Flame behaviors and pressure characteristics of vented dust explosions at elevated static activation overpressures

Dust explosion venting experiments were performed using a 20-L spherical chamber at elevated static activation overpressures larger than 1 bar. Lycopodium dust samples with mean diameter of 70 μm and electric igniters with 0.5 KJ ignition energy were used in the experiments. Explosion overpressures in the chamber and flame appearances near the vent were recorded simultaneously. The results indicated that the flame appeared as the under-expanded free jet with shock diamonds, when the overpressure in the chamber was larger than the critical pressure during the venting process. The flame appeared as the normal constant-pressure combustion when the pressure venting process finished. Three types of venting processes were concluded in the experiments: no secondary flame and no secondary explosion, secondary flame, secondary explosion. The occurrence of the secondary explosions near the vent was related to the vent diameter and the static activation overpressure. Larger diameters and lower static activation overpressures were beneficial to the occurrence of the secondary explosions. In current experiments, the secondary explosions only occurred at the following combinations of the vent diameter and the static activation overpressure: 40 mm and 1.2 bar, 60 mm and 1.2 bar, 60 mm and 1.8 bar.     

Effects of vent layout and vent area on dynamic characteristics of premixed methane-air explosion in a tube with two side-vented ducts

To further elucidate the influence mechanism of side vents on the dynamic characteristics of gas explosions in tubes is helpful to design more reasonable vent layouts. In this paper, 9.5% methane-air explosion experiments were conducted in a tube with two side-vented ducts, and the effects of vent layouts and vent areas on the dynamic characteristics of explosion overpressure and flame propagation speed were investigated. The results demonstrate that under the same condition with a single vent area of 100 mm × 100 mm, when only the end vent is open, the maximum explosion overpressure and the maximum flame propagation speed are the highest among the five vent layouts. When the side vents 1 and 2 and the end vent are open, the maximum explosion overpressure is the lowest, and an unusual discovery is that the flame front changes into a hemispherical shape, finger shape, quasi-plane shape, tulip shape and wrinkled structure. When only side vent 1 is open, a unique Helmholtz oscillation occurs, and a new discovery is that there is a consistent oscillation relationship among the overpressure, flame propagation speed and flame structure. Helmholtz oscillation occurs only when a single vent area is 100 mm × 100 mm–60 mm × 60 mm, and the oscillation degree decreases with decreasing vent area. During the vent failure stage, the maximum explosion overpressure is generated, the flame front begins to appear irregular shape, and the flame propagation speed shows a prominent characteristic peak. After the vent failure stage, the driving effect of the end vent on the flame is higher than that of the side vent on the flame. Furthermore, the correlation equations of the mathematical relationships among the maximum explosion overpressure P_red, the static activation pressure P_stat and the vent coefficient K_v under four vent layouts are established, respectively.     

Duct-venting of dust explosions in a 20 L sphere at elevated static activation overpressures

Ducts are often recommended in the design of dust explosion venting in order to discharge materials to safe locations. However, the maximum reduced overpressure increases in a duct-vented vessel rather than in a simply vented vessel. This needs to be studied further for understanding the duct-venting mechanism. Numerous duct-vented dust explosion experiments were conducted, using a 20 L spherical chamber at elevated static activation overpressures, ranging from 1.8 bar to 6 bar. Duct diameters of 15 mm and 28 mm, and duct lengths of 0 m (simply venting), 1 m and 2 m, were selected. Explosion pressures both in the vessel and in the duct were recorded by pressure sensors, with a frequency of 5 kHz. Flame signals in the duct were also obtained by phototransistors. Results indicate that the secondary explosion occurring in the duct increases the maximum reduced overpressure in the vessel. The secondary explosion is greatly affected by the duct diameter and static activation overpressure, and hence influences the amplification of the maximum reduced overpressure. Larger static activation overpressure decreases the severity of the secondary explosion, and hence decreases the increment in the maximum reduced overpressure. The secondary pressure peak is more obvious as the pressure accumulation is easier in a duct with a smaller diameter. However, the increment of the maximum reduced overpressure is smaller because blockage effect, flame front distortion, and turbulent mixing due to secondary explosion are weaker in a narrow duct. The influence of duct length on the maximum reduced overpressure is small at elevated static activation overpressures, ranging from 1.8 bar to 6 bar at 15 mm and 28 mm duct diameters.     

The effect of vent ducts on the reduced explosion pressures of vented dust explosions

An investigation into the effects of vent ducts on reduced explosion pressures is described. Experiments were made using an 18.5m³ explosion vessel and a modified 20 1 sphere, with dusts having K_st values ranging from 144 bar ms⁻¹ to 630 bar ms⁻¹. The vent area/vessel volume ratio bursting pressure of the vent cover, and the length to diameter ratio of the vent duct have been varied. Straight vent ducts, and ducts containing sharp 45° and 90° bends have been used.A simple model to describe the effect of vent ducts on the reduced explosion pressure has been derived and compared with the experimental results. Agreement is shown to be satisfactory in nearly all cases. A comparison between the experimental results and guidance on the effect of vent ducts already available in the literature is discussed.     

点火位置对独头巷道中瓦斯爆炸超压的影响

运用AutoReaGas爆炸仿真模拟器研究了独头巷道中点火位置对瓦斯爆炸后果的影响。结果表明,在本计算条件下,爆炸静态超压随着距离的增加而减小,爆炸动压随着距离的增大而增大,点火位置对爆炸后果有重要影响,点火位置离封闭端越近,各个测点上所得到的超压越大。     

An overpressure-time history model of methane-air explosion in tunnel-shape space

This study investigated methane-air explosion in tunnel-shape space and developed an overpressure-time history model based on numerical results. The findings revealed that for the progressively vented gas explosion with movable steel obstacles in a 20 m long tunnel, the inner peak overpressure increased as the activation pressure of the tunnel top cover got higher but remained below 6 bar. However, as the activation pressure increased to 8 bar or higher, the peak inner overpressure remained unchanged. As the segment cover panel became wider, the peak pressure was almost unchanged, but the pressure duration and impulse declined significantly. The peak pressure and impulse increased as the tunnel length vary from 10 to 30 m. With fixed tunnel length, higher blast pressure but lower impulse was observed as the inner obstacles were closer or the activation pressure of obstacles was higher. It is also found that a local enlarged space in the tunnel enhanced the peak pressure significantly. An overpressure time history model for the tunnel with fixed top cover and enlarged end zone was established. The model considered activation pressure of vent cover, area and length of vent opening, methane concentration, number and blockage ratio of fixed obstacles was developed to calculate the overpressure and corresponding time at characteristic points of the pressure-history curve. The cubic Hermite interpolation algorithm and a specially tuned formula consisting of the power and exponential function were used to interpolate pressure values between characteristic points. The proposed model can predict both the peak pressure and the overpressure time history with acceptable accuracy.     

泄爆容器中粉尘爆炸的试验研究与数值模拟

为了解泄爆容器中粉尘爆炸的发展过程,采用试验和数值模拟相结合的方法对玉米淀粉在圆柱形容器内的泄爆过程进行研究。数值模型采用欧拉–拉格朗日方法模拟粉尘爆炸的两相流问题,通过求解非稳态的湍流两相反应流守恒方程对试验进行二维仿真。试验和模拟结果表明,点火位置对爆炸发展过程有明显影响,点火位置离泄爆口越远,容器中的最大泄爆压力Pred,max越高。在粉尘爆炸的安全防护设计中,应把点火位置作为重要影响因素之一加以考虑。     

巷道中瓦斯爆炸诱导激波传播特性研究

利用AutoReaGas软件,数值模拟巷道中瓦斯浓度和火源对瓦斯爆炸传播的影响,其计算结果表明:爆炸静态超压随着传播距离的增加而减小,而爆炸动压随着传播距离的增加而增大;点火位置距离巷道封闭端越近,各测点得到的爆炸静态超压值越大;瓦斯浓度对爆炸峰值超压影响显著,当浓度为9.5%的氧化反应当量比浓度时,得到的最大峰值超压为70.95kPa,爆炸威力最大。     

CO2-超细水雾对瓦斯/煤尘爆炸抑制特性研究

为了解CO2-超细水雾对瓦斯/煤尘爆炸抑制特性，用自行搭建的实验系统，从超压、火焰传播速度和火焰结构3个方面研究了CO2-超细水雾形成的气液两相介质对9.5%瓦斯/煤尘复合体系爆炸的抑爆效果、影响因素与原因。研究结果表明:随着CO2体积分数和超细水雾质量浓度的增加，爆炸火焰最大传播速度、爆炸超压峰值均出现明显下降，火焰到达泄爆口时间显著延迟；尤其当CO2体积分数达到14%与超细水雾的共同抑爆效果凸显，瓦斯/煤尘复合体系爆炸超压的“震荡平台”消失，同时火焰结构呈现“整体孔隙化”。所得结论为煤矿井下高效防爆抑爆技术进行了完善和增强。     

The effect of orifice plates with different shapes on explosion propagation of premixed methane–air in a semi-confined pipeline

The effect of internal shape of obstacles on the deflagration of premixed methane–air (concentration of 10%) was experimentally investigated in a semi-confined steel pipeline (with a square cross section size of 80 mm × 80 mm and 4 m long). The obstacles used in this study were circular, square, triangular and gear-shaped (4-teeth, 6-teeth and 8-teeth) orifice plates with a blockage ratio of 75%, and the perimeter of the orifice was regarded as a criterion for determining the sharpness of the orifice plate. The overpressure history, flame intensity histories, flame front propagation speed, maximum flame intensity and peak explosion overpressure were analyzed. The explosion in the pipeline can be divided into two stages: initial explosion and secondary explosion. The secondary explosion is caused by recoiled flame. The perimeter is positively related to the intensity of the recoiled flame and the ability of orifice plate to suppress the explosion propagation. In addition, the increase in the perimeter will cause the acceleration of the flame passing through the orifice plate, while after the perimeter of the orifice reaches a certain value, the effect of the increase in perimeter on explosion excitation becomes no obvious. The overpressure (static pressure) downstream of the orifice plate is the result of the combined effect of explosion intensity and turbulence. The increase in perimeter leads to the increase in turbulence downstream of the orifice plate which in turn causes more explosion pressure to be converted into dynamic pressure.     

大长径比管道汽油-空气混合气爆炸与抑制实验研究*

为探究狭长受限空间中油气爆炸失控时的发展状态,探索高效环保的油气爆炸抑制方法,利用长径比155的管道开展92号汽油-空气混合气爆炸发展规律和七氟丙烷主动抑爆技术研究。通过测量不同端部开口条件下油气爆炸超压、火焰传播速度、火焰强度等参数,对比研究空爆和抑爆工况下的油气爆炸变化规律,探讨长直管道中的油气爆炸特性,分析七氟丙烷抑爆效果。结果表明:大长径比管道中,端部开口泄爆对降低油气爆炸破坏能力的作用较小,开口与否对最大超压峰值的出现位置有影响;长直管道空爆时,油气爆炸由爆燃发展成爆轰,管道尾部的爆轰波速可达近2 000 m/s;密闭管道中,爆轰发生前火焰传播呈“已燃区-火焰锋面-待燃区-前驱激波-未燃区”的2波3区结构;主动抑爆方式下七氟丙烷抑爆效果良好,最大超压峰值降低幅度可达90%,火焰传播被及时阻断。     

泄爆面特征参数对天然气爆炸超压峰值的影响规律

为揭示泄爆面特征参数对大尺度受限空间内天然气爆炸超压峰值结构的影响机制，基于典型房间特征，借助计算流体动力学技术研究不同泄爆面开启压力、开启时间以及泄压比等参数条件下室内天然气泄爆超压峰值结构的分布规律。研究结果表明:峰值Pb随开启压力和开启时间增加均呈线性增长趋势，而泄压比对Pb影响较小；峰值Pmfa与室内最大火焰面积有关，随开启压力、开启时间的增加和泄压比的减小，气体出流速度增大，进而产生更强的湍流，导致室内火焰面积和气体燃烧率增加，最终Pmfa增大；峰值Pext随泄压比增加呈快速降低趋势，同时开启压力和开启时间对Pext影响具有协同效应，共同促进Pext快速增加。     

含弱约束端面直角管道汽油蒸气爆炸及七氟丙烷抑爆研究*

为研究七氟丙烷对汽油蒸气爆炸抑制作用,搭建含弱约束端面直角管道汽油蒸气爆炸抑制实验系统,开展汽油蒸气爆炸实验研究,并与喷入七氟丙烷抑爆介质进行对比,分析爆炸超压值、火焰强度值和火焰传播速度等爆炸特性参数变化情况。结果表明:在1.3%,1.5%和1.7%汽油蒸气体积分数下,不加抑爆介质时,爆炸超压值、火焰强度和火焰传播速度随着汽油蒸气体积分数的升高而增大;将七氟丙烷作为抑爆介质喷入时,爆炸超压峰值分别下降91.06%,34.57%和50.92%,火焰强度降幅达到99.83%,火焰传播速度几乎降为0,火焰持续时间随之缩短几乎为0,七氟丙烷具有良好的阻隔防爆效果。     

狭长管道油气爆炸流场分布特征规律及分析

为研究狭长管道油气爆炸流场分布特征规律,搭建了狭长管道油气爆炸实验系统 ,并在狭长密闭管道中进行了油气爆炸实验。通过采集爆炸超压值和火焰强度值并进行 分析,得到以下结论:随着初始油气体积分数的增大,管道沿线最大爆炸超压值和升压 速率均呈现先增大后减小的趋势,在1.75%时达到最大,并且初始油气体积分数越接近 1.75%,升压速率增大越快;根据管道沿线最大超压分布规律可将初始油气体积分数分 为1.25%~1.55%、1.55%~2.20%、2.20%~2.65%3个部分;管道末端出现二次爆炸现象,爆 炸超压变化曲线可分为点火延迟、一次爆炸、二次爆炸、振荡衰减4个阶段;火焰持续 时间随油气体积分数的增加先下降后上升,油气体积分数为1.75%时火焰持续时间最短 。     

Prediction of the relief of gas explosion in a tubular vessel by venting using a mathematical model

The relief of a gas explosion in a tubular vessel by venting can be predicted by using a mathematical model. In this model, the flame acceleration is represented by an increase in the burning velocity. The movement of a vent cover can be included. The model assumes that the vent is blocked by the vent cover prior to the explosion. the venting ratio was the most influential parameter in terms of relieving the pressure. In the case of a large venting ratio, the flame acceleration made a highly significant contribution, whereas for small venting ratios, the weight of the vent cover contributed to the relief more than the flame acceleration. When the pressure is required to be reduced significantly, the venting ratio, the vent open pressure and the weight of the vent cover must all be reduced.     

The effect of vent size and congestion in large-scale vented natural gas/air explosions

A typical building consists of a number of rooms; often with windows of different size and failure pressure and obstructions in the form of furniture and décor, separated by partition walls with interconnecting doorways. Consequently, the maximum pressure developed in a gas explosion would be dependent upon the individual characteristics of the building. In this research, a large-scale experimental programme has been undertaken at the DNV GL Spadeadam Test Site to determine the effects of vent size and congestion on vented gas explosions. Thirty-eight stoichiometric natural gas/air explosions were carried out in a 182 m³ explosion chamber of L/D = 2 and K_A = 1, 2, 4 and 9. Congestion was varied by placing a number of 180 mm diameter polyethylene pipes within the explosion chamber, providing a volume congestion between 0 and 5% and cross-sectional area blockages ranging between 0 and 40%. The series of tests produced peak explosion overpressures of between 70 mbar and 3.7 bar with corresponding maximum flame speeds in the range 35–395 m/s at a distance of 7 m from the ignition point. The experiments demonstrated that it is possible to generate overpressures greater than 200 mbar with volume blockages of as little as 0.57%, if there is not sufficient outflow through the inadvertent venting process. The size and failure pressure of potential vent openings, and the degree of congestion within a building, are key factors in whether or not a building will sustain structural damage following a gas explosion. Given that the average volume blockage in a room in a UK inhabited building is in the order of 17%, it is clear that without the use of large windows of low failure pressure, buildings will continue to be susceptible to significant structural damage during an accidental gas explosion.     

长径比对管道油气爆炸特性与火焰传播规律影响研究*

为了探究长径比对油气爆炸传播特性与火焰传播规律的影响，为复杂管道受限空间油气爆炸防控提供理论参考，结合油气爆炸与爆炸抑制工程实际需要，构建不同长径比管道油气爆炸模拟实验系统,在此基础上开展不同初始浓度的预混油气-空气混合气爆炸实验。研究结果表明:管道内部的预混油气爆炸超压信号呈先上升后下降的趋势，由于耗散以及憋压效应导致超压下降平稳后仍大于初始压力；同时长径比增加会导致达到最大爆炸超压的油气浓度增加，油气爆炸超压峰值随着长径比的增加呈现上升→下降→上升的规律，小长径比管道的油气爆炸超压峰值高于大长径比管道，但同为小长径比管道或大长径比管道工况的实验结果对比显示爆炸超压峰值随着长径比增加而提升；而超压上升速率则会随着长径比的增加而上升；长径比的增加同时也会促进火焰的加速传播并减小火焰持续时间。     

管道中氢气-空气爆轰的多级泄爆数值模拟研究

为了研究管道内氢气的爆燃转爆轰及其抑制过程,对单个障碍物管道中氢气-空气混合物燃爆过程以及多级泄爆进行了二维数值模拟。基于氢气-空气19步详细化学反应动力学机理,以及k-ε湍流模型、概率密度函数输运方程和同位网格SIMPLE算法,采用计算流体软件Fluent进行模拟。结果表明:密闭管道无泄爆时,在距点火端1.5 m左右爆燃转为爆轰;泄爆口的位置对管道内氢气-空气预混气体的爆炸参数有重要影响,泄爆口位于管道中部时,能降低管道内爆轰超压,泄爆效果较好;位于管道中部单个泄爆口泄爆时,有效降低爆轰超压,管道中部设置2个泄爆口时,能通过压力和混合气体的泄放将管道中已经发生的爆轰衰减为爆燃;当有3个泄爆口泄爆时,管道中没有发生爆轰,达到良好的泄爆效果。     

大尺度障碍物与泄爆面对天然气内爆炸的协同作用规律研究

为阐释民用建筑内部大尺度物品与门窗等泄爆面对天然气爆炸灾害的协同作用机制，基于典型厨房空间布局及内部物品特征，借助计算流体动力学技术研究了不同泄爆面开启压力和不同大尺度障碍物体积阻塞率条件下天然气内爆炸火焰速度、爆炸超压的分布规律。研究结果表明:大尺度障碍物与泄爆面对室内天然气爆炸过程具有显著的协同作用，共同促进火焰速度与爆炸超压的显著增长，并缩短峰值超压到达时间；大尺度障碍物的存在虽然显著降低了室内天然气的体积，但从增加房间内湍流源和相对长径比的角度进一步促进了泄爆效应；大尺度障碍物与泄爆面协同作用下，室内火焰速度呈现明显的阶段性特征，并在泄爆面附近发生波动。研究结论可为民用建筑物内气体爆炸事故调查分析和灾害评估提供科学依据。     

瓦斯爆炸后空间温度分布及热危害区域分析研究

为了获得瓦斯爆炸引发次生灾害的特性参数，建立了超压预测模型及爆炸后空气温度衰减模型，并结合实验数据进行了验证。结果表明:依据所建立的超压修正模型，不同浓度和体积下的超压在爆源附近呈对数形式快速下降，之后缓慢趋向平稳；基于模型修正的爆炸超压计算公式，能够很好的对各个情形的瓦斯爆炸超压进行计算，吻合较好。对初始瓦斯体积相对较小的情形吻合度很高，对于初始体积大的瓦斯爆炸超压在100 m附近会出现一定误差，但有一定指导意义。瓦斯爆炸热危害区域的研究，对瓦斯爆炸次生灾害的防治工作具有重要意义。