The characterization of heat transfer fluid P-NF aerosol combustion: Ignitable region and flame development

Heat transfer fluids tend to form aerosols due to the operating conditions at high pressure when accidental leaking occurs in pipelines or storage vessels, which may cause serious fires and explosions. Due to the physical property complexity of aerosols, it is difficult to define a standard term of “flammability limits” as is possible for gases. The study discussed in this paper primarily focuses on the characterization of ignition conditions and flame development of heat transfer fluid aerosols. The flammable region of a widely-used commercial heat transfer fluid, Paratherm NF (P-NF), was analyzed by electro-spray generation with a laser diffraction particle analysis method. The aerosol ignition behavior depends on the droplet size and concentration of the aerosol. From the adjustment of differently applied electro-spray voltages (7–10 kV) and various liquid feeding rates, a flammable condition distribution was obtained by comparison of droplet size and concentration. An appropriate amount (0.3–1.2 ppm) of smaller droplets (80–110 μm) existing in a given space could result in successful flame formation, while larger droplets (up to 190 μm) have a relatively narrowed range of flammable conditions (0.7–0.9 ppm). It is possible to generate a more useful reference for industry and lab scale consideration when handling liquids. This paper provides initial flammability criteria for analyzing P-NF aerosol fire hazards in terms of droplet size and volumetric concentration, discusses the observation of aerosol combustion processes, and summarizes an ignition delay phenomenon. All of the fundamental study results are to be applied to practical cases with fire hazards analysis, pressurized liquid handling, and mitigation system design once there is a better understanding of aerosols formed by high-flash point materials.     

Improved electrospray design for aerosol generation and flame propagation analysis

Although the hazards of aerosol fires and explosions have been studied for decades the data for aerosol flame propagation is still scarce. Additionally there is a lack of standard techniques and measurement apparatus, which impedes the development of optimal aerosol hazard mitigation measures. The focus of this study is development of an improved aerosol electrospray device for the generation of high quality aerosol data. The goal is achieved through higher nozzle packing, precise nozzle and mesh hole alignment and adding two ground meshes. In addition to a flat ground mesh, the utilization of a cylindrical ground mesh demonstrated improved confinement and guidance of droplets. Duratherm 600, heat transfer fluid, was examined to demonstrate the modified electrospray device capabilities as compared to previous design. Results show the modified electrospray can produce more uniform droplets, more even test chamber dispersion, smaller droplet size and higher concentration aerosol, which is essential to study aerosol flame propagation. Accordingly, the results of aerosol flame speed tests for the improved design were more reproducible. Moreover, it was found that a traditional propane pilot flame was unable to ignite the smaller aerosol droplet size due to the strong turbulence generated by the open flame. However, by careful modification of the pilot flame length, the turbulence decreased dramatically and the small droplet size aerosol can be tested.     

Prediction of minimum ignition energy of aerosols using flame kernel modeling combined with flame front propagation theory

Flammable aerosols have created many fire and explosion hazards in the process industry, but the flammability of aerosols has not been fully understood. The minimum ignition energy has been widely used as an indicator for flammability of combustible mixtures, but the amount of experimental data on the minimum ignition energy of aerosols is very limited. In this work, the minimum ignition energy of tetralin aerosols is predicted using an integrated model. The model applies the flame front propagation theory in aerosol systems to the growth of the flame kernel, which was created during the spark discharge in the ignition process. The aerosol minimum ignition energy was defined as the minimum level of energy in the initial flame kernel to maintain the kernel temperature above the minimum ignition temperature of 1073 K specific for tetralin aerosols during the kernel growth. The minimum ignition energy obtained in the model is influenced by the fuel-air equivalence ratio and the size of the aerosol droplets. For tetralin aerosols of 40 μm diameter, E_min decreases significantly from 0.32 mJ to 4.3 × 10 e⁻³ mJ when the equivalence ratio rises from 0.57 to 1.0. For tetralin aerosols of 0.57 equivalence ratio, E_min increases from as 0.09 mJ to 0.32 mJ when the droplet diameter rises from 10 μm to 60 μm. The trends are in agreement with previous experimental observations. The method used in current work has the potential to prediction of the minimum ignition energy of aerosol.     

Predictive correlations for leaking heat transfer fluid aerosols in air

Mist or aerosol explosions present a serious hazard to process industries. Heat transfer fluids are widely used in the chemical process industry, are flammable above their flash points, and can cause aerosol explosions. Though the possibility of aerosol explosions has been widely documented, knowledge about their explosive potential is limited. Studying the formation of such aerosols by emulating leaks in process equipment will help define a source term for aerosol dispersions and aid in characterizing their explosion hazards.Current research conducted at the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center involves the non-intrusive measurement of heat transfer fluid aerosol sprays using a Malvern Diffraction Particle Analyzer. A predictive correlation relating aerosol droplet diameters to bulk liquid pressures, temperatures, thermal and fluid properties, leak sizes, and ambient conditions is presented. This correlation can be used to predict the conditions under which leaks will result in the formation of aerosols and ultimately help in estimating the explosion hazards of heat transfer fluid aerosols. The goal is to provide information that will help improve safety in process industries.     

细水雾中雾滴和高温环境的热质交换研究

由雾滴的表面的组分方程和能量方程入手,探讨雾滴在静止的高温环境中的热质交换及生存时间。应用折算薄膜理论,通过特征时间的比较,提出雾滴与高温环境主要通过沸腾机制实现热质交换;考虑滴径与速度变化的耦合作用,应用数值方法研究雾滴在强迫对流环境中与高温环境的热质交换情况。结果表明:对于滴径较小的雾滴不可能达到火焰区或可燃物表面实施火焰冷却和表面冷却,其灭火作用主要依赖于汽化吸热。     

飞火和热辐射耦合作用点燃松针的实验研究

飞火颗粒点燃和火焰辐射引燃是森林-城镇交界域火灾两种主要引燃方式。已有很多研究关注单种引燃方式,但缺乏二者耦合作用下的引燃机理研究。实验研究了热颗粒与热辐射耦合作用下松针燃料床的点燃行为,分析了热颗粒尺寸、温度及辐射热通量对点燃特性的影响。实验结果表明:热颗粒和热辐射耦合作用的点燃危险性远远高于热颗粒或者热辐射单独作用下的点燃危险性。耦合作用时,点燃概率随颗粒尺寸、温度和辐射热通量增大而增大,热颗粒临界点燃温度以及临界辐射热通量均随热颗粒尺寸增大而降低;阴燃向明火转变的点燃时间随辐射热通量增大而降低,但与颗粒状态呈现出较为复杂的关系。     

Ignition of hydraulic fluid sprays by open flames and hot surfaces

A study of the ignition of non-fire-resistant hydraulic fluid sprays was conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Both an open flame and a hot steel surface were used as the external heat sources. With the open flame as the heat source, the minimum oil temperature and minimum spray nozzle pressure that resulted in an ignition were measured. The effects of the distance between the open flame and the nozzle and the nozzle orifice diameter on the ignitability of the hydraulic fluid sprays were examined. With the hot surface as the heat source, the minimum surface ignition temperature was determined. The degree of oil atomization and the relative direction of oil injection with respect to the hot surface are discussed. The ignition of oil sprays from the impingement of oil jets onto a vertical surface was also investigated. Finally, the results are compared with those obtained for fire-resistant hydraulic fluids.     

阴燃中出现有焰火的理论初探

阴燃是一种自维持,不断传播的,异相反应的放热燃烧过程。典型的阴燃例子有蚝烟,地下煤矿的燃烧等。从热安全角度来看阴燃过程,不完全的氧化反应和可燃物热解都会产生很多的有毒气体,对人造成危害;另外在一定的条件下,阴燃还会突然转化为有焰火,进行更猛烈的燃烧,造成更大的破坏。     

Characterization of the ignition by repetitive streamer discharges using laser diagnostics

Repetitive streamer discharges caused by transients, e.g. due to high frequency overvoltages, can ignite combustible mixtures, which has to be taken into account concerning the safety assessment of electrical apparatus for usage in hazardous areas. Hydrogen/air mixtures were ignited inside a closed vessel using a rod/plane electrode configuration. Alternating voltage with a frequency between 600 and 750 kHz and amplitudes of up to 20 kV was used to produce streamer discharges. The ignition process and the subsequent flame front propagation were examined with respect to mixture composition and several electrical parameters using time-resolved measurements of planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) of OH radicals. A multiple pulse laser and detection system was used to assemble four images during one experiment. These measurements have given detailed information about the point of ignition and flame velocities. The experimental results will be used to validate numerical simulations of ignition by streamer discharges, which will yield deep insights into this specific ignition process.     

Effects of thermal radiation heat transfer on flame acceleration and transition to detonation in particle-cloud hydrogen flames

The current work examines regimes of the hydrogen–oxygen flame propagation and ignition of mixtures heated by radiation emitted from the flame. The gaseous phase is assumed to be transparent for the radiation, while the suspended particles of the dust cloud ahead of the flame absorb and reemit the radiation. The radiant heat absorbed by the particles is then lost by conduction to the surrounding unreacted gaseous phase so that the gas phase temperature lags that of the particles. The direct numerical simulations solve the full system of two phase gas dynamic time-dependent equations with a detailed chemical kinetics for a plane flames propagating through a dust cloud. It is shown that depending on the spatial distribution of the dispersed particles and on the value of radiation absorption length the consequence of the radiative preheating of the mixture ahead of the flame can be either the increase of the flame velocity for uniformly dispersed particles or ignition either new deflagration or detonation ahead of the original flame via the Zel'dovich gradient mechanism in the case of a layered particle-gas cloud deposits. In the latter case the ignited combustion regime depends on the radiation absorption length and correspondingly on the steepness of the formed temperature gradient in the preignition zone that can be treated independently of the primary flame. The impact of radiation heat transfer in a particle-laden flame is of paramount importance for better risk assessment and represents a route for understanding of dust explosion origin.     

侧向风速作用下聚氨酯泡沫双火源火蔓延研究

为探究环境风作用下逆向双点火源聚氨酯泡沫火蔓延及融合行为,开展多组对照实验并从材料传热机理角度分析侧向风速对火蔓延行为中火羽流形态、质量损失和辐射热流场等特征参数的影响。结果表明:风速与上述参数之间存在非线性关系。环境风效应使火焰被拉长且敷贴于预热区表面,增大预热区面积和热反馈;侧向风速的增加对FPU板材质量损失的影响逐渐弱化,且板材的熔滴率与风速呈正相关;无论侧向风是否存在,两侧逆向火焰融合后均达到整个蔓延过程中的峰值温度;风速的存在限制了火焰温度与辐射热通量峰值,也缩短了温度和辐射峰值出现的时间。     

Non-intrusive characterization of heat transfer fluid aerosol sprays released from an orifice

Organic heat transfer fluids (HTFs) are widely used because of their low vapor pressures and wide ranges of working temperatures. It is a common misconception that operations involving HTFs below their flash point temperatures do not represent a hazard, but aerosols of combustible liquids at temperatures below their flashpoints have been recognized for their potential to cause fires and explosions. The hazard is further exacerbated by the paucity of experimental information about the formation and behavior of aerosols from HTF releases. This article presents droplet sizes, spray development, and aerosol formation distances for an alkylated aromatic HTF aerosol generated mechanically by means of a leak from a pressurized container into ambient air as functions of HTF temperature, pressure, and orifice size. A Malvern Laser Diffraction Particle Analyzer was used to measure aerosol droplet sizes along the centerline of the liquid sprays, and high-speed photography was used for spray visualization and interpretation of stream atomization. Effects of pressure, temperature, and orifice diameter confirm critical Weber Number theory.     

固体微粒气溶胶灭火剂的改性研究

固体微粒气溶胶灭火剂作为一种新型灭火剂具有优越的抑制火灾的性能,但其应用和推广的关键在于降低灭火气溶胶形成时的温度.本文利用TG方法分析了灭火剂的热分解过程,并通过测定固体微粒气溶胶灭火剂的释放速度、释放区温度分布及灭火性能,研究了固体微粒气溶胶灭火剂的降温消焰技术.同时对气溶胶的成分和固体粒子粒度分布进行了分析.     

Dust ignition of pure and encapsulated paraffin phase change materials

In this study, the dependence of the flammable concentration on particle size is investigated for Phase Change Material (PCM) and Encapsulated Phase Change Material (EPCM) particles using a novel continuous particle dispersion apparatus into which a propane flame is introduced creating a test akin to the flash-point test for liquids. The results show that the threshold concentration is a strong function of particle size. For tested particles with size ranging from 290 μm to 750 μm, the threshold concentration is above the predictions based on an instantaneous heat transfer limit, and is approximately linear with the particle size, following a heat transfer limited ignition model. For sizes above ≈1 mm, the particles behave like the bulk material, and ignition is not observed for the concentrations tested. The results obtained here are important for the safe construction, handling, and operation of systems using PCM and other particles.     

含水率及燃烧性能等级对中密度纤维板点燃行为及安全性能影响的研究

采用锥形量热仪,在不同辐射热流强度下,对三种燃烧性能等级(B级、C级和非阻燃)的中密度纤维板在不同相对湿度(0%、50%和98%)形成的含水率条件下进行了辐射引燃实验,测得点燃时间和热释放速率等参数。利用点燃理论中热厚型积分模型,推导了不同含水率不同燃烧性能等级(防火等级)纤维板的临界辐射热通量。通过对比发现,点燃时间随着板材含水率的增加而明显增大,而临界辐射热通量则几乎不受环境相对湿度(即含水率)的影响。添加阻燃剂可延长点燃时间,使板材临界辐射热通量增加,并能有效地降低纤维板材燃烧时的热释放速率。阻燃纤维板的临界辐射热通量要明显高于非阻燃纤维板,但是阻燃纤维板材之间相比,临界辐射热通量差别不大。因而,从本质安全的角度对材料的安全性进行评价,不能将临界辐射热通量作为单一的标准,必须综合多个参数进行全面评价。     

不同通风条件下柴油池火的实验研究

为了分析不同通风条件对柴油池火燃烧特性及引燃特性的影响,进行205 mm带水垫层柴油池火的引燃实验,通过对池火燃料的质量损失速率、火焰高度、温度及热辐射等的监测,分析通风环境中柴油池火的热传递规律。结果表明:当风速为0.5 m/s时,火灾进入旺盛阶段的时间提前,火焰平均温度最高;当风速为1 m/s时,风速的增加导致油池火的质量损失速率增加,位于主火源下风向的待引燃火源获得的热辐射通量增大,火灾旺盛阶段火焰的平均温度降低,火焰高度降低,下风向相邻油盘引燃的时间提前;1 m/s情况下,205 mm带水垫层柴油池火的安全间距需增加到1D以上;通风环境对池火发展及蔓延的影响是显著的,应适当加大下风向可燃物的安全间距,合理选择通风排烟风速,优化火灾应急救援策略。     

半密闭空间油气爆炸初期火焰特性研究

为了研究半密闭空间内部油气着火爆炸初期火焰特性,进行了不同油气体积分数下的油气着火爆炸实验,通过高速摄影等技术手段对爆炸过程中火焰形态进行了捕捉,分析了不同油气体积分数下爆炸初期火焰着火模式、火焰形态、传播过程和火焰浮力稳定性的变化规律。结果表明:油气体积分数为决定容器内部着火模式的关键因素,随着油气体积分数的逐渐增大,着火模式呈现出燃烧-爆炸-爆燃后持续燃烧的转变;爆炸下的火焰具有明显的分区现象,而其他的着火模式则没有;随着油气体积分数的增加,越靠近化学当量比,纵向和横向火焰阵面速度越大;油气体积分数小于等于1.1%或大于等于2.6%时,火焰稳定性受浮力影响显著。     

FeS引发储油罐着火温度动态变化曲线的研究

储油罐着火事故被推测是由硫腐蚀产生的FeS氧化引起的。笔者阐述了储罐中FeS形成的原因 ,并采用自然发火绝热测试系统对FeS自然氧化进行 1 9h的跟踪实验 ,观察FeS绝热氧化过程中温度动态变化特性。实验发现 ,FeS氧化由诱导氧化期、中速氧化期和加速氧化期 3个阶段组成。诱导氧化期是积蓄能量 ,激发FeS活性的过程 ,试样温度基本未发生变化 ;中速氧化期是FeS试样表面的分子活性被激发 ,与FeS试样表面吸附的氧气发生氧化反应的过程 ,温度增加较慢 ;加速氧化期是FeS分子内部的活性被激活并进行氧化反应的过程 ,温度迅速升高。结果证明 :随着反应的进行 ,温度随反应时间变化的幅度越来越大 ,氧化反应的反应热不能及时散开而急剧地积累 ,温度急剧地升高 ,将引起油品自燃。此外 ,通过X衍射图和氧化升温曲线证明 ,水是影响FeS氧化的重要因素。     

基于FIPEC试验的电缆燃烧性能研究

利用FIPEC试验装置20.5kW的火源对市场上常见的ZR-YJY、ZR-YJV和ZR-VV三种类型的阻燃电力电缆的燃烧性能进行了全尺寸试验研究,对试验结果分析了不同类型阻燃电缆的火灾发展和蔓延特性,以及电缆在火焰蔓延过程中的影响因素,结果表明,在热释放和产烟特性上,ZR-YJY均优于ZR-YJV和ZR-VV,但在火焰蔓延性能上,ZR-YJY相对较差。同时获取了电缆在火灾过程中的热释放、产烟特性以及火焰蔓延特性的基础数据,为我国《电缆及光缆燃烧性能分级》标准提供试验依据。