Influence of physical properties of ammonium nitrate on the detonation behaviour of ANFO

In order to obtain a better understanding of the non-ideal detonation behaviour of ammonium nitrate based explosives, detonation velocities of ANFO (ammonium nitrate and fuel oil) prepared with different kinds of ammonium nitrate (AN) were measured in steel tubes. In this series of test six kinds of AN were used and the influence of the pore diameter, the pore volume and the particle diameter of the AN particle on the detonation velocity of ANFO was investigated.

It was found that the pore diameter and the pore volume had a strong influence on the detonation velocities of ANFO. In the case of ANFO samples which were prepared with AN that had the same pore diameter and the pore volume, when tested the highest detonation velocity (3.85 km/s) was observed when the smallest particle diameter (<0.85 mm) was used. This value corresponded to 75% of the ideal detonation velocity, which was theoretically predicted by the CHEETAH code with the JCZ3-EOS.

The 12 months aging showed the change of the detonation velocities of ANFO and the reaction of ANFO was influenced both by the physical and the chemical properties of AN particles and oil during the storage period.     

Methane–air detonation experiments at NIOSH Lake Lynn Laboratory

The methane–air detonation experiments are performed to characterize high pressure explosion processes that may occur in sealed areas of underground coal mines. The detonation tube used for these studies is 73 m long, 105 cm internal diameter, and closed at one end. The test gas is 97.5% methane with about 1.5% ethane, and the methane–air test mixtures varied between 4% and 19% methane by volume. Detonations were successfully initiated for mixtures containing between 5.3% and 15.5% methane. The detonations propagated with an average velocity between 1512 and 1863 m/s. Average overpressures recorded behind the first shock pressure peak varied between 1.2 and 1.7 MPa. The measured detonation velocities and pressures are close to their corresponding theoretical Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) detonation velocity (D_CJ) and detonation pressure (P_CJ). Outside of these detonability limits, failed detonations produced decaying detached shocks and flames propagating with velocities of approximately 1/2 D_CJ. Cell patterns on smokefoils during detonations were very irregular and showed secondary cell structures inside primary cells. The measured width of primary cells varied between 20 cm near the stoichiometry and 105 cm (tube diameter) near the limits. The largest detonation cell (105 cm wide and 170 cm long) was recorded for the mixture containing 15.3% methane.     

Decomposing detonation and deflagration properties of ozone/oxygen mixtures

In this study, the decomposing detonation and deflagration properties of ozone/oxygen mixtures of up to 20 vol.% of ozone in oxygen under high pressure of up to 1.0 MPa in a tube were experimentally investigated. The mixtures were ignited by an electric spark at the end of the tube. Flame propagation properties such as flame velocity and pressure were measured with thermocouples and piezo electric transducers mounted along the tube. Slow and constant flame propagation profiles were obtained. We also investigated the quenching ability of a wire gauze as well as the concentration limit for flame propagation. However, in spite of slow flame propagation velocity and easy flame quenching properties under these experimental conditions, direct initiation of detonation by the driver detonation of the stoichiometric oxy-hydrogen mixture was easily achieved at much lower concentrations than the limit of deflagration. The observed detonation properties, such as wave velocity and pressure, agreed fairly well with C–J calculated values. The detonation velocity (900–1200 m/s) and the pressure ratio to initial pressures (5–9.5) were not affected by the initial pressure of the mixtures. Near the detonation limit, typical spinning detonations with oscillatory pressure waves were observed.     

Effect of urea on detonation characteristics and thermal stability of ammonium nitrate

A study has examined the effect of urea on the thermal stability and detonation characteristics of ammonium nitrate (AN). The thermal decomposition temperature and surface morphology of samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For further research on the thermal sensitivity and shock sensitivity of the samples, the Koenen test and UN gap test were conducted. The results indicate that urea can substantially increase the thermal stability of AN (the greatest exothermic peak is increased by more than 100 °C) and reduce the thermal sensitivity of AN. However, AN-50wt. % urea mixtures can still produce a steady detonation in the UN gap test. Urea cannot reduce the ability to propagate a detonation. Possible explanations for these results are discussed.     

丁烷与空气混合物的爆炸性能测定

在不同条件下,对丁烷与空气混合物进行爆炸实验,由微机数采测试系统测定其爆炸参数（爆轰波压力、爆轰波传播速度等）、爆轰极限以及当其形成爆轰时所需的临界起爆能。通过实验测定,为评价丁烷与空气混合物的安全性能提供重要依据     

Experimental study on DDT for hydrogen–methane–air mixtures in tube with obstacles

An experimental study of flame propagation, acceleration and transition to detonation in stoichiometric hydrogen–methane–air mixtures in 6 m long tube filled with obstacles located at different configurations was performed. The initial conditions of the hydrogen–methane–air mixtures were 1 atm and 293 K. Four different cases of obstacle blockage ratio (BR) 0.7, 0.6, 0.5 and 0.4 and three cases of obstacle spacing were used. The wave propagation was monitored by piezoelectric pressure transducers PCB. Pressure transducers were located at different positions along the channel to collect data concerning DDT and detonation development. Tested mixtures were ignited by a weak electric spark at one end of the tube. Detonation cell sizes were measured using smoked foil technique and analyzed with Matlab image processing toolbox. As a result of the experiments the deflagration and detonation regimes and velocities of flame propagation in the obstructed tube were determined.     

甲烷煤尘燃烧爆炸试验研究

为揭示甲烷煤尘空气混合物爆炸波的传播规律,采用试验分析的方法,建立甲烷煤尘空气混合物燃烧爆炸的3种试验方案,分析不同体积分数的甲烷和不同质量浓度的煤尘消耗不同体积空气时的爆压和爆速等参数的发展趋势,探究爆轰波传播的稳定性,阐明了甲烷煤尘燃烧爆炸的基本特征。试验结果表明,在最优配比条件下,与单一甲烷空气、煤尘空气混合物相比,甲烷煤尘空气混合物的爆压、爆速明显增加。甲烷煤尘空气混合物爆轰比单一的气相、固相混合物爆轰的爆炸压力、爆速明显增加、爆轰更稳定。     

Scale effects on hydrogen–air fast deflagrations and detonations in small obstructed channels

An experimental study of flame propagation, acceleration and transition to detonation in hydrogen–air mixture in 2-m-long rectangular cross-section channel filled with obstacles located at the bottom wall was performed. The initial conditions of the hydrogen–air mixture were 0.1 MPa and 293 K and stoichiometric composition (29.6% H₂ in air). The channel width was 0.11 m and blockage ratio was 0.5 in all experiments. The effect of channel geometrical scale on flame propagation was studied by using four channel heights H of 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.08 m. In each case, the obstacle height was equal to H/2 and the obstacle spacing was 2H.

The propagation of flame and pressure waves was monitored by four pressure transducers and four ion probes. The pairs of transducers and probes were placed at various locations along the channel in order to get information about the progress of the phenomena along the channel.

As a result of the experiments, the deflagration and detonation regimes and velocities of flame propagation in the obstructed channel were established.     

Z型管道中气体火焰传播规律的实验研究

本文实验研究了丙烷／氧气／空气的当量比气体燃烧火焰通过两个90°弯管形成的“z”型管道的传播规律,通过改变第一个弯管前加速段的长度和改变气体浓度,实验研究了稳定爆轰波,非稳定爆轰波以及爆燃火焰通过“z”型管道的传播规律。利用光电传感器记录弯管前后的火焰传播速度,运用燃烧理论和爆轰波的理论对实验结果做了分析。结果表明:稳定爆轰波通过“z”型管道时传播速度有明显的下降;但“z”型管道对非稳定爆轰波的传播作用受到非稳定爆轰波自身速度的影响;爆燃火焰通过“z”型管道时火焰传播速度的变化呈现不确定性。     

气体爆轰波在弯曲管道中传播特性的实验研究

对丙烷 -空气爆轰波通过 90°弯管道时的传播特性作了实验研究 ,主要是气体爆轰波通过弯管道前后的火焰速度以及加速情况的研究 ,初步得出 ,爆轰波经过弯管道后单位距离上的火焰速度增量显著增加。这一研究结果证明 ,弯曲管道对于爆燃与爆轰波火焰有明显的加速作用     

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.     

DDT and detonation propagation limits in an obstacle filled tube

Experiments with hydrogen–air and ethylene–air mixtures at atmospheric pressure were carried out in a 6.1 m long, 0.1 m diameter tube with different obstacle configurations and ignition types. Classical DDT experiments were performed with the first part of the tube filled with equally spaced 75 mm (44% area blockage ratio) orifice-plates. The DDT limits, defining the so-called quasi-detonation regime, where the wave propagates at a velocity above the speed of sound in the products, were found to be well correlated with d/λ = 1, where d is orifice-plate diameter and λ is the detonation cell size. The only exception was the rich ethylene limit where d/λ = 1.9 was found. In a second experiment detonation propagation limits were measured by transmitting a CJ detonation wave into an obstacle filled (same equally spaced 44% orifice plates) section of the tube. An oxy-acetylene driver promptly initiated a detonation wave at one end. In this experiment the quasi-detonation propagation limits were found to agree very well with the d/λ = 1 correlation. This indicates that the d/λ = 1 represents a propagation limit. In general, one can conclude that the classical DDT limits measured in an orifice-plate filled tube are governed by the wave propagation mechanism, independent of detonation initiation (DDT process) that can occur locally in the obstacles outside these limits. For rich mixtures, transmission of the quasi-detonation into the smooth tube resulted in CJ detonation wave. However, in a narrow range of mixtures on the lean side, the detonation failed to transmit in the smooth tube. This highlights the critical role that shock reflection plays in the propagation of quasi-detonation waves.     

Detonation flows in aluminium particle gas suspensions,inhomogeneous in concentrations

A physical and mathematical model of the reduced kinetics is presented describing heterogeneous detonation in suspensions non-uniform in particle concentration. The model is based on the heterogeneous media approaches, semi-empirical laws of ignition and combustion, and data on the dependence of the detonation velocity on particle concentration. Formation of suboxides and incomplete combustion of aluminum are taken into account integrally. The dependence of the heat release of chemical reactions and the fraction of unburnt particles on the initial composition is determined from the solution of the stationary problem of the structure of the detonation wave. In the calculations of unsteady detonation flows, it is supposed to solve an additional equation for the spatial distribution of initial concentrations. The problems of initiation and development of cellular detonation in flat channels in suspensions of micron-sized aluminum particles are studied. Dependences of the cell size on particle concentration in uniform suspensions are determined. The flow patterns of cellular structures, the forms of the leading front, and the propagation velocities in channels with longitudinal or transversal gradients of particle concentration are analyzed.     

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.     

TA-FTIR/MS用于硝酸铵及其混合物的热化学行为研究

为评价物料混合对危险化学品热化学行为的影响,采用热分析-红外/质谱联用技术(TA-FTIR/MS)研究硝酸铵、柠檬酸和蔗糖的混合物的热化学行为。通过对硝酸铵及其混合物的分解温度和分解过程中逸出气体的分析,发现硝酸铵、柠檬酸和蔗糖的混合物热分解温度分别降低至135℃和153℃,而硝酸铵与甲基纤维素的混合物分解温度与硝酸铵基本相同为201℃,且各混合体系的气相分解产物均有氮氧化物(NOX),H2O和CO2。结果表明,混合物受热后其中的硝酸铵首先分解为硝酸和氨气;酸性物质和还原性物质由于对硝酸的分解反应有催化作用,使得混合物的热稳定性下降。     

Analysis of the experimental results of the initiation of detonation in short tubes with kerosene–oxidizer mixtures

The paper describes the experimental investigation of detonation initiation in a mixture of kerosene–oxidant in a short test tube. Various mixtures of oxygen and nitrogen were used as an oxidant, from pure oxygen to the composition of air. The goal of the study was to determine the minimum diameter of the tube and the minimum level of energy needed for the direct initiation of detonation. As a result of the measurements the pressure courses were obtained for two kinds of cases: with and without (only shock waves) of fuel injection. The results of both kinds of measurements were compared, providing information about the initiation of detonation in a fuel–oxidizer mixture. Brief analyses of the results for different initiators and different oxidizers were performed and compared with the shock wave and Chapman–Jouget velocity.     

Simulation of dust explosions in complex geometries with experimental input from standardized tests

The present paper describes the development of a new CFD-code (DESC) for the assessment of accidental hazards arising from dust explosions in complex geometries. The approach followed entails the estimation of the laminar burning velocity of dust clouds from standardized laboratory-scale tests, and its subsequent use as input to the combustion model incorporated in DESC. The methodology used to obtain the laminar burning velocities is demonstrated by igniting turbulent propane-air mixtures to deflagration in a standard 20-litre USBM-vessel, and extracting the laminar burning velocity from the pressure–time curves; the results are compared with literature data. Laminar burning velocities for clouds of maize starch dust in air were estimated following the same procedure, and the resulting empirical model was used to simulate dust explosions in a 236-m³ silo.     

提高铵梯炸药生产安全性的技术途径

本采用粗制TNT代替军工TNT应用于工业炸药中,不仅可减少环境的污染,而且可提高生产安全性。实验证明由粗制TNT制成的炸药,其性能可满足使用要求。     

Numerical simulation of propane detonation in medium and large scale geometries

A modelling strategy has been developed for consequence analysis of medium and large scale gaseous detonation. The model is based on the solution of Euler equations with one-step chemistry. The Van Leer flux limited method which is a total variation diminishing scheme is used for shock capturing. Preliminary calculations were firstly conducted for small domains with fine grids which resolve the wave, relatively coarse grids which have less than 10 grids across the wave and coarse grids in which the minimum grid size is larger than the wave thickness to ensure that the reaction scheme has been properly tuned to capture the correct detonation pressure, temperature and velocity in the resolutions used in the different cases. The model was firstly tested against a medium scale detonation test in a shock tube with U-bends. Reasonably good agreement is achieved on detonation pressure and mean shock wave velocities at different measuring segments of the tube. Following the validation, the detonation of a hypothetical planar propane-air cloud is simulated. The predictions uncovered some interesting features of such large scale detonation phenomena which are of significance in the safety context, especially for accidental investigations. The findings from the present analysis are in line with the forensic evidence on damages in some historic accidents and challenges previous analysis of a major accident in which forensic evidence suggested localised detonation but was considered as the consequence of fire storms by the investigation team.     

HNIW/HTPB传爆药的制备及性能研究

以HNIW为高能填料,以HTPB为粘结剂,采用真空浇注法制备了HNIW/HTPB传爆药。为研究HNIW基浇注型传爆药的爆炸特性,通过实验制备了HNIW/HTPB传爆药,并对其撞击感度、临界直径和爆速等性能进行了分析研究。结果表明,HNIW/HTPB传爆药对撞击作用较钝感,当HTPB的含量为12%时,其特性落高h50为51.68cm,临界直径小于0.6mm,它的实测爆速为8248m/s,接近其理论爆速8320m/s,且HNIW/HTPB传爆药各组分之间具有良好的相容性,因此该传爆药具有良好的安全性能和传爆性能,适合于微尺寸装药,从而具有广阔的应用前景。