爆特性,通过结合热重(TG)和差示扫描量热(DSC)分析高密度聚乙烯燃爆机理,利用20 L球形爆炸测试系统、最小点火能测定仪、最低着火温度测定仪等探究粉尘质量浓度对最小点火能(MIE)、最低着火温度(MIT)、最大爆炸压力(P_max)和爆炸指数(K_st)的影响;在300 g/m³爆炸浓度及以上时,分析高密度聚乙烯泄放特性并探究在不同质量浓度下的泄放火焰特征。研究结果表明：随着HDPE粉尘质量浓度增加,最大爆炸压力先增加后减小、最低着火温度和最小点火能先减小后增加;泄爆压力峰值随着HDPE粉尘泄爆膜层数增加而升高,随着泄爆口径的增大而下降;在质量浓度为300 g/m³时,出现2次火焰长度较大值,且第2次泄放火焰更亮,燃烧面积更大;在质量浓度为400 g/m³时,产生2次火焰。研究结果可为预防聚乙烯粉尘爆炸事故以及减小相应事故损失提供参考。     

多孔球形材料阻火抑爆性能影响因素数值模拟研究

为探究影响多孔球形材料阻火抑爆性能的主要因素,采用气体爆炸模拟软件FLACS建立多孔球形结构中湍流燃烧模型,对填充多孔球形材料后丙烷/空气预混气体燃烧爆炸过程进行数值模拟。研究结果表明:多孔球形材料能够有效衰减爆燃压力波、阻隔火焰传播,起到阻火抑爆作用,且压力波衰减程度和火焰阻隔效果与多孔球形材料的尺寸、孔径及填充密度密切相关。当多孔球形材料的直径为25 mm、孔径为3 mm、填充密度为20层时,压力波衰减程度最大,火焰阻隔效果最明显,说明直径和孔径越小,填充密度越大,材料的阻火抑爆性能越强。     

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.     

Evaluating the overall efficiency of a flameless venting device for dust explosions

Results from cornstarch explosion tests using a flameless venting device (mounted over a burst disc) on an 8 m³ vessel are presented and used to determine the overall efficiency of the device, which is defined as the ratio between its effective vent area and the nominal vent area. Because these devices are comprised of an arrestor element mounted over an impulsively-actuated venting device (such as a burst disc), the functional form of the overall efficiency is taken as the product of the area efficiency (i.e., the ratio between the effective vent area of the entire assembly to that of the venting device without the arrestor element) and the burst efficiency (i.e., the ratio of the effective vent area of the venting device without the arrestor element to the nominal vent area). The effective vent areas are calculated from measured overpressures using three different empirical correlations (FM Global 2001, NFPA 2007, and VDI 2002). Furthermore, due to significant variations in the effective reactivity from test to test, a correction factor proportional to the initial flame speed is applied when determining the area efficiency. In general, it was found that the FM Global and NFPA methodologies yield consistent results with less scatter than VDI 3673.     

Dust explosion venting of small vessels and flameless venting

Dust explosion venting is an established method of protecting against damaging explosion over-pressures, and guidance is available for many industrial situations. However, there is a need to: (a) establish the venting requirements of small vessels and whether current guidance and predictions in BS EN 14491:2006 need revising, and (b) improve understanding of the potential and limitations of flameless venting. This paper describes initial results from an ongoing programme of research.Small vessel tests are carried out using cornflour and wood dust on: a commercial sieve unit, a commercial cyclone, and a 0.5 m³ test vessel with explosion-relief openings without vent covers. Initial 0.5 m³ vessel tests give reduced explosion pressures that are lower than those predicted. This is because the predicted pressures are based on openings with vent covers. The reduced explosion pressures measured in the sieve unit and the cyclone are also less than predicted: the reasons are discussed.Flameless vesting tests are carried out using cornflour and wheat flour on a commercial flame arrestor unit. Initial tests demonstrate benefits, particularly a high level of flame extinguishment, but a problem of reduced venting efficiency compared to conventional venting.These initial results indicate that further research is needed.     

Assessment of the thermal hazards and oxidization mechanism of coloured corn starch dust by TG–FTIR

Starch is widely used in industrial production and in every life, and an increasing number of accidents of starch dust burning and explosions are occurring and have caused serious casualties and economic losses. Previous studies on the oxidative properties and microscopic characterization of coloured corn starch dust have been less systematic than the present study. To prevent coloured corn starch dust explosion accidents more effectively, thermogravimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were applied to study the oxidation characteristics of coloured corn starch dust. Seven characteristic temperatures were determined from the thermogravimetric curves and derivative thermogravimetric curves of coloured corn starch dust. The entire oxidation process of coloured corn starch dust was divided into five stages, and a 60% mass loss occurred in the rapid oxidation stage. Three iso-conversion methods were used to calculate the apparent activation energy (E_a) and pre-exponential factor (A) at different oxidation stages. The value of E_a was found to be related to the difficulty of the reaction, and it had a positive correlation with lnA. Six kinds of gases were detected during the oxidation process. The oxidation mechanism was further analysed by the macro and micro characterization of the oxidation process. The findings provide a theoretical basis for preventing and controlling explosion accidents that involve coloured corn starch dust.     

泄爆口参数对氢气火焰传播过程影响的数值模拟*

为了减少管内气体爆炸造成的损失与破坏,基于大涡模拟LES模型和Zimont燃烧模型,研究泄爆尺寸(直径为40,60,80 mm)和泄爆位置(侧方距点火端1,3,5 m)等泄爆条件对受限空间中氢气燃爆特性的影响。研究结果表明:大孔径泄爆口更好的排放效果造成火焰锋面在通过泄爆口时发生严重畸变,而泄爆口与点火端距离的增加则会削弱火焰锋面畸变的程度,且不同尺寸泄爆口产生的泄压效果差异较大。因此,应考虑将合适尺寸的泄爆口设置于靠近易燃点处。通过探索不同泄爆孔径与泄爆口位置对氢气火焰传播的影响规律,可为实际应用中的安全泄爆起到指导性作用。     

Flameless venting of dust explosion: Testing and modeling

Flameless venting is a sort of dual mitigation technique allowing, in principle, to vent a process vessel inside a building where people are working without transmitting a flame outside the protected vessel. Existing devices are an assembly of a vent panel and a metal filter so that the exploding cloud and the flame front is forced to go through the filter. Within the frame of ATEX Directive, those systems need to be certified. To do so a standard (NF EN 16009) has been issued describing which criteria need to be verified/measured. Among them, the “efficiency” factor as defined earlier for standard vents. This implies that flameless venting systems are basically considered as vents. But is it really so? This question is discussed on the basis of experimental results and some implications on the practical use and certification process are drawn. The practical experience of INERIS in testing such systems is presented in this paper. Schematically, with a flameless vent the pressure is discharged but not the flame so that combustion is proceeding to a much longer extent inside the vessel than with a classical vent so that the physics of the explosion is different. In particular it is shown that besides the problem of the unloading of the confined explosion, there is a highly complicated fluid mechanics problem of a fluid-particle flow passing through a porous media (the flameless device grids arrangement in the filter), which passing surface is progressively reduced. To characterize Flameless venting the problem can be addressed sequentially, considering separately the vent panel and the flameless mesh. A model is proposed to estimate the overall venting efficiency of the flameless vent. However, it does not address the flame quenching issue, which is a different problem of heat exchange between the devices and the evacuated burnt products.