Explosibility of fine graphite and tungsten dusts and their mixtures

To evaluate the explosion hazard of ITER-relevant dusts, a standard method of 20-l-sphere was used to measure the explosion indices of fine graphite and tungsten dusts and their mixtures. The effect of dust particle size was studied on the maximum overpressures, maximum rates of pressure rise, and lower explosive concentrations of graphite dusts in the range 4 μm to 45 μm. The explosion indices of 1 μm tungsten dust and its mixtures with 4 μm graphite dust were measured. The explosibility of these dusts and mixtures were evaluated. The dusts tested were ranked as St1 class. Dust particle size was shown to be very important for explosion properties. The finest graphite dust appeared to have the lowest minimum explosion concentration and be able to explode with 2 kJ ignition energy.     

Ignitability characteristics of aluminium and magnesium dusts that are generated during the shredding of post-consumer wastes

The authors investigated the ignitability of aluminium and magnesium dusts that are generated during the shredding of post-consumer waste. The relations between particle size and the minimum explosive concentration, the minimum ignition energy, the ignition temperature of the dust clouds, etc. the relation between of oxygen concentration and dust explosion, the effect of inert substances on dust explosion, etc. were studied experimentally.

The minimum explosive concentration increased exponentially with particle size. The minimum explosive concentrations of the sample dusts were about 170 g/m³ (aluminium: 0–8 μm) and 90 g/m³ (magnesium: 0–20 μm). The minimum ignition energy tended to increase with particle size. It was about 6 mJ for the aluminium samples and 4 mJ for the magnesium samples. The ignition temperature of dust clouds was about 750 °C for aluminium and about 520 °C for magnesium. The lowest concentrations of oxygen to produce a dust explosion were about 10% for aluminium and about 8% for magnesium. A large mixing ratio (more than about 50%) of calcium oxide or calcium carbonate was necessary to decrease the explosibility of magnesium dust. The experimental data obtained in the present investigation will be useful for evaluating the explosibility of aluminium and magnesium dusts generated in metal recycling operations and thus for enhancing the safety of recycling plants.     

瓦斯对煤尘爆炸特性影响的实验研究

瓦斯的存在对煤尘爆炸特性的理论计算和数值仿真的结果与实际数据有一定差距,因此,通过不同浓度瓦斯与煤尘共存条件下爆炸实验研究,得出了矿井瓦斯对煤尘的最低着火温度、最小点火能量、爆炸下限浓度、最大爆炸压力和最大爆炸压力上升速度等爆炸特性影响的规律即瓦斯对煤尘最低着火温度影响不大;瓦斯可使煤尘的最小点火能量减小,尤其是对难于点燃的煤尘;混合物的爆炸下限浓度随瓦斯浓度的增加而降低;混合物的最大爆炸压力上升速度由于瓦斯的存在而增强,而最大爆炸压力几乎没有变化。同时研究了瓦斯对无爆炸性煤尘的影响。实验研究的结论对于现场防止煤尘爆炸的发生具有指导意义。     

Explosibility of cork dust in methane/air mixtures

Explosibility studies of hybrid methane/air/cork dust mixtures were carried out in a near-spherical 22.7 L explosibility test chamber, using 2500 J pyrotechnic ignitors. The suspension dust burned as methane/air/dust clouds and the uniformity of the cork dust dispersion inside the chamber was evaluated through optical dust probes and during the explosion the pressure and the temperature evolution inside the reactor were measured. Tested dust particles had mass median diameter of 71.3 μm and the covered dust cloud concentration was up to 550 g/m³. Measured explosions parameters included minimum explosion concentration, maximum explosion pressures and maximum rate of pressure rise. The cork dust explosion behavior in hybrid methane/air mixtures was studied for atmospheres with 1.98 and 3.5% (v/v) of methane. The effect of methane content on the explosions characteristic parameters was evaluated. The conclusion is that the risk and explosion danger rises with the increase of methane concentration characterized by the reduction of the minimum dust explosion concentration, as methane content increases in the atmosphere. The maximum explosion pressure is not very much sensitive to the methane content and only for the system with 3.5% (v/v) of methane it was observed an increase of maximum rate of pressure rise, when compared with the value obtained for the air/dust system.     

When solids meet solids: A glimpse into dust mixture explosions

Mixing an inert solid or a less flammable compound with a combustible dust can be regarded as a direct application of the inherent safety principle of moderation. An experimental investigation was carried out to determine the evolution of the ignition sensitivity and the explosion severity of such various mixtures as a function of their compositions. It demonstrates that the introduction of small amounts of highly combustible powders (such as sulphur or nicotinic acid) to a less flammable dust (such as microcrystalline cellulose or carbon black) can strongly influence the ignition sensitivity as well as the explosion severity.It has notably been shown that the ignition sensitivity of solid/solid mixtures significantly rises up when only 10–5%wt. of highly flammable dust is introduced. Simple models can often be applied to estimate the minimum ignition energy, minimum ignition temperature and minimum explosive concentration of such mixtures. Concerning the dust explosivity, three cases have been studied: mixtures of combustibles dusts without reaction, dusts with reactions between the powders, combustible dusts with inert solid. If the evolution of the maximum explosion pressure can be estimated by using thermodynamic calculations, the maximum rate of pressure rise is more difficult to predict with simple models, and both combustion kinetics and hydrodynamics of the dust clouds should be taken into account. These results were also extended to flammable dust/solid inertant mixture. They clearly show that the concentration of solid inertant at which the ignition is not observed anymore could reach 95%wt. As a consequence, the common recommendation of solid inertant introduction up to 50–80%wt. to prevent dust explosion/ignition should be reconsidered.     

On the explosion and flammability behavior of mixtures of combustible dusts

In the work presented in this paper, the explosion and flammability behavior of combustible dust mixtures was studied. Lycopodium, Nicotinic acid and Ascorbic acid were used as sample dusts.In the case of mixtures of two dusts, the minimum explosive concentration is reproduced well by a Le Chatelier's rule-like formula, whereas the minimum ignition energy is a linear combination of the ignition energies of the pure dusts.An unexpected behavior has been found in relation to the explosion behavior and the reactivity. When mixing Lycopodium and Nicotinic acid or Ascorbic acid, the rate of pressure rise of the mixture is much higher than the rate of pressure rise obtained by linearly averaging the values of the pure dusts (according to their weight proportions), thus suggesting that strong synergistic effects arise; but it is comparable to that of the most reactive dust in the mixture.The observed behavior seems to be linked to the presence of minerals in the Lycopodium particles which catalyze oxidation reactions of Nicotinic acid and Ascorbic acid, as suggested by TG analysis.In the case of mixtures of three dusts, a similar behavior is observed when the concentration of Lycopodium is twice that of the other two dusts.     

Experimental investigation of the influence of inert solids on ignition sensitivity of organic powders

This work presents the results of the experimental characterization of the ignition sensitivity of solid inertant/combustible powders mixtures. Three inert solids (alumina, Kieselguhr, aerosil) and eleven organic powders have been considered and the following parameters have been determined: (1) the minimum ignition energy, (2) the minimum ignition temperature in cloud and (3) the minimum ignition temperature in 5 mm layer. The effects of the addition of inert solids are described and a simple model is proposed to represent the experimental results.Generally, increasing inert solid content in a powder leads to a higher minimum ignition energy as well as a higher minimum ignition temperatures in cloud and in layer. In some cases, the flammability is influenced above a threshold concentration value, which can be quite high (up to 85 wt.%). Indeed, the proposed model shows a zone below the minimum ignition concentration (MIC), which does not enable an efficient or safe inerting: either the admixed inert solid does not provide a sufficient effect, or it can even facilitate the ignition of the dust by notably improving its dispersability.The influence of key parameters such as the thermal conductivity or optical properties on the efficiency of the inerting by admixed solid need to be further assessed in a future work in view to better understand the mechanisms involved and to extend the scope to other types of oxidizable materials.     

混合金属粉尘爆炸最小点火能量影响因素研究*

为探究混合金属粉尘爆炸危险性及与单一粉体爆炸特性差异，确保车间安全生产，采用粉尘云点火能量测试系统对车间混合金属粉尘及铝粉最小点火能量在不同影响因素下的变化规律及2种粉尘火焰变化特征进行测试。研究结果表明:混合金属粉尘和铝粉最小点火能量在一定范围内（38~96 μm）与粒径呈正相关性，当混合金属粉尘粒径大于75 μm时，所需最小点火能量大于1 000 mJ，其爆炸敏感性迅速降低，此时铝粉仍有较强爆炸敏感性；2种粉尘最小点火能量随质量浓度增加呈先降低后升高的趋势，最小点火能分别为295，15 mJ，对应的敏感质量浓度为600，1 000 g/m3，混合金属粉尘在质量浓度为500~700 g/m3时具有较大爆炸危险性；同铝粉相比，混合金属粉尘点火能量更高、火焰燃烧时间更短、火焰高度更低、爆炸剧烈程度更弱。     

戊唑醇粉尘最小点火能试验研究

采用1.2 L哈特曼管爆炸装置分别对粒径小于54μm、74μm、150μm及大于150μm的戊唑醇粉尘进行测试。针对戊唑醇粉尘浓度及粒径范围对其最小点火能的影响,分别进行单因素试验,并对其危险性进行分级。结果表明,保持粒径小于150μm,环境温度为20℃,喷粉压力为0.7 MPa,在质量浓度100~1 300 g/m~3之间,戊唑醇粉尘的最佳敏感质量浓度ρ_m为983.71 g/m~3,此时的最小点火能为404.74 mJ。保持戊唑醇粉尘质量浓度为900 g/m~3,环境温度为20℃,喷粉压力为0.7 MPa不变,粒径小于54μm、74μm、150μm及大于150μm的戊唑醇粉尘的最小点火能分别为10 mJ、100 mJ、400 mJ和1 000 mJ以上。因此,判定戊唑醇粉尘最小点火能属于M2级,为特别着火敏感性。     

玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸危险性研究

为研究玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸危险性,采用哈特曼管式爆炸测试装置和20 L球爆炸测试装置对200目(<75μm)以下的玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸危险性进行评估,基于静电火花和粉尘质量浓度对粉尘爆炸的影响,对玉米淀粉的静电火花最小点火能量、爆炸下限质量浓度、最大爆炸压力和爆炸指数进行了研究,根据试验结果对玉米淀粉爆炸危险性进行分级。试验结果表明:温度在25℃,喷粉压力为0.80 MPa,粉尘质量浓度在250～750 g/m3范围内,粉尘的最小点火能量随着粉尘质量浓度增加而降低,其最小点火能量在40～80 mJ之间;在点火能量为10 kJ时,粉尘爆炸下限质量浓度在50～60 g/m3之间;在粉尘质量浓度为750 g/m3时,爆炸压力达到最大,为0.66 MPa;在粉尘质量浓度为500 g/m3时,爆炸指数达到最大,为17.21 MPa.m/s,其粉尘爆炸危险性分级为Ⅰ级。     

Determination of explosion parameters of methane-air mixtures in the chamber of 40 dm3 at normal and elevated temperature

The experimental results of the measurements of the explosion pressure and rate of explosion pressure rise as a function of molar methane concentration in the mixture with air in the 40 dm³ explosion chamber are presented. The research was aimed at determination of the explosion limits, according to the EU Standard. The influence of initial temperature of the mixture (changing in the range of 293–473 K) on the fundamental explosion parameters was also investigated. The ignition source was an induction electrical spark of the power equal to approximately 10 W. It was stated, that the increase of initial temperature of the methane-air mixture causes a significant increase of the explosion range.     

小麦淀粉粉尘爆炸特性参数的研究

采用哈特曼管式爆炸测试装置和20L球爆炸测试装置对小麦淀粉粉尘爆炸特性参数进行评估,对粒度小于75μm的样品的爆炸危险性参数进行测试,得出了一定条件下的小麦淀粉对静电火花的敏感程度以及其爆炸的猛烈程度,进而对其爆炸危险性程度进行分级。结果表明,温度在25℃,喷粉压力为0.70MPa,小麦淀粉的最小点火能量在40~80mJ;在点火能量为10 kJ时,最大爆炸压力为0.60MPa,最大爆炸指数为7.87MPa.m/s,其粉尘爆炸危险性为Ⅰ级。     

苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘爆炸特性研究

采用MIE-D1.2型最小点火能测试装置及20 L球型粉尘爆炸测试装置,对苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘的爆炸特性进行研究。结果表明,过74μm、58μm、47μm孔径筛的粉尘对静电火花敏感,其最小点火能表征值分别为610 mJ、361 mJ、201 mJ。随粉尘质量浓度增加,最小点火能呈现先减小后增加的规律。随粉尘粒径减小,最小点火能与粉尘质量浓度变化关系曲线向低粉尘质量浓度和低点火能量方向偏移,且对应的最敏感爆炸质量浓度从500 g/m~3降至200 g/m~3。随粉尘质量浓度增加,过147μm、74μm、47μm孔径筛的苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘爆炸压力及爆炸压力上升速率呈现先增加后减小趋势。在相同粉尘质量浓度下,中位径小于74μm的苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘,粉尘的爆炸压力增幅明显减小。苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘爆炸下限质量浓度为25 g/m~3,最大爆炸指数为14.636 MPa·m/s,爆炸危险等级划分为St1。     

Influence of the ignition source location on the determination of the explosion pressure at elevated initial pressures

Explosion pressures are determined for rich methane–air mixtures at initial pressures up to 30 bar and at ambient temperature. The experiments are performed in a closed spherical vessel with an internal diameter of 20 cm. Four different igniter positions were used along the vertical axis of the spherical vessel, namely at 1, 6, 11 and 18 cm from the bottom of the vessel. At high initial pressures and central ignition a sharp decrease in explosion pressures is found upon enriching the mixture, leading to a concentration range with seemingly low explosion pressures. It is found that lowering the ignition source substantially increases the explosion pressure for mixtures inside this concentration range, thereby implying that central ignition is unsuitable to determine the explosion pressure for mixtures approaching the flammability limits.     

Experiments on the influence of pre-ignition turbulence on vented gas and dust explosions

Experiments were performed on the influence of pre-ignition turbulence on the course of vented gas and dust explosions. A vertical cylindrical explosion chamber of approximately 100 l volume and a length-to-diameter ratio (l/d) of 4.7 consisting of a steel bottom segment and three glass sections connected by steel flanges was used to perform the experiments. Sixteen small fans evenly distributed within the chamber produced turbulent fluctuations from 0 to 0.45 m/s. A Laser-Doppler-anemometer (LDA) was used to measure the flow and turbulence fields. During the experiments the pressure and in the case of dust explosions the dust concentration were measured. In addition, the flame propagation was observed by a high-speed video camera. A propane/nitrogen/oxygen mixture was used for the gas explosion experiments, while the dust explosions were produced by a cornstarch/air mixture.It turned out that the reduced explosion pressure increased with increasing turbulence intensity. This effect was most pronounced for small vents with low activation pressures, e.g. for bursting disks made from polyethylene foil. In this case, the overpressure at an initial turbulence of 0.45 m/s was twice that for zero initial turbulence.     

Risk assessment of the ignitability and explosivity of aluminum nanopowders

Previously, an extensive study has been carried out in order to assess the ignition sensitivity and explosivity of aluminum nanopowders. It showed notably that, as the particle size decreases, minimum ignition temperature and minimum ignition energy decrease, indicating higher potential inflammation. However, the explosion severity decreases for diameters lower than 1 μm. As a consequence, this study leads to the conclusions that the ignition sensitivity and explosion severity of aluminum nanopowders may be affected by various phenomena, as pre-ignition, agglomeration/aggregation degree and the intrinsic alumina content. The presence of wall-quenching effects and the predominance of radiation compared to conduction in the flame propagation process have to be discussed to ensure the validity of the 20 L sphere and of the results extrapolation. Based on the peculiar behaviours that had been previously highlighted, a specific risk analysis has been developed in order to assess the fire and explosion risks of such materials. It has been applied to an industrial plant of aluminum nanopowders production. The hazard identification and the consequence modelling steps, especially the quantification of the likelihood and consequences, have been designed specifically. The application of this method has led to the definition of the most adequate safety barriers.     

Flammability of hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide mixtures

The effect of carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration on the ignition behaviour of hydrocarbon and CO₂ gas mixtures is examined in both jets and confined explosions. Results from explosion tests are presented using a 20 l explosion sphere and an 8 m long section of 1.04 m diameter pipeline. Experiments to assess the flame stability and ignition probability in free-jets are reported for a range of different release velocities. An empirically-based flammability factor model for free-jets is also presented and results are compared to ignition probability measurements previously reported in the literature and those resulting from the present tests.The results help to understand how CO₂ changes the severity of fires and explosions resulting from hydrocarbon releases. They also demonstrate that it is possible to ignite gas mixtures when the mean concentration is outside the flammable range. This information may be useful for risk assessments of offshore platforms involved in carbon sequestration or enhanced oil recovery, or in assessing the hazards posed by poorly-inerted hydrocarbon processing plant.     

基于缓和原则的粉尘爆炸风险控制研究

为了将本质安全原理中的缓和原则与粉尘爆炸事故的风险控制联系起来,利用Swiek20 L球形爆炸装置考察了烟煤粉、甘薯粉和镁粉的最大爆炸压力、最大爆压上升速率和爆炸下限等特性,重点考察了点火能量、环境压力以及添加惰化剂等因素的影响。结果表明:降低点火能量能有效缩减粉尘可燃浓度范围,提高粉尘爆炸下限;爆炸危害正相关于环境压力;碳酸钙和碳酸氢钠能有效抑制烟煤尘爆炸,且碳酸钙抑爆效果更好;氯化钾对镁尘爆炸动力学特性的抑制效果更好,而碳酸钙对镁尘爆炸热力学特性的抑制效果更好,且小粒径的惰化剂表现出更好的抑爆炸能力。降低点火能量、控制环境压力和添加惰化剂均可降低粉尘爆炸危害,有助于控制粉尘爆炸风险。     

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.     

Dynamics of dust dispersion from the layer behind the propagating shock wave

The aim of the research was to investigate experimentally the process of dust lifting from a layer. The delay in lifting the dust from the layer behind the propagating shock wave and the vertical velocity of the dust cloud were calculated from the dust concentration measurements. Quantitative relations between those measurements and the parameters of the gas flow are presented. The results were compared with those obtained from the analysis of the frame pictures of the process. The pictures were made by using a high-speed camera working together with a Schlieren system. The measurements of the dust concentration behind the propagating shock wave are presented and analysed.The research was carried out for two selected dusts: black coal dust and silicon dust, and for different initial conditions: three shock wave velocities: 450, 490 and 518 m/s and three dust layer thickness equal to 0.1, 0.4 and 0.8 mm. Measurement results of the mean vertical component of dust cloud velocity between the layer and the first laser beam will be used in a new model, where the dust dispersing process is modelled as an injection of the dust from the layer. The dust concentration measurements will be very useful for validation of the model.