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。     

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.     

受限空间网状高分子材料抑制油气爆炸实验研究

为研究新型网状高分子材料对油气爆炸的抑制作用,搭建了狭长受限空间油气爆炸抑制实验系统,进行了油气爆炸抑制实验,通过对比是否按留空率规范填充抑爆材料所达到的3种工况,分析了爆炸超压值、升压速率、火焰强度和火焰持续时间等特性参数变化情况。实验结果表明:新型网状高分子材料对油气爆炸产生的最大爆炸超压值、升压速率和火焰强度有明显的抑制作用;新型网状高分子材料对火焰的传播有明显的阻滞作用,使火焰传播速度减小;当新型材料按照规范填充时,最大爆炸超压值和升压速率分别下降了84.36%和 39.18%以上,火焰被完全熄灭,并且距离点火端越远,抑爆效果越明显。     

Analysis of the boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) of a liquefied natural gas road tanker: The Zarzalico accident

The road accident of a tanker transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) originated a fire and, finally, the BLEVE of the tank. This accident has been analyzed, both from the point of view of the emergency management and the explosion and fireball effects. The accidental sequence is described: fire, LNG release, further safety valves release, flames impingement on vessel unprotected wall, vessel failure mode, explosion and fireball. According to the effects and consequences observed, the thermal radiation and overpressure are estimated; a mathematical model is applied to calculate the probable mass contained in the vessel at the moment of the explosion. The peak overpressure predicted from two models is compared with the values inferred from the accident observed data. The emergency management is commented.     

开口钢管内甲烷爆炸火焰厚度和压力发展特征

通过搭建长为20m、截面为0.08m×0.08m的非绝热开口钢管,研究了甲烷与空气预混气体发生爆炸后的火焰和压力发展特征。实验结果表明:火焰信号最强的时刻对应于火焰前锋反应区内某时刻,而火焰信号起始上升时刻与火焰前锋预热区起始时刻接近,应选择某点火焰信号起始上升时刻作为该点的火焰到达时间。随着远离点火源距离的增加,火焰厚度呈现先变薄后变厚的变化趋势,最大超压呈现先减小、后增大、再减小的趋势,火焰传播速度则呈先增大后减小的变化过程。非绝热开口钢管的实验条件对爆炸超压和火焰传播速度的影响较大。研究成果可为甲烷爆炸致灾机制及防控的研究提供参考。     

Estimation of turbulent flame speed during DME/air premixed gaseous explosions

DME is thought to be a good alternative fuel due to its cleanliness and more excellent fuel economy. Although the prediction and loss prevention of flammability hazard is very important for safety of DME installations, the evaluation method with sufficient accuracy has not been established. In this study, a numerical combustion model is constructed and a 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of a premixed DME/air explosion in a large-scale domain is conducted. The main feature of the numerical model is the solution of a transport equation for the reaction progress variable using a function for turbulent flame velocity which characterizes the turbulent regime of propagation of free flames derived by introducing the fractal theory. The model enables the calculation of premixed gaseous explosion without using fine mesh of the order of micrometer, which would be necessary to resolve the details of all instability mechanisms. The value of the empirical constant contained in the function for turbulent flame velocity is evaluated by analyzing the experimental data of LPG/air and DME/air premixed explosions. The comparison of flame behavior between the experimental result and numerical simulation shows good agreement.     

Study of the influence of melamine polyphosphate and aluminum hydroxide on the flame propagation and explosion overpressure of aluminum magnesium alloy dust

When aluminum magnesium alloy dust floats in the air, a certain ignition energy can easily cause an accidental explosion. To prevent and control the occurrence of accidental explosions and reduce the severity of accidents, it is necessary to carry out research on the explosion suppression of aluminum magnesium alloy dust. This paper uses a vertical glass tube experimental device and a 20 L spherical explosive experimental device to carry out experimental studies on the suppression of the flame propagation and explosion overpressure of aluminum magnesium alloy dust with melamine polyphosphate (MPP) and Al(OH)₃. With increasing MPP and Al(OH)₃ concentrations, the flame brightness darkened, the flame velocity and propagation distance gradually decreased, and P_max and (dp/dt)_max decreased significantly. When the amount of MPP added reached 60%, the flame propagation distance decreased to 188 mm, which is a decrease of 68%, and the explosion overpressure decreased to 0.014 MPa, effectively suppressing the explosion of aluminum magnesium alloy dust. The experimental results showed that MPP was more effective than Al(OH)₃ in inhibiting the flame propagation and explosion overpressure of the aluminum magnesium alloy dust. Finally, the inhibitory mechanisms of the MPP and Al(OH)₃ were further investigated. The MPP and Al(OH)₃ endothermic decomposition produced an inert gas, diluted the oxygen concentration and trapped active radicals to terminate the combustion chain reaction.     

Propane-air mixture deflagration hazard with different ignition positions and restraints in large-scale venting chamber

In order to better assess the hazards of explosion accidents, propane-air mixture deflagrations were conducted in a large-scale straight rectangular chamber (with a cross-section of 1.5 m × 1.5 m, length of 10 m, and total volume of 22.5 m³). The effect of initial volume, ignition position, and initial restraints on the explosion characteristics of the propane-air mixtures was investigated. The explosion overpressure, flame propagation, and flame speed were obtained and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software was used to simulate the flame-propagation process and field flow for auxiliary analysis. The hazards of large-scale propagation explosion under weak and strong constraints were evaluated and the different phases of flame propagation under weak and strong constraints were discriminated. Results indicate that the hazards caused by propane deflagration under weak constraint are mainly caused by flame spread. And the maximum overpressure under strong constraint appeared at the front part of the chamber under the large-scale condition, which is consistent with the previous small-scale test. Moreover, the simulations of flame structures under weak and strong constraint are in good agreement with experimental results, which furthers the understanding of large-scale propane deflagration under different initial conditions in large-scale spaces and provides basic data for three-dimensional CFD model improvement.     

Experimental study on methane explosion characteristics with different types of porous media

Porous media has a significant effect on flame and overpressure of methane explosion. In this paper, the pore diameter and thickness of porous media are studied. Nine experimental combinations of different pore diameter and thickness on the propagation of flame and overpressure of methane explosion in a tube are analyzed. The results show that the porous media not only can suppress the explosive flame propagation, but the porous media with large pore diameter can cause deflagration and accelerate the transition of flame from laminar to turbulent. The pore diameter of the porous media mainly determines the quenching of the flame. Simply increasing the thickness of porous media may cause the flame to temporarily stop propagating, but the flame is not completely extinguished for larger pore diameter. However, the deflagration propagation speed of flame is affected by the thickness. The attenuation of overpressure by porous media is mainly reflected in reducing the duration of overpressure and the peak value of overpressure. The smaller the pore diameter, the greater the thickness, and the more remarkable the reduction in overpressure duration and peak value. Suitable pore diameter and thickness of porous media can effectively suppress flame propagation and reduce the maximum value and duration of overpressure.     

Effects of cross-wise obstacle position on methane–air deflagration characteristics

A vented chamber, with internal dimensions of 150 mm × 150 mm × 500 mm, is constructed in which the premixed methane–air deflagration flame, propagating away from the ignition source, interacts with obstacles along its path. Three obstacle configurations with different cross-wise positions are investigated. The cross-wise obstacle positions are found to have significant effects on deflagration characteristics, such as flame structure, flame front location, flame speed, and overpressure transients. The rate of flame acceleration, as the flame passes over the last obstacle, is the highest at the configuration with three centrally located obstacles, whereas the lowest is observed at the configuration with three obstacles mounted on one side of the chamber. Compared with the side configuration, the magnitude of overpressure generated increases by approximately 80% and 165% for the central and staggered configurations, respectively. Furthermore, flame propagation speeds and generated overpressures for both the central and staggered configurations are greater, which should to be avoided to reduce the risk associated with turbulent premixed deflagrations in practical processes.     

密闭空间内天然气混合及爆炸传播规律研究

为研究密闭容器内甲烷-空气不均匀分布对混合气体燃烧的影响,将数值模拟和实验相结合,发现在重力作用下混合气体浓度分布不均匀,长径比越大的容器,混合气体浓度分布梯度越大。混合气体浓度分布影响气体火焰传播规律。宏观浓度为5%的甲烷与空气混合后,容器上部甲烷浓度高于5%,在该处点火时非均匀混合甲烷-空气火焰传播较快,非均匀混合气体的爆炸压力比均匀混合气体压力上升快,且分层混合气体的超压峰值高于均匀混合气体的值。由于浓度分布不均匀,点火位置影响甲烷/空气火焰传播的规律。     

加气站压缩机间气体爆炸数值模拟研究

加气站压缩机间安全设计时,需要评估内部气体爆炸危害,确定爆炸能量和影响因素。采用CFD技术,建立加气站压缩机间三维模型,模拟不同点火源位置、泄压板不同泄压压力和重量下,压缩机间气体爆炸时的爆炸压力及火焰传播行为。结果表明点火源位置以及泄压参数是影响加气站压缩机间气体爆炸的重要因素;点火源位置距离压缩机间放空位置越近,爆炸压力越小;对于泄压参数,爆炸压力与泄压板开启压力和重量之间均为正比关系。为减缓压缩机间内的气体爆炸危害,需要合理布置点火源位置,选择容重轻、泄压压力小的泄压材料,并同时需要考虑爆炸导致的物体破碎危害以及火焰次生灾害。     

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.     

Fire and explosion hazard analysis during surface transport of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG): A case study of LPG truck tanker accident in Kannur,Kerala, India

This paper presents an analysis and simulation of an accident involving a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) truck tanker in Kannur, Kerala, India. During the accident, a truck tanker hit a divider and overturned. A crack in the bottom pipe caused leakage of LPG for about 20 min forming a large vapor cloud, which got ignited, creating a fireball and a boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion (BLEVE) situation in the LPG tank with subsequent fire and explosion. Many fatalities and injuries were reported along with burning of trees, houses, shops, vehicles, etc. In the present study, ALOHA (Area Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) and PHAST (Process Hazard Analysis Software Tool) software have been used to model and simulate the accident scenario. Modeling and simulation results of the fireball, jet flame radiation and explosion overpressure agree well with the actual loss reported from the site. The effects of the fireball scenario were more significant in comparison to that of the jet fire scenario.     

沸腾液体扩展蒸气爆炸机理及相关计算理论模型研究

剖析了沸腾液体扩展蒸气爆炸 (BLEVE)的发生、发展过程 ,阐述了其机理及相关条件 ,研究并提出了两种BLEVE火球热辐射模拟计算理论模型 ,即近地面和抬升火球模型 ,以及爆炸超压模型。与有关实验结果比较和与已有模型的对比计算表明了所建模型的有效性     

Effects of hydrogen addition on propagation characteristics of premixed methane/air flames

An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the effects of hydrogen addition on the fundamental propagation characteristics of methane/air premixed flames at different equivalence ratios in a venting duct. The hydrogen fraction in the methane–hydrogen mixture was varied from 0 to 1 at equivalence ratios of 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2. The results indicate that the tendency towards flame instability increased with the fraction of hydrogen, and the premixed hydrogen/methane flame underwent a complex shape change with the increasing hydrogen fraction. The tulip flame only formed when the fraction of hydrogen ranged from 0 to 50% at an equivalence ratio of 0.8. It was also found that the flame front speed and the overpressure increased significantly with the hydrogen fraction. For all equivalence ratios, the stoichiometric flame (Φ = 1.0) has the shortest time of flame propagation and the maximum overpressure.     

5种结构障碍物对火焰传播影响的试验研究

为了研究障碍物结构对预混甲烷管道内火焰传播速度和峰值超压的影响,自行设计一套火焰加速系统。在火焰加速管道上安装光电传感器和压力传感器分别测定火焰传播速度和超压,试验中选取5种结构障碍物,即平板、长方体、三棱柱、四棱柱和圆柱,其阻塞比分别为20%,40%和60%3种。研究结果表明:初始阶段障碍物阻碍火焰传播,当火焰越过障碍物后,障碍物能显著加速火焰传播。随着阻塞比增加,相同结构障碍物的火焰传播速度总体上不断增加,而峰值超压先变大后减小。相同阻塞比下,平板、三棱柱对火焰传播速度和超压影响相对较大;长方体居中;圆柱、四棱柱对增加火焰传播速度和超压作用相对较小。较小阻塞比障碍物管道内超压与无障碍物管道中的超压相比显著增加,但此后,管道中超压随阻塞比变化不明显。     

The explosion overpressure field and flame propagation of methane/air and methane/coal dust/air mixtures

The explosion of the methane/air mixture and the methane/coal dust/air mixture under 40 J center spark ignition condition was experimentally studied in a large-scale system of 10 m³ vessel. Five pressure sensors were arranged in space with different distances from the ignition point. A high-speed camera system was used to record the growth of the flame. The maximum overpressure of the methane/air mixture appeared at 0.75 m away from the ignition point; the thickness of the flame was about 10 mm and the propagation speed of the flame fluctuated around 2.5 m/s with the methane concentration of 9.5%. The maximum overpressure of the methane/coal dust/air mixture appeared at 0.5 m. The flame had a structure of three concentric zones from outside were the red zone, the yellow illuminating zone and the bright white illuminating zone respectively; the thickness and the propagation speed of the flame increased gradually, the thickness of red zone and yellow illuminating zone reached 3.5 cm and 1 cm, the speed reached 9.2 m/s at 28 ms.     

The acceleration of flames in tube explosions with two obstacles as a function of the obstacle separation distance

The separation distance (or pitch) between two successive obstacles or rows of obstacles is an important parameter in the acceleration of flame propagation and increase in explosion severity. Whilst this is generally recognised, it has received little specific attention by investigators. In this work a vented cylindrical vessel 162 mm in diameter 4.5 m long was used to study the effect of separation distance of two low blockage (30%) obstacles. The set up was demonstrated to produce overpressure through the fast flame speeds generated (i.e. in a similar mechanism to vapour cloud explosions). A worst case separation distance was found to be 1.75 m which produced close to 3 bar overpressure and a flame speed of about 500 m/s. These values were of the order of twice the overpressure and flame speed with a double obstacle separated 2.75 m (83 characteristic obstacle length scales) apart. The profile of effects with separation distance was shown to agree with the cold flow turbulence profile determined in cold flows by other researchers. However, the present results showed that the maximum effect in explosions is experienced further downstream than the position of maximum turbulence determined in the cold flow studies. It is suggested that this may be due to the convection of the turbulence profile by the propagating flame. The present results would suggest that in many previous studies of repeated obstacles the separation distance investigated might not have included the worst case set up, and therefore existing explosion protection guidelines may not be derived from worst case scenarios.     

LES – DFSD modelling of vented hydrogen explosions in a small-scale combustion chamber

Accidental explosions are a plausible danger to the chemical process industries. In the event of a gas explosion, any obstacles placed within the path of the flame generate turbulence, which accelerates the transient flame and raises explosion overpressure, posing a safety hazard. This paper presents numerical studies using an in-house computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for lean premixed hydrogen/air flame propagations with an equivalence ratio of 0.7. A laboratory-scale combustion chamber is used with repeated solid obstacles. The transient compressible large eddy simulation (LES) modelling technique combined with a dynamic flame surface density (DFSD) combustion model is used to carry out the numerical simulations in three-dimensional space. The study presented uses eight different baffle configurations with two solid obstructions, which have area blockage ratios of 0.24 and 0.5. The flame speed, maximum rate of pressure-rise as well as peak overpressure magnitude and timing are presented and discussed. Numerical results are validated against available published experimental data. It is concluded that, increasing the solid obstacle area blockage ratio and the number of consecutive baffles results in a raised maximum rate of pressure rise, higher peak explosion overpressure and faster flame propagation. Future model development would require more experimental data, probably in a more congested configuration.