Experimental investigation of gas explosion in single vessel and connected vessels

Gas explosion in connected vessels usually leads to high pressure and high rate of pressure increase which the vessels and pipes can not tolerate. Severe human casualties and property losses may occur due to the variation characteristics of gas explosion pressure in connected vessels. To determine gas explosion strength, an experimental testing system for methane and air mixture explosion in a single vessel, in a single vessel connected a pipe and in connected vessels has been set up. The experiment apparatus consisted of two spherical vessels of 350 mm and 600 mm in diameter, three connecting pipes of 89 mm in diameter and 6 m in length. First, the results of gas explosion pressure in a single vessel and connected vessels were compared and analyzed. And then the development of gas explosion, its changing characteristics and relevant influencing factors were analyzed. When gas explosion occurs in a single vessel, the maximum explosion pressure and pressure growth rate with ignition at the center of a spherical vessel are higher than those with ignition on the inner-wall of the vessel. In conclusion, besides ignition source on the inner wall, the ignition source at the center of the vessels must be avoided to reduce the damage level. When the gas mixture is ignited in the large vessel, the maximum explosion pressure and explosion pressure rising rate in the small vessel raise. And the maximum explosion pressure and pressure rising rate in connected vessels are higher than those in the single containment vessel. So whenever possible, some isolation techniques, such as fast-acting valves, rotary valves, etc., might be applied to reduce explosion strength in the integrated system. However, when the gas mixture is ignited in the small vessel, the maximum explosion pressures in the large vessel and in the small vessel both decrease. Moreover, the explosion pressure is lower than that in the single vessel. When gas explosion happens in a single vessel connected to a pipe, the maximum explosion pressure occurs at the end of the pipe if the gas mixture is ignited in the spherical vessel. Therefore, installing a pipe into the system can reduce the maximum explosion pressure, but it also causes the explosion pressure growth rate to increase.     

Experimental study on gas explosion and venting process in interconnected vessels

A pilot scale interconnected vessels experiment system was established, and the closed and vented gas explosion characteristics in the system were studied, using 10% methane–air mixture. Regularity of pressure variation in vessels and flame propagation in linked pipes was analyzed. Furthermore, the effects of transmission style, ignition position, pipe length, and initial pressure on explosion severity were discussed. For the closed explosion: explosion in interconnected vessels presents strongly destructive power to secondary vessel, especially transmission from the big vessel to the small one; the worst ignition position is shifting from ignition in the interconnected pipe to the walls of the two vessels; as far as ignition in big vessel is concerned, the peak pressure in secondary vessel increases with the pipe length much faster than that for ignition in small vessel; the peak pressures in two vessels are approximate linear functions of initial pressure. For the vented explosion: the transmission style and interconnected pipe length have significant impacts on the effect of venting on the protection; in order to obtain the better venting effect, the use of a divergent interconnected pipe from the big vessel to the small one in industry is advised and it is necessary to reduce the interconnected pipe length as far as possible or install flame arrester in the interconnected pipe.     

Effects of vacuum levels,carbon dioxide,and structural sizes of linked vessels on dump vessel vented

The method of explosion venting is widely used in industrial explosion-proof design due to its simple operation, economical and practical features. A dump vessel vented platform was built. By changing the vacuum level and the gas in the dump vessels and the structural size of linked vessels, the pressure in the explosion vessel and the dump vessel was compared, and the influencing factors of explosion venting investigated. The main conclusions are as follows: In the explosion venting process, the higher the vacuum in the dump vessel, the smaller the pressure peak of the explosion vessel and the dump vessel, and the faster the explosion pressure is lowered. When the dump vessel is under the same vacuum level and the gas in the dump vessel is CO₂, the maximum pressure of the explosion vessel and the dump vessel is less than the maximum pressure when the containment medium is air. Under the same vacuum condition, the larger the volume ratio of the dump vessel and the explosion vessel, the smaller the pressure peak of the explosion vessel, the faster the explosion pressure drops, and the volume of the dump vessel reaches or exceeds the explosion vessel. Increasing the volume ratio of the containment vessel to the explosion vessel facilitates protection of the explosion vessel and the containment vessel. Under the same vacuum condition, when the gas explosion in 113 L vessel vents into 22 L vessel, the longer the length of the pipe, the greater the maximum pressure in the spherical vessel. When the gas explosion in 22 L vessel vents into 113 L dump vessel, as the pipeline grows, the maximum pressure in the two vessels decreases, but the reduction is not significant. In practical application, it is recommended to use a vacuum of 0.08Mpa or more for the dump vessel vented, and the containment medium is CO_2.In terms of the structural size of the container, it is recommended that the ratio of the receiving container to the explosion container be as large as possible, and the pipe length be as long.     

初始压力对连通容器甲烷-空气混合物泄爆压力的影响

建立球形容器与管道、2个球形容器与管道组成的2种形式的连通容器试验装置,研究初始压力对连通容器甲烷-空气混合物泄爆压力的影响。结果表明:连通容器内泄爆超压随初始压力增加而增大,并与初始压力近似成线性关系;对于2个球形容器与管道组成的连通容器,起爆容器的泄爆超压始终小于传爆容器;泄爆方式和点火方式对连通容器泄爆超压有较大影响,大容器点火时,2个容器的泄爆压力差随初始压力增加而增大,但小容器点火时,2个容器的泄爆压力差随初始压力的增加变化较小;初始压力对不同结构和尺寸的连通容器的泄爆压力的影响不同,当令初始压力对大容器点火时,小容器内泄爆压力受影响最大,而当对单球形容器与管道组成的连通容器的小容器点火时,小容器内泄爆压力受影响最小。     

连通容器气体密闭爆炸与泄爆过程的实验研究

利用球型容器与管道组合,开展连通容器气体爆炸与泄爆实验,分析连通条件下,火焰在管道中的传播过程及其对起爆容器和传爆容器的压力影响。实验结果表明:连通容器气体爆炸中,火焰从起爆容器到传爆容器传播经历了一段不断加速,但加速度不断减小的过程;泄爆过程中,火焰传播过程与密闭爆炸时基本一致。管道中火焰加速传播,使得传爆容器的爆炸压力和强度相较于作为起爆容器时均明显增加,危险更大,采用与起爆容器相同的泄爆面积,无法满足对连通容器中传爆容器的泄爆。同时,泄爆是一个快速的能量泄放过程应选择合理的泄爆方式,防止二次危害。     

快开门式压力容器余压开门爆炸数值仿真研究

据统计,快开门式压力容器爆炸事故约占压力容器事故总数的三分之一,且带压开门是引起爆炸的主要原因,因此针对其安全开展相关研究具有重要的意义。基于此,该文建立了快开门式压力容器余压爆炸数值计算模型,并进行了数值计算。计算结果(包括压力分布、速度分布、温度分布等)能直观显示快开门式压力容器爆炸过程。数值结果与试验结果进行了对比,结果表明,该模型具有较高精度,可以有效的预测快开门式压力容器的开门余压爆炸。     

甲烷-空气预混气体泄爆过程的实验研究

对甲烷-空气预混气体在球形容器和球形管道连通容器内的泄爆过程进行实验研究,根据实验结果得出在较小的泄压面积时,与密闭容器爆炸实验比较,不能降低容器内的最大压力,反而会增大容器内的最大压力。通过实验结果分析,泄爆口安装在远离点火源的位置,当发生预混气体爆炸时能较好地降低容器内的最大压力,起到保护容器的作用。     

Numerical modelling of the effects of vessel length-to-diameter ratio (L/D) on pressure piling

Pressure piling presents a major explosion hazard in interconnected process vessels. Pressure enhancement in the secondary vessel due to the acceleration of the flame through the connecting pipe can generate a disproportionately more violent explosion than would have been expected based on the concentration of dust in the secondary vessel. Pressure piling is a very complex phenomenon that is difficult to investigate through experimentation. Advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling is a promising route to accurately account for all the complexities associated with pressure piling.In this paper, the current state of knowledge concerning pressure piling is presented. Further, the effects of varying the length-to-diameter ratio (L/D) of the primary vessel (Vessel 1) on pressure piling was investigated using numerical modelling. The volumes and volume ratio of the interconnected vessels were kept constant while the L/D of Vessel 1 was varied from 0.5 to 15. The simulations of coal dust explosion were performed using the coalChemistryFoam solver from OpenFOAM version 5.0.1. It is hoped that the findings from this study provide insight into the effects of the geometrical design of interconnected vessels, particularly L/D, on pressure piling. Additionally, this work has implications for the optimal placement of explosion isolation devices intended to actuate before the flame front and pressure escape to downstream vessels.     

Effect of spark duration on explosion parameters of methane/air mixtures in closed vessels

The paper outlines an experimental study on influence of the spark duration and the vessel volume on explosion parameters of premixed methane–air mixtures in the closed explosion vessels. The main findings from these experiments are: For the weaker ignition the spark durations in the range from 6.5 μs to 40.6 μs had little impact on explosion parameters for premixed methane–air mixtures in the 5 L vessel or 20 L vessel; For the same ignitions and volume fractions of methane in air the explosion pressures and the flame temperatures in both vessels of 5 L and 20 L were approximately the same, but the rates of pressure rises in both vessels of 5 L and 20 L were different; The explosion indexes obtained from the measured pressure time histories for both vessels of 5 L and 20 L were approximately equal; For the weaker ignition with the fixed spark duration 45 μs the ignition energies in the range from 54 mJ to 430 mJ had little impact on the explosion parameters; For the same ignition and the volume fractions of methane in air, the vessel volumes had a significant impact on the flame temperatures near the vessel wall; The flame temperatures near the vessel wall decreased as the vessel volumes increased.     

球接管容器气体爆炸尺寸效应的试验研究与数值分析

为了解尺寸对球形容器连接管道甲烷-空气混合物爆炸的影响规律,利用Fluent软件,采用κ-ε湍流模型、涡耗散模型(简称EDC模型)、壁面热耗散、热辐射模型及SIMPLE算法,建立了球形容器连接管道内甲烷-空气混合物爆炸的数值模型,对容器与管道内甲烷-空气预混气体爆炸的尺寸效应进行了数值模拟。结果表明:随管道内径增大,球形容器内最大爆炸压力逐渐增大,管道末端最大爆炸压力变化无明显规律;而随管道长度增加,球形容器内最大爆炸压力逐渐减小;改变管道内径,较大体积球形容器内最大爆炸压力均大于较小体积球形容器内最大爆炸压力,最大爆炸压力上升速率的规律则相反,容器体积对管道末端最大爆炸压力的影响无明显规律。     

A study on the obstacle-induced variation of the gas explosion characteristics

A study on the variation of the gas explosion characteristics caused by the built-in obstacles was conducted in enclosed/vented gas explosion vessels. It has been well known that the obstacles in pipes and long ducts would accelerate the flame propagation, and cause the transition from deflagration to detonation. In this study, the explosion characteristics and the flame behavior of vented explosions and constant-volume explosions were investigated. Experiments were carried out in a 270-liter and 36-liter hexahedron vessels filled with LPG–air mixture. The explosion characteristics of the gas mixture were determined by using a strain-responding pressure transducer. The flame behavior was recorded by using a high-speed video camera. The shape and the size of the obstacle, and the gas concentration, were adjusted in the experiments.

It can be seen from the experimental results that, instead of being accelerated, the flame propagation inside the explosion vessel is decelerated by the plate obstacles fixed at the bottom of the vessel. Also, the characteristics of the enclosed explosion are not so affected by the built-in obstacles as those of the vented explosion are. It is believed that the eddy-induced turbulence behind the obstacle decelerates the flame propagation.     

Development of a mitigation system against hydrogen-air deflagrations in nuclear power plants

A novel mitigation system against hydrogen-air deflagrations in nuclear power plant buildings is proposed and developed through a series of field experiments using explosion vessels of different volume sizes. The mitigation system is installed on the outer surface of the vessels, and it comprises flame arrester and explosion air bag. The flame arrester is made by stacking 10–20 sheets of fine-mesh wire screens, and the air bag is connected for holding explosion gas. The successful mitigation mechanism is the sequence of pressure-rise reduction by the air bag expansion, flame quenching by the flame arrester, and the slow burning of the gas mixture sucked from the air bag back into the vessel due to the negative pressure caused by the rapid condensation of water vapor inside the vessel. Necessary conditions for the successful mitigation system are discussed, and the practical unit size of flame arrester sheet is recommended.     

Numerical simulation of gas explosions in linked vessels

The ability of the CFD code AutoReaGas to simulate a gas explosion in two linked vessels was investigated. These explosions present an anomalous destructive power because both peak pressures and rates of pressure rise are much higher than those generated in single vessel explosions. A fair agreement was observed between the computed results and experimental data taken from literature. Moreover, the computed values of the turbulence intensity at varying diameters of the connecting pipe demonstrate that turbulence induced in both vessels represent a major factor affecting the explosion violence.     

Coupling effects of venting and inerting on explosions in interconnected vessels

The coupling effects of venting and CO₂ inerting on stoichiometric methane-air mixture explosions were investigated in an isolated vessel and interconnected vessels. The results indicate that venting mitigates the explosion intensity, especially for small vessels. For vessels connected by pipes, a venting design following EN 14994 (2007) and NFPA 68 (2013) could not meet the venting requirements. For an isolated big vessel and interconnected vessels, increasing the CO₂ volume fraction (Φ) from 0 to 15.0 vol% decreased the maximum explosion overpressure (P_max) and maximum rate of overpressure rise ((dP/dt)_max) and delayed t_max. For closed interconnected vessels, P_max varied approximately linearly with Φ. For both isolated vessel and interconnected vessels, the coupling effects of venting and CO₂ inerting on methane-air explosion were more efficient than those of individual mitigative method (that is, venting alone or CO₂ inerting alone).     

受限空间工业气体爆炸研究进展

分别从实验和理论研究两个方面对受限空间工业气体爆炸的国内外研究现状和研究成果进行了总结,实验研究包括单个容器和容器管道系统气体爆炸,理论研究主要集中于气体爆炸理论模型的建立与修正和数值模拟两个方面。分析了现有研究工作的不足,提出了该领域今后的研究发展方向。     

Determination of the maximum effective burning velocity of dust–air mixtures in constant volume combustion

The reactivity of a combustible dust cloud is traditionally characterized by the so-called K_St value, defined as the maximum rate of pressure rise measured in constant volume explosion vessels, multiplied with the cube root of the vessel volume. The present paper explores the use of an alternative parameter, called the maximum effective burning velocity (u_eff,max), which also is derived from pressure–time histories obtained in constant volume explosion experiments. The proposed parameter describes the reactivity of fuel–air mixtures as a function of the dispersion-induced turbulence intensity. Procedures for estimating u_eff,max from tests in both spherical and cylindrical explosion vessels are outlined, and examples of calculated values for various fuel–air mixtures in closed vessels of different sizes and shapes are presented. Tested fuels include a mixture of 7.5% methane in air, and suspensions of 500 g/m³ cornstarch in air and 500 g/m³ coal dust in air. Three different test vessels have been used: a 20-l spherical vessel and two cylindrical vessels, 7 and 22 l. The results show that the estimated maximum effective burning velocities are less apparatus dependent than the corresponding K_St values.     

Measuring the violence of dust explosions with the “20 l sphere” and with the standard “ISO 1 m vessel”: Systematic comparison and analysis of the discrepancies

On the basis of a systematic testwork with a number of different dusts, the explosion indices as determined within the 20 l sphere and with the ISO-VDI 1 m³ vessel have been compared. The repeatability has been assessed and since some systematic deviations appear a refined physical analysis of the explosion processes is developed. It appears in particular that the cube root law supposed to link both vessels is not verified. A striking illustration of this appears when a dust with a significant explosion severity inside the 20 l sphere is not even explosible in the larger vessel. It is strongly suggested that the ignition energy is forcing very significantly the explosion in the smaller vessel inducing several tens of Celsius degrees of preheating. It is shown also that the inner level of turbulence is decreasing very fast in the 20 l sphere during the flame development so that difficult-to-ignite mixtures would tend to burn at a lower combustion rate. It is further demonstrated that the major bias between the chambers can be explained and quantified with these elements. A correlation with the standard 1 m³ vessel and a grid of interpretation of the data is proposed.     

Numerical and experimental study of the explosions caused by residual pressure in quick actuating vessels

The explosion accident caused by residual pressure is one of the most common kinds of accidents in quick actuating pressure vessels. And it is important to provide some reliable methods, which can give reasonable analysis of the explosion. In this study, experiments of the explosion are preformed by using two quick actuating pressure vessels with residual pressure, and a new mathematical model is presented. The model is based on the combination of the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence fluid model and Newton’s second Law for the solid motion. And the model is solved with local remeshing method. By performing the simulation with the same parameters of experiments, the results of the simulation confirm the accuracy of the model. And the results shows the crucial factor of vessel structure, which the maximum ejected speed of the lid highly depends on. Based on that, the optimal design of the structure is presented, which can provide better security.     

Investigations of flame front propagation between interconnected process vessels. Development of a new flame front propagation time prediction model

For the case where a dust or gas explosion can occur in a connected process vessel, it would be useful, for the purpose of designing protection measures and also for assessing the existing protection measures such as the correct placement, to have a tool to estimate the time for flame front propagation along the connecting pipe. Measurements of data from large-scale explosion tests in industrially relevant process vessels are reported. To determine the flame front propagation time, either a 1 m³ or a 4.25 m³ primary process vessel was connected via a pipe to a mechanically or pneumatically fed 9.4 m³ secondary silo. The explosion propagation started after ignition of a maize starch/air mixture in the primary vessel. No additional dust was present along the connecting pipe. Systematic investigations of the explosion data have shown a relationship between the flame front propagating time and the reduced explosion over-pressure of the primary explosion vessel for both vessel volumes. Furthermore, it was possible to validate this theory by using explosion data from previous investigations. Using the data, a flame front propagation time prediction model was developed which is applicable for:

• •gas and dust explosions up to a K value of 100 and 200 bar m s⁻¹, respectively, and a maximum reduced explosion over-pressure of up to 7 bar;
• •explosion vessel volumes of 0.5, 1, 4.25 and 9.4 m³, independent of whether they are closed or vented;
• •connecting pipes of pneumatic systems with diameters of 100–200 mm and an air velocity up to 30 m s⁻¹;
• •open ended pipes and pipes of interconnected vessels with a diameter equal to or greater than 100 mm;
• •lengths of connecting pipe of at least 2.5–7 m.

     

Fast flame speeds and rates of pressure rise in the initial period of gas explosions in large L/D cylindrical enclosures

Flame speeds and rates of pressure rise for gaseous explosions in a 76 mm diameter closed cylindrical vessel of large length to diameter ratio (L/D = 21.6), were quantitatively investigated. Methane, propane, ethylene and hydrogen mixtures with air were studied across their respective flammability ranges. Ignition was affected at one end of the vessel. Very fast flame speeds corresponding to high rates of pressure rise were measured in the initial 5–10% of the total explosion time. During this period 20–35% of the maximum explosion pressure was produced, and over half of the flame propagation distance was completed. Previous work has concentrated on the later stages of this type of explosion; the development of tulip flames, pressure wave effects and transition to turbulence. The initial fast phase is very important and should dominate considerations in pressure relief vent design for vessels of large L/D.