The influence of initial conditions on the propagation of smouldering fires in dust accumulations

A mathematical model is presented which allows one to treat the combined phenomena of heat, mass and species transfer by diffusion as they occur within smouldering fires in accumulations of dust or other solid bulk materials. The model was applied to predict self-ignition temperatures of five different dusts, where it could be shown that computed and experimental self-ignition temperatures coincide within an error margin of ±5%.

For smouldering fires, if initiated by either self-ignition or an ignition source, it could be shown that the temperature and the velocity at which the reaction front propagates both depend on the volume of the dust accumulation. In addition, the propagation velocity increases when the initial temperature of the dust accumulation is increased and decreases when the initial moisture content of the dust accumulation is increased.

Comparisons of the numerical model with experiments show that the smouldering propagation is mirrored qualitatively, while the accuracy of the computations strongly depends on the accuracy of the input parameters, namely on the apparent activation energy.     

A numerical model to simulate smouldering fires in bulk materials and dust deposits

A numerical model is presented which consists of a set of partial differential equations for the transport of heat and mass fractions of eight chemical species to describe the onset of self-ignition and the propagation of smouldering fires in deposits of bulk materials or dust accumulations. The chemical reaction sub-model includes solid fuel decomposition and the combustion of char, carbon monoxide and hydrogen.The model has been validated against lab-scale self-ignition and smouldering propagation experiments and then applied to predictions of fire scenarios in a lignite coal silo. Predicted reaction temperatures of 550 K and propagation velocities of the smouldering front of about 6 mm/h are in good agreement with experimental values derived from lab-scale experiments.     

堆积状态下低品质煤临界自燃着火点测定与研究

为了研究低品质煤炭堆积状态下内部自热理论,采用临界自燃着火点理论和Frank-Kamenetskii 模型研究了煤堆内部热产生与热散失平衡理论以及煤堆表面的换热现象;并应用设计研发的煤堆热扩散率及温度监测实验装置和测定方法来评估低品质煤样（褐煤以及亚烟煤）临界自燃温度。结果表明:煤样堆积状态下临界自燃着火点温度可通过实验室内测定分析不同体积网框在不同环境温度条件下自热曲线得出;同体积条件下,临界自燃着火点随着煤品质的升高而增加;在140 ℃ 环境条件下,1#,2# 和3# 煤样在快速升温的前20 min内,温度变化趋势相似;在60~65 ℃,3种煤样出现温度转折点,升温速率开始减缓;根据煤样临界自燃着火点温度结合F-K热发火边界条件理论得出的堆积体积与着火点耦合关系式可预测大体积煤样自燃倾向性及临界自燃温度。     

Influence of thermal radiation on layered dust explosions

Multidimensional unsteady numerical simulations were carried out to explore the influence of thermal radiation on the propagation and structure of layered coal dust explosions. The simulation solved the reactive compressible Navier-Stokes equations coupled to an Eulerian kinetic-theory-based granular multiphase model. The radiation heat transfer is modeled by solving the radiation transfer equation using the third-order filtered spherical harmonics approximation. The radiation was assumed to be gray and all boundaries of the domain are black at 300 K. The reaction mechanism is based on global irreversible reactions for each physical process including devolatilization, char burning, moisture vaporization, and methane combustion. The governing equations were solved using a high-order Godunov method. Several simulation configurations were considered: layer volume fractions of 47% and 1%, channel lengths of 10 m and 40 m, and radiative and non-radiative cases. The results show that gray radiation has a significant influence on the propagation and structure of a layered dust explosion. However, radiation can have opposite effects on different scenarios. For example, radiation promotes the propagation of the dust flame when the layer volume fraction was 1% and in the short-channel cases where reflected shock-flame interactions are important. However, radiation enhances quenching for the 47% volume fraction dust layer in the longer channel.     

Numerical investigation and theoretical prediction of self-ignition characteristics of coarse coal stockpiles

Spontaneous combustion of coarse coal stockpiles in temporary coal storage yards was investigated numerically using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The main purposes of the numerical investigation were to identify the self-ignition characteristics of coarse coal stockpiles and formulate a theoretical model to predict the self-ignition time and locations of coarse coal piles. A mathematical model for self-ignition of coarse coal piles was developed and the process of spontaneous ignition of coarse coal stockpiles was simulated. The kinetic data of low-temperature oxidation reaction was obtained from the laboratory-scale experiments with bituminous coals taken from Jindi Coal Mine of Shanxi Province in China. The influence of moisture was ignored because the studied coal had low moisture content (mass concentration: 1.87%) and both coal and ambient environment were assumed to be saturated with moisture (or ambient environment was assumed to be dry). The effects of five variables (i.e. wind velocity, oxygen concentration, height, porosity, and side slope) on the spontaneous ignition in coarse coal piles were examined. Simultaneously, a theoretical prediction model was formulated in light of variable analyses and a great number of simulations.Compared to self-ignition characteristics of fine-particle coal piles, several self-ignition characteristics of coarse coal piles were identified by numerical investigation. Wind-driven forced convection plays a predominant role in self-heating of coarse coal piles. As wind velocity increases, the self-ignition location in the pile migrates from the lower part which is close to the surface of the windward side to the upper part near to the surface of the leeward side. Wind velocity increase exerts the positive or the negative effect on self-heating, which depends on a critical wind velocity value to sustain balances of both the heat and the availability of oxygen in the coarse coal pile. The behavior of self-ignition is remarkably sensitive to both oxygen concentration and height, and a coarse coal stockpile will not ignite spontaneously as long as one of two critical variable values is satisfied: oxygen concentration of 5% or height of 3 m. The theoretical prediction model suggests when and where countermeasures should be made to prevent the self-ignition in the coal stockpile with engineering accuracy.     

煤炭自燃机理及防治技术分类研究

通过分析国内外学者对煤自燃机理的不同说法,提出了煤自燃过程的3个阶段,即潜伏阶段、自热阶段和自燃阶段,指出煤体要发生自燃必须具备4个条件:具有低温氧化性并以破碎的状态存在,有氧体积分数大于12%的空气连续通过,煤炭氧化所生成热量的速度大于散热的速度,上述3个条件同时存在的时间大于煤炭最短自然发火期等等.根据对煤炭自燃机理的研究,将防治技术措施按其作用机理可分为减漏风供氧、吸热降温和既能隔氧又能降温等3类.对防治煤炭自燃以及选择有效而可靠的技术措施具有积极的指导意义.     

A study on the influence of liquid water and water vapour on the self-ignition of lignite coal-experiments and numerical simulations

The current paper presents experimental investigations as well as numerical simulations on the influence of water and humidity on the self-ignition of combustible bulk materials.It is well known, that bulk materials may undergo self-ignition if stored under specific conditions. In some cases, large amounts of these materials are exposed to a humid surrounding, e.g. dried coal in a moist atmosphere. Due to the effects of condensation and adsorption of water, additional heat is generated and transported into the bulk material. If the pile is stored slightly below its self-ignition temperature, the bulk material can become supercritical and an ignition occurs.Experiments were carried out for German lignite coal sampled in two different particle size fractions. They showed, that subcritical deposits turned to supercritical behaviour if the relative humidity in the surrounding was suddenly increased or water was poured on the surface of the sample. Besides the experiments, a numerical model was established to describe the effects of self-heating until ignition of the deposit, including the transportation of moisture. Simulations with this model led to satisfying results when compared to the experiments.     

Structure and flame speed of dilute and dense layered coal-dust explosions

Multidimensional time-dependent simulations were performed to study the interaction of a stoichiometric methane–air detonation with layers of coal dust. The simulations solved equations representing a Eulerian kinetic-theory-based granular multiphase model applicable to dense and dilute particle volume fractions. These equations were solved using a high-order Godunov-based method for compressible fluid dynamics. Two dust layer concentrations were considered: loose with an initial volume fraction of 1%, and dense with an initial volume fraction of 47%. Each layer was simulated with two types of dust: reactive coal and inert ash. Burning of the coal particles results in a coupled complex consisting of an accelerating shock leading a coal-dust flame. The overall structure of the shock–flame complex resembles that of a premixed fast flame with length scales on the order of several meters. The large length scales are direct results of time needed to lift, mix, heat, and autoignite the particle. The flame speeds are large and much larger than the gas-phase velocity. Large spikes of flame speed are characteristic of the 47% case. These spikes and high flame speed are caused by pockets of coal dust autoigniting ahead of the flame. The flame is choked in the 1% case due to the gas-phase products exceeding the sonic velocity with respect to the flame. The 47% case is choked due to attenuation of pressure waves as they propagate through particles. Inert layers of dust substantially reduce the overpressure, impulse, and speed produced by propagating blast wave. The results also show that loose layers of dust are far more dangerous than dense layers. The shock and flame are more strongly coupled for loose layers, propagate at higher velocity, and produce large overpressures and impulses.     

多点法测定可燃物质自燃特性的可靠性研究

多点法是一种新提出的自热反应动力学分析方法。采用实验研究和理论分析相结合的方式对多点法的操作过程以及实验结果的可靠性展开研究。通过构建一维导热系统、采用不同形式的热电偶布设方式,对烟叶粉末的自燃临界环境温度、活化能以及反应热与指前因子的乘积等参数进行了测定。研究表明:所构建的一维系统能较好地模拟一维导热;热电偶的分布方式对测量结果有较大影响,对称分布状况下,温度结果与经典的F-K对称模型一致;多点法相比于传统方法省时省力,测定结果有较好的线性拟合相关度,求解的动力学参数较为可靠。     

Self-ignition in stone wool insulation contaminated with fatty acid (fundamentals,case study,analysis methodology)

A combination of a residual film of flammable organic substance, air and porous structures like insulation material (e.g. stone wool) may result in a fire. The initiating self-heating process depends on the substance (reactivity, volatility), amount of accumulated liquid, volume and temperature. Specific information is given for application and extension of the Thomas criterion with a 2nd order reaction. The experimental part includes new experimental techniques to determine heat transfer and formal reaction kinetic data. The applied self-ignition temperature (SIT) simulation model relies on liquid film volume and not on liquid film surface reaction. As a further result of the studies detailed working procedure of three simplified methodologies for estimation of SITs in technical scale are presented. New techniques to determine parameters necessary for SIT prediction, especially in combination with Methodology III, have the power to reduce the costs for estimating the SIT up to 80%.     

Numerical study of dust lifting using the Eulerian–Eulerian approach

The present paper shows a numerical investigation of dust lifting behind a moving pressure wave. The dispersion of combustible dust has previously been discovered to be a precursor to a potential dust explosion. Consequently, a growing interest on the subject has been observed in recent years. Numerous studies have been performed on dust lifting, however, very few investigations have focused on dust layers with high volume fractions. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to provide additional data. The simulations were carried out in a three-dimensional duct with a dust layer dispersed along the lower wall. The Eulerian–Eulerian approach was selected as the modelling technique. At first, four simulations varying the initial pressure and volume fraction of the dust were performed. The former parameter was varied between 4 and 8 bar, while the latter varied between 0.4 and 0.6. The combination of high initial pressure and high volume fraction resulted in the greatest dispersion of dust. Subsequently, two different drag force models were compared: the Schiller–Naumann, and the Gidaspow. It was discovered through this research that the choice of model caused significantly different results. The former model was found to underestimate the drag in the diluted parts of the layer. Consequently, this led to a distinctly lower lifting of the dust than in the latter model. Finally, a validation of a particle–particle interaction model was performed. It was observed that in the case where the model was disabled, an unrealistically high maximum volume fraction of the dust layer occurred. Nevertheless, the model did not seem to improve the dispersion results, which indicates that the dust lifting in this research was solely due to fluid–particle interactions.     

采空区遗煤自燃过程及其规律的数值模拟研究

基于非均质多孔介质中的连续性方程、多相气体渗流———扩散方程和综合传热方程,建立了工作面动态推进下的采空区自燃数值模型。结合实例,从理论上描绘了工作面开采过程中采空区的漏风流态、氧、CO、瓦斯和温度等分布状态及其动态过程。计算中考虑了瓦斯涌出对自燃的耦合作用;工作面动态推进对自燃的影响,以及沿边界冒落非压实性对漏风供氧、自燃高温区产生的影响。从理论上重点讨论了采空区自燃与各因素的定量化关系,得出自然发火期与煤氧化速度、工作面风量二者均呈显著的反比例关系;对于综放工作面采场漏风供氧系统,自然发火期主要取决于煤的耗氧能力,提高工作面风量仅能扩大自燃高温区的范围,增大自燃的发生几率;提高推进度能显著延长采空区自然发火期,呈指数变化。     

煤质粉末活性炭自燃和热稳定性分析

针对煤质粉末活性炭最显著的热危险特性——自燃危险性进行试验。采用粉尘层最低着火温度测定系统对煤质粉末活性炭进行自燃试验,测定煤质粉末活性炭的最低着火温度;采用SDT Q600热重分析仪测定煤质粉末活性炭在氮气和空气气氛中以20℃/min的速率升温至700℃时的热解和燃烧特性,通过TG/DTG曲线计算其着火温度,并进行热稳定性评价。粉尘层自燃试验结果表明,煤质粉末活性炭最低着火温度为400℃,具有自燃危险性,易形成阴燃;氮气气氛中热解试验表明,热解过程经历了室温~120.0℃和280.0~700.0℃两次轻缓失重阶段,646.44℃时挥发分热失重速率最大,对应热失重速率峰值为0.082 6%/℃,自燃危险性较低;空气气氛中燃烧试验表明,燃烧过程经历了室温~95.5℃和300.0~600.0℃两次剧烈失重阶段,分别为吸附水分受热蒸发和氧化生成的有机官能团分解脱附导致,565.35℃时挥发分热失重速率最大,对应热失重速率峰值为13.20%/min,粉末较强的氧气吸附效应和较低的导热系数导致其自燃倾向较高,火灾危险性较大。     

Analysis of the chosen thermal and flammability parameters of dried sewage dust

The hazardous sludge disposal process in the form of landfills requires the determination inter alia of the flammable and explosion properties of dried sewage sludge dust, which has the ability to ignite and spontaneously combust when stored in silos. At a constant furnace surface temperature, the minimum ignition temperature of the sludge dust layer with a layer thickness of 5 mm is 270 °C, and for a layer thickness of 12.5 mm it is 250 °C. Two selected fire extinguishing powders for Class A, B, C and D fires were used in the study to determine the possibility of reducing the susceptibility of dried wastewater to ignition from heated surface, self-ignition and explosion parameters. The most effective extinguishing powder was ABC Favorit, which increased the value of the minimum ignition temperature of the layer (5 mm thick) to 360 °C and the spontaneous ignition temperature of the sludge with this powder increased by 22 °C at 169.6 cm³ in comparison to the sludge without extinguishing powder, respectively. The lowest self-ignition temperature of 136 °C was recorded for the largest tested volume (169.6 cm³) for dried sewage dust without any fire extinguishing powders. The biggest values of p_max and (dp/dt)_max dried sewage dust were recorded 4.8 bar and 113 bar/s respectively. By analysing the obtained test results, it can be assumed that dried sewage dust is a combustible material with properties similar to biomass.     

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.     

抛光打磨车间便携式除尘器本体设计与试验

基于气旋分离和滤筒过滤的除尘原理,采用气旋分离作为一级除尘分离大颗粒粉尘,滤筒过滤作为二级除尘去除细颗粒物,设计并构建了适用于抛光打磨车间的便携式除尘器试验模型,并对其运行性能参数进行测试。结果表明：除尘器处理风量为117～179 m³/h,漏风率和设备阻力随处理风量的增加而升高,漏风率控制在3.52%以内,设备阻力最小为163 Pa,最大为393 Pa;除尘效率随风量的增大而发生轻微降低,该便携式除尘器的最高除尘效率达99.63%。     

基于神经网络的煤层自然发火的非线性预测

煤炭自燃是一典型的非线性现象。笔者论述了煤炭自燃的危害 ,从非线性理论的角度分析了煤炭自燃的本质特征 ;应用神经网络中BP网络这一高度非线性关系映射建立了自然发火预测模型 ,克服了传统预测方法的不足并在山东枣庄矿业集团公司柴里煤矿进行了预测分析 ,预测结果与验证结果基本吻合 ,取得了满意的效果 ,为解决煤炭自燃的预测提供了一条良好的思路和方法 ,具有较大的理论意义和应用价值。     

Fast and tiny: A model for the flame propagation of nanopowders

To avoid the influence of external parameters, such as the vessel volume or the initial turbulence, the explosion severity should be determined from intrinsic properties of the fuel-air mixture. Therefore, the flame propagation of gaseous mixtures is often studied in order to estimate their laminar burning velocity, which is both independent of external factors and a useful input for CFD simulation. Experimentally, this parameter is difficult to evaluate when it comes to dust explosion, due to the inherent turbulence during the dispersion of the cloud. However, the low inertia of nanoparticles allows performing tests at very low turbulence without sedimentation. Knowledge on flame propagation concerning nanoparticles may then be modelled and, under certain conditions, extrapolated to microparticles, for which an experimental measurement is a delicate task. This work focuses on a nanocellulose with primary fiber dimensions of 3 nm width and 70 nm length. A one-dimensional model was developed to estimate the flame velocity of a nanocellulose explosion, based on an existing model already validated for hybrid mixtures of gas and carbonaceous nanopowders similar to soot. Assuming the fast devolatilization of organic nanopowders, the chemical reactions considered are limited to the combustion of the pyrolysis gases. The finite volume method was used to solve the mass and energy balances equations and mass reactions rates constituting the numerical system. Finally, the radiative heat transfer was also considered, highlighting the influence of the total surface area of the particles on the thermal radiation. Flame velocities of nanocellulose from 17.5 to 20.8 cm/s were obtained numerically depending on the radiative heat transfer, which proves a good agreement with the values around 21 cm/s measured experimentally by flame visualization and allows the validation of the model for nanoparticles.     

矿井避难硐室研究与设计

基于井下发生瓦斯、煤尘事故时,人员伤亡的75％是由于有害气体中毒而死亡,而井下自救器又无法提供长时间的氧气供应这一事实。本文提出了建立井下避难硐室的基本要求,从通风、供氧、防火、供电等12个方面做出了设计,因此建立井下避难硐室,对于爆炸事故的幸存者来说,就是一个通向求生道路的中转加油站。