Measurement and relationship between critical tube diameter and critical energy for direct blast initiation of gaseous detonations

For the explosion safety assessment in industrial setting, detonation dynamic parameters provide important information on the sensitivity and conditions whereby detonations can be favorably occurred. In this study, new measurement of the critical tube diameter and the critical energy for direct initiation of a detonation is reported for a number of hydrocarbon–oxygen mixtures. The simultaneous experimental measurement carried out in this work allows the investigation of the direct scaling between these two dynamic parameter quantities of gaseous detonations. Using the new set of data, this paper also assesses the validity of an existing semi-empirical initiation model, namely, the surface energy model by Lee, and a simplified work done model. Both phenomenological models provide a general relationship between the two dynamic detonation parameters and comparison shows a good agreement between the theoretical results and the experimental measurement. The scaling of critical tube diameter with detonation cell size in this study also confirms the results in the previous literature.     

Regimes and critical conditions of detonation propagation in expanding channels in gas suspensions of ultrafine aluminum particles

Under study are the regimes of detonation propagation in channels with linear expansion filled with monodisperse mixtures of oxygen and ultrafine aluminum particles of various loading; the methods of numerical simulations are used. The detonation combustion of submicron aluminum particles is described within the semi-empirical model of reduced kinetics with due regard to the transition from the diffusion-limited regime of combustion to the kinetic one. Waves of both planar and developed cellular detonation are considered as initial conditions. The characteristics of the main flow regimes are obtained and described: the subcritical (detonation failure), critical (detonation failure in some part of the channel) and supercritical (continuous detonation propagation). The maps of flow regimes in suspensions of 200-nm – 400-nm particles are presented in the plane of parameters: the channel width, expansion angle. The obtained critical conditions are similar to those observed in the gas detonation. The critical channel width linearly depends on the expansion angle up to a first critical value (35°–38°). Behind the second critical value (50°), the channel width is independent on the expansion angle. Between these values, there is an interval of nonmonotonicity similar to the detonation of micro-sized suspensions of aluminum particles. The effect of particle loading on the critical conditions in poor mixtures appears in the form of a sharp increase in the critical channel width, if the mass concentration falls below 0.25.     

非均质炸药冲击起爆临界判据中起爆参数的研究

以引信传爆序列中传爆管——主装药界面间的爆轰传递为例,研究了非均值炸药的冲击起爆理论,推导了飞片起爆和透射冲击起爆过程中爆轰界面的关键参数ｐ 和τ的计算关系式,对临界起爆能量的计算以及传爆序列的安全设计具有一定的指导意义。     

Detonation characteristics of ammonium nitrate and activated carbon mixtures

To better understand the detonation characteristics of ammonium nitrate (AN) and activated carbon (AC) mixtures, steel tube tests were carried out for AN/AC mixtures of various compositions and different forms of AN (powdered, prilled, phase stabilized and granular), and the detonation velocity was measured. The powdered AN/AC mixtures gave higher detonation velocities than the other AN forms. For all the AN/AC mixtures, the experimentally observed detonation velocities at each loading density were far below the theoretically predicted values calculated by the CHEETAH code based on thermohydrodynamics, exhibiting so-called non-ideal detonation. The lowest detonation velocity of powdered AN/AC mixtures was obtained as D=1.25 km/s for an AC content of 0.1 wt%. This was considered to be close to the critical condition for stable detonation.     

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.     

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。     

爆炸事故及预防

为了促进我国的爆炸安全研究工作更深入发展,本文列出了利用爆炸激波管技术测定氢气、汽油、铝粉等可爆性物质的爆炸特性。研究表明:这些可爆性物质在一定条件都能形成破坏力极大的爆轰现象。实验确定了氢、汽油和氧混合物的可爆(轰)极限、可燃性极限、混合物临界初始压力等爆炸临界条件。控制可爆性物质的初始条件不超过其爆炸临界条件,能够防止爆轰或爆燃现象发生;添加不参加反应的物质(如氩气、氮气、水蒸汽等)能够使已达到爆炸条件的混合物阻爆。本文的数据可供有关部门参考。     

几种碳氢燃料与空气混合物相对爆轰敏感度的测定

利用矩形激波管测定了几种碳氢燃料（丁烷，石脑油，ＪＣ５，戊烯，已烯）直接起爆时形成爆轰所需的临界起爆能，并以化学当量比的乙炔氧气混合物直接起爆形成爆轰的临界起爆能为基准，定义了一个无量纲常数Ｄｈ。再利用这个常数，比较了这几种燃料的相对爆轰敏感度。     

废弃火药在工业炸药中的再利用研究进展

介绍了废弃发射药及固体推进剂在工业炸药中的资源化利用技术,概述了含火药的粉状炸药、浆状炸药、乳化炸药、铵油炸药及灌注型炸药的爆轰性能,分析了各类炸药的工艺生产、使用及安全环保等特点。粉碎后的火药颗粒(Φ≤5 mm)可用于制备粉状炸药,也可利用现有的工业炸药生产工艺,将火药作为敏化剂加入浆状炸药、乳化炸药/乳化基质中,或将大颗粒火药直接与铵油炸药混合。这些方法工艺简单,且火药的加入有利于提高炸药的爆轰性能。尤其是含火药颗粒的灌注炸药生产工艺更简单、安全性更高,避免了火药粉碎工艺,废弃火药的再利用率高,而且炸药的爆轰性能优良,爆速大于6000 m/s,用作震源药柱或露天炸药等具有良好的应用前景。国内已成功地将废弃发射药再利用于工业炸药中,取得了良好的效益。借鉴国内外的研究成果,结合工业炸药的发展趋势,目前应重点进行废弃复合固体推进剂的应用研究。     

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。     

温压炸药弹内爆轰特性试验研究

研究温压炸药爆炸初期弹内爆炸波作用过程,可以进一步分析温压炸药分散爆轰的作用机理,为温压炸药武器设计和系统优化提供可靠依据.设计了用测时法研究温压炸药爆轰波传播速度的试验装置,并用探针对相同组分和密度条件下、温压战斗部弹内爆炸初期的爆炸作用过程进行了对比试验,记录了触发时间信号,计算并分析了温压炸药弹内爆炸波的传播特性,得到了波阵面与弹径方向夹角α的变化规律.试验结果表明,温压炸药的爆轰波传播速度为4.632km/s,其弹内爆轰波的传播特性与中心高能分散药的爆轰波有密切联系,通过合理设计弹体结构和比药量,可以实现温压炸药的分散爆轰,提高温压炸药的爆炸威力.     

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.     

Experimental investigation on shock waves generated by pressurized gas release through a tube

An experimental investigation on the flow structures and the strength of shock waves generated by high-pressure gas release through a tube into air was conducted. The results demonstrated that a leading shock wave was generated in front of the compressed gas jet and the shock wave speed increased firstly, then decreased and finally kept constant with an increase of the propagation distance in the tube. The experimentally measured Mach numbers of shock waves were close to those calculated from the theory of ideal shock tube flow. After spouting out of the tube, the normal shock quickly developed into a hemispherical shape. The Mach disk was observed in the under-expanded jet. For high-pressure combustible gas release, the concept of theoretical critical pressure of ignition was introduced and several theoretical critical pressures of common gaseous fuels were obtained.     

Determination of the critical length of the crack-like flaws and its effect on safety

Methodologies of API 579 have been widely accepted as the de-facto standard guideline for fitness for service assessment on crack-like flaws in pressure equipment. For different purposes and needs, the evaluation is divided into three levels, from critical length estimation in level 1, use of the failure analysis diagram (FAD) in level 2, to performing finite element stress analysis in level 3, that is from simplified to accurate. It is generally considered safe as long as the crack is smaller than the critical crack, but not all of them are actually the case. Therefore, it is very important to study the physical meaning behind the critical crack and understand the conservativeness of it.In this study, numerous examples of critical cracks determined according to API 579 Level 1 were put into Level 2 analysis for comparison. Each case is mapped onto the FAD of level 2 analysis to see its position and distance from the borderline between safe and danger zones. A huge amount of examples covering the majority of possible scenarios, including the geometry, thickness, inner diameter, pressure and half-length of the flaw, depth of the crack, crack tip and crack bottom, as a whole, there are 960 cases to be analyzed.Results show that cracks on the circumferential direction of the cylindrical and spherical vessels are distributed tightly in a small area far from the borderline on the FAD diagram. In these cases, the vessel is actually not as dangerous as the critical crack implies, since most of the points lie quite far from the danger zone. As for the longitudinal cracks of a cylindrical vessel, the results are scattered around, and three data points are located outside the allowable zone. The peculiar results are partly due to a discrepancy of interpolating procedure as the influence coefficient is being computed. Through this study, it is also found that the cumbersome process of estimating the critical crack length can be greatly simplified for longitudinal cracks in a cylindrical vessel.     

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.     

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.     

Research on the critical temperature of thermal decomposition for large cartridge emulsion explosives

Emulsion explosives are one type of main industrial explosives. The emergence of the large cartridge emulsion explosives has brought new security incidents. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and the accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) were selected for the preliminary investigation of the thermal stability of emulsion explosives. The results showed that the initial thermal decomposition temperatures were in the range of 232–239 °C in nitrogen atmosphere (220–232 °C in oxygen atmosphere) in DSC measurements and 216 °C in ARC measurements. The slow cook-off experiments were carried out to investigate the critical temperature of the thermal decomposition (T_c) of the large cartridge emulsion explosives. The results indicated that the larger the diameter of the emulsion explosives, the smaller the T_c is. For the large cartridge emulsion explosives with diameter of 70 mm, the T_c was 170 °C at the heating rate of 3 °C h⁻¹. It is a dangerous temperature for the production of the large cartridge emulsion explosives and it should cause our attention.     

惰性物对爆炸的遏制

利用爆炸激波管技术研究了部分惰性物对爆炸特性的影响。用多通道辐射高温计测量了氮气对汽油爆轰温度的影响。研究表明，增加氮气含量可以较明显地降低汽油爆轰温度。采用化学当量配比氢氧混合物爆轰产生水蒸气的方法研究了水蒸气对汽油爆轰特性的影响。研究表明，水蒸气能明显降低爆炸压力，水蒸气压力增加到0．1MPa时可导致爆炸熄灭；硝基甲烷和氧气混合物中充人氮气后爆炸压力明显下降，采用光多通道分析系统(OMA谱仪)和多台单色谱仪的光谱测量结果表明，反应中间产物的CH3O、CH辐射强度迅速衰减，反应衰竭。     

Effect of particle size and dust layer size on ignition characteristics of PMMA dust layer on hot surface

Deposition of combustible dust on a hot surface is a hidden danger of fire. In this work, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) dust was selected to analyse the influence of dust layer diameter, dust particle size and dust layer thickness on the ignition characteristics of PMMA dust layer. Critical heating temperatures and ignition time had been measured. The STA-GC/MS-FTIR analysis was used to determine that the main products of PMMA pyrolysis were MMA, CO, CO₂, and C₂H₄, of which CO and C₂H₄ were transported to the ambient to cause gas phase combustion on the surface of the dust layer. For 10 mm thick dust layer, the critical heating temperatures of 5 μm PMMA, 100 nm PMMA, and 30 μm PMMA were 300 °C, 330 °C, and 320 °C. As the thickness of the dust layer increased, the gas transport path became longer, the critical heating temperature and ignition time increased. The characteristic particle size (D [3,2]) was utilized to represent the true particle size, and the ignition time increased with the increase of the characteristic particle size. The increase in the diameter of the dust layer had a slight effect on the temperature history and ignition time of the dust layer.