Calculation of the stability criterion in the reaction of energetic materials

The stability in the energetic materials' thermal decomposition reaction is developed from both transient mass and heat transfer equations simultaneously. The derived equation is the sufficient and necessary condition for the reaction system's stability, which was expressed as:

In this stability equation, a modified Semenov number φ is the expressed function of three kinetic parameters, i.e., n, and β and two variables, i.e., x and θ, respectively. A reaction system is stable if its evaluated modified Semenov number satisfies this stability criterion. In the case of the minimum modified Semenov number φ_m, we can deduce the stability equation at critical condition as

The criteria of stability for the explosives TNT, RDX, PETN and HMX were evaluated using this formula, which was expressed θ_c as function of x at given n, η and various β as parameters.     

Study of dust cloud behaviour in the modified Hartmann tube using the image subtraction method (ISM)

A dispersion of fine particles in the air is needed for a dust explosion to occur since an explosion is the fast combustion of particles in the air. When particles are poorly dispersed, agglomerated, or their concentration is low, the combustion velocity decreases, and deflagration would not occur. The combustion rate is strictly related to dust concentration. Therefore, the maximum explosion pressure rise occurs at dust concentration close to stoichiometric. Conversely, Minimum Explosion Concentration (MEC) is the lower limit at which self-sustained combustion and a pressure rise are possible. Dust explosion tests are designed to reproduce the dispersion and generation of dust clouds in industrial ambiences by using dispersion devices activated by pressurised air pulses. The resulting dust cloud, which has a marked transient character, is considered representative of real clouds by current standards. Over time, several studies have been carried out to optimise these devices (e.g. to reduce the inhomogeneity of the cloud in the 20 L sphere). The Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) of dust is measured using the Mike3 modified Hartmann tube, where the ignition attempt is made 60–180 ms after dust dispersion regardless of dust characteristics.This work investigates the dust clouds’ actual behaviour inside the modified Hartmann tube before ignition using high-velocity video movies and a new image post-treatment method called Image Subtraction Method (ISM). Movies are recorded with high-speed cameras at a framerate of 2000 fps and elaborated with an on-purpose developed LabVIEW® code. Concentration (mass per volume) and dispersion pressure are varied to evaluate their effect on dust clouds. Maise starch, iron powder and silica powder are chosen to investigate the effect of particle density and size on the cloud structure and turbulence. This approach will help to investigate the structure of the dust cloud, the shape and size of the particle lumps and the change in dust concentration over time. In addition, information on the actual concentration and cloud turbulence at the ignition location and delay time were obtained, which may help identify the local turbulence scale and widen the characterisation of the cloud generated in the Hartmann tube.     

Methods for more accurate determination of explosion severity parameters

Accurate determination of explosion severity parameters (p_max, (dp/dt)_max, and K_St) is essential for dust explosion assessment, identification of mitigation strategy, and design of mitigation measure of proper capacity. The explosion severity parameters are determined according to standard methodology however variety of dust handled and operation circumstances may create practical challenge on the optimal test method and subsequent data interpretation. Two methods are presented: a statistical method, which considers all test results in determination of explosion severity parameters and a method that corrects the results for differences of turbulence intensity. The statistical method also calculates experimental error (uncertainty) that characterises the experimental spread, allows comparison to other dust samples and may define quality determination threshold. The correction method allows to reduce discrepancies between results from 1 m³ vessel and 20-l sphere caused by difference in the turbulence intensity level. Additionally new experimental test method for difficult to inject samples together with its analysis is described. Such method is a versatile tool for explosion interpretation in test cases where different dispersion nozzle is used (various turbulence level in the test chamber) because of either specific test requirements or being “difficult dust sample”.     

Review of the DESC project

Dust Explosion Simulation Code (DESC) was a project supported by the European Commission under the Fifth Framework Programme. The main purpose of the project was to develop a simulation tool based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) that could predict the potential consequences of industrial dust explosions in complex geometries. Partners in the DESC consortium performed experimental work on a wide range of topics related to dust explosions, including dust lifting by flow or shock waves, flame propagation in vertical pipes, dispersion-induced turbulence and flame propagation in closed vessels, dust explosions in closed and vented interconnected vessel systems, and measurements in real process plants. The new CFD code DESC is based on the existing CFD code FLame ACceleration Simulator (FLACS) for gas explosions. The modelling approach adopted in the first version entails the extraction of combustion parameters from pressure–time histories measured in standardized 20-l explosion vessels. The present paper summarizes the main experimental results obtained during the DESC project, with a view to their relevance regarding dust explosion modelling, and describes the modelling of flow and combustion in the first version of the DESC code. Capabilities and limitations of the code are discussed, both in light of its ability to reproduce experimental results, and as a practical tool in the field of dust explosion safety.     

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.     

点火延迟时间对甘薯粉尘爆炸的影响研究

为了预防甘薯粉尘爆炸事故的发生,本文研究点火延迟时间对甘薯粉尘爆炸的影响规律,利用20 L球形爆炸仪研究甘薯粉尘的爆炸特性及其在200 g/m3,500 g/m3和800 g/m3质量浓度下通过改变点火延迟时间的爆炸规律。结果表明:粉尘的最佳点火延迟时间与浓度有关,在该点火时间下所测得的最大爆炸压力均高于在固定点火延迟时间下的测量值,60 ms的固定点火延迟时间不适用于甘薯粉尘爆炸测试。     

CFD Simulation of the Dispersion of Binary Dust Mixtures in the 20 L Vessel

There are at least two main requirements for repeatable and reliable measurements of flammability and explosibility parameters of dusts: a uniform dispersion of solid particles inside the test vessel, and a homogeneous degree of turbulence. In several literature works, it has been shown that, in the standard 20 L sphere, the dust injection system generates a non-uniform dust cloud, while high gradients characterize the turbulent flow field. In this work, the dust dispersion inside the 20 L sphere was simulated for nicotinic acid/anthraquinone mixtures (with different pure dust ratios, while keeping the total dust concentration constant) with a validated three-dimensional CFD model. Numerical results show that the fields of dust concentration, flow velocity and turbulence are strongly affected by both diameter and density of the pure dusts. These different dust properties lead to segregation phenomena with the formation of zones richer in one component and leaner in the other one and vice versa, and also result in preferential paths for the solid particles inside the sphere. Overall, the obtained results highlight the need for developing a dust injection system able to overcome the shortcomings of the actual one even when testing dust mixtures.     

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.     

New dust explosion venting design requirements for turbulent operating conditions

The 2007 edition of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 68 for Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting has a new provision to account for the turbulence level in combustible dust or powder processing equipment. This paper explains the development of this new provision for increased deflagration vent area requirements in highly turbulent combustible dust/powder processing equipment. The development includes a review of initial turbulence level effects on vented explosion pressures, and a review of turbulence levels measured in ASTM E1226 and ISO 6184/1 explosion test procedures to determine K_st. A review of operating conditions in some representative spray dryer plant equipment suggests that most equipment of this type probably do not have high enough air flows to require increased explosion vent areas due to turbulence, but some types of equipment with high tangential entrance air flows may well need larger vent areas.     

The explosion of non-nano iron dust suspension in the 20-l spherical bomb

The understanding of dust explosion is still incomplete because of the lack of reliable data and accurate models accounting for all the physic-chemical aspects. Besides, most of the experimental data available in the current literature has been accumulated on the 20-l spherical bomb tests, which gives coarse results for the pressure history that cannot be easily converted into fundamental combustion parameters. Nevertheless, the large amount of experimental data available in the spherical bomb is attractive. In this work, the explosion of non-nano iron dust in the standard spherical vessel is analyzed, aiming at evaluating the burning velocity from the theoretical point of view and the simple experiments performed by the standard explosion tests. The choice of iron is of relevance because its adiabatic flame temperature is below the boiling temperature of both the reactants and oxidized gaseous, liquid, or solid (intermediate and final) products and for the negligible particle porosity, which instead is typical of organic dust. Therefore, a non-nano iron dust explosion can be reconducted to a reduced mechanism since heterogeneous (surface) combustion may be determinant, and the diffusion mechanism for oxygen is the only relevant. The laminar burning velocity is strongly dependant on the particle diameter, whereas little effects are due to the dust concentration. The reported final value was found in agreement with typical limiting laminar burning velocity, adopted for the estimation of flammability limits.     

五氯硫酚锌盐粉尘爆炸下限浓度的实验研究

五氯硫酚锌盐的一些基本的危险性参数,如燃烧爆炸性能,目前国内外报道极少。笔者采用野外定性燃烧试验、哈特曼管实验及20 L球实验,对该物质粉尘爆炸的危险性进行研究。结果表明,该物质具有燃烧爆炸危险性,但与细小片状铝粉(燃爆危险性很强烈)相比,其粉尘的燃爆危险性很弱。以硅系点火具作为点火源,在20 L爆炸球中测试获得该粉尘爆炸下限浓度约为213 g/m3。根据ISO-6184及VD I-3673等标准,认为该粉尘的爆炸猛烈度为1级。所得结果为该物质的生产及使用安全提供了重要的参考。     

Experimental study of the influence of particle size on Minimum Explosible Concentration of sulfur dust

Despite the extensive use of sulfur in the industry, very little information is available in the literature on its key dust explosion properties. The work presented in this paper contributes to filling the current knowledge gaps on sulfur dust explosion properties and focuses on the experimental determination of the MEC of sulfur dust using a Modified Hartmann Tube and a 20 L dust explosion sphere. First, the MEC of sulfur dust samples collected at a sulfur production facility from areas prone to the generation of fine sulfur dust was measured. The results showed that these sulfur dust samples are fine enough to cause dust explosions with 55 ± 5< MEC <105 ± 5 g/m³. Second, the influence of the particle size of sulfur dust was investigated with both equipment. The use of the Modified Hartmann Tube for MEC determination showed that the MEC increases with increasing particle size in the particle size range of 0–2000 μm. Unlike the Modified Hartmann Tube, MEC experiments done in the 20 L Sphere did not allow the quantification of the influence of the particle size on the MEC. These results were explained by the phenomenon of particle breakage induced by the 20 L Sphere's dispersion mechanism. Additional experiments with the 20 L sphere confirmed the particle breakage of sulfur dust particles and showed that it is inversely proportional to dust concentration and proportional to the dust's original particle size distribution.     

Effect of ignition delay on explosion parameters of corn dust/air in confined chamber

This paper presents the explosion parameters of corn dust/air mixtures in confined chamber. The measurements were conducted in a setup which comprises a 5 L explosion chamber, a dust dispersion sub-system, and a transient pressure measurement sub-system. The influences of the ignition delay on the pressure and the rate of pressure rise for the dust/air explosion have been discussed based on the experimental data. It is found that at the lower concentrations, the explosion pressure and the rate of pressure rise of corn dust/air mixtures decrease as the ignition delay increases from 60 ms; But at the higher concentrations, the explosion pressure and the rate of pressure rise increase slightly as the ignition delay increases from 60 ms to 80 ms, and decrease beyond 80 ms. The maximum explosion pressure of corn dust/air mixtures reaches its highest value equal to 0.79 MPa at the concentration of 1000 gm⁻³.     

Study of the severity of hybrid mixture explosions and comparison to pure dust-air and vapour-air explosions

The explosion behaviour of heterogeneous/homogeneous fuel-air (hybrid) mixtures is here analysed and compared to the explosion features of heterogeneous fuel-air and homogeneous fuel-air mixtures separately.Experiments are performed to measure the pressure history, deflagration index and flammability limits of nicotinic acid/acetone-air mixtures in a standard 20 L Siwek bomb adapted to vapour-air mixtures. Literature data are also used for comparison.The explosion tests performed on gas-air mixtures in the same conditions as explosion tests of dust-air mixtures, show that the increase in explosion severity of dust/gas-air mixtures has to be addressed to the role of initial level of turbulence prior to ignition.At a fixed value of the equivalence ratio, by substituting the dust to the flammable gas in a dust/gas-air mixture the explosion severity decreases. Furthermore, the most severe conditions of dust-gas/air mixtures is found during explosion of gas-air mixture at stoichiometric concentration.     

Influences of coal dust components on the explosibility of hybrid mixtures of methane and coal dust

In order to study the influences of coal dust components on the explosibility of hybrid mixture of methane and coal dust, four kinds of coal dust with different components were selected in this study. Using the standard 20 L sphere, the maximum explosion pressure, explosion index and lower explosion limits of methane/coal dust mixtures were measured. The results show that the addition of methane to different kinds of coal dust can all clearly increase their maximum explosion pressure and explosion index and decrease their minimum explosion concentration. However, the increase in the maximum explosion pressure and explosion index is more significant for coal dust with lower volatile content, while the decrease in the minimum explosion concentration is more significant for coal dust with higher volatile content. It is concluded that the influence of methane on the explosion severity is more pronounced for coal dust with lower volatile content, but on ignition sensitivity it is more pronounced for coal dust with higher volatile content. Bartknecht model for predicting the lower explosion limits of methane/coal dust mixture has better applicability than Le Chatelier model and Jiang model. Especially, it is more suitable for hybrid mixtures of methane and high volatile coal dust.     

The influence of air flow on maximum explosion characteristics of dust–air mixtures

A standard spherical apparatus for measuring explosion characteristics was modified to give increased and controlled turbulence within a dust–air mixture. This was intended to mimic the local effects which may occur during industrial dust explosions, particularly secondary ones which may develop in ducts or mine galleries where the initial explosion causes an increased air velocity and suspension of further quantities of dust.The results show that there may be a doubling of the maximum explosion pressure and of the rate of pressure rise during the explosion under more turbulent conditions. This is significant for modelling of dust explosions and suggests that explosion relief may be inadequate if this factor is not taken into consideration.The modified apparatus therefore gives a laboratory method for assessing the effect of turbulence in dust explosions.     

Effects of ignitors and turbulence on dust explosions

The aim of this work is in an attempt to increase the understanding of the acting behaviour of pyrotechnic ignitors and their effects on confined dust explosions. Flame visualization has shown that pyrotechnic ignitors can initiate an explosion by instantaneous jet-like volumetric and/or multipoint ignition. Hence, the rate of pressure rise and also the apparent burning velocity will be increased to some extent, depending on the ignitor energy and the reactivity of the mixtures. The ignitor effect is more important for the early stages of flame propagation and would be more significant in small explosion chambers. Thus, for dust explosion tests with various purposes, use of pyrotechnic ignitors should be made carefully, and the ignitor effect must be accounted for in the data interpretation. Turbulence induced by dust dispersion is a dominant factor in affecting dust explosions. At different ignition delays, however, the turbulence influence will be coupled with that of ignitors. This complicates further the interpretation of explosion data measured under turbulent conditions.     

硬脂酸粉尘爆炸特性试验研究

为研究硬脂酸粉尘的爆炸特性,采用20 L球型爆炸仪对4个粒径范围的硬脂酸粉尘进行粉尘爆炸试验研究。结果表明:一定浓度范围内增大粉尘浓度能够提升硬脂酸粉尘的爆炸能量和燃烧速率。增大粉尘浓度,爆炸猛烈度先增强后减弱;减小粉尘粒径,能增强爆炸猛烈度和敏感度。粒径小于58 μm粉尘的爆炸猛烈度和敏感度最大,浓度500 g/m3时,该粉尘有最大爆炸压力1.12 MPa和最大升压速率142.00 MPa/s。     

Dust particle sedimentation in the 20 L standard vessel for dust explosion tests

According to the current international standards, to perform the correct evaluation of the explosion and flammability parameters, a uniform distribution of the dust particles should be achieved inside the 20 L and/or 1 m³ standard vessels.CFD simulations have shown that in both standard test vessels (20 L and 1 m³), the dust particles are not uniformly dispersed, being mostly concentrated at the edge of the macro-vortices generated by the injection of the fluid and particle through the nozzle. In addition, only a partial fed of the particles is obtained, and dust particles sedimentation phenomena can occur.As a result, the dust participating to the reactive process may be much lower than the expected nominal concentration in the vessel due to sedimentation and incomplete feeding. Consequently, misleading values of the flammability/explosion parameters could be measured.Particle sedimentation and incomplete feeding depends both on the Stokes number and on the Reynolds number, whereas the concentration distribution depends on the turbulence level, the fluid flow maps, and the number of particles which enter into the vessel through the nozzle.The aim of this work is to evaluate the key parameters (particle size, particle density, and fluid velocity) affecting sedimentation and incomplete feeding in 20 L vessel. To this end, CFD simulations of dust dispersion are performed at varying the particle density and size. Operating maps, in terms of the key parameters and/or their dimensionless combinations, are developed and a correlation for correction of the data is proposed.     

不同含水率煤尘在瓦斯爆炸诱导下爆炸传播规律研究

为了探究不同含水率煤尘在瓦斯爆炸诱导下的爆炸传播规律,利用自行搭建的直管瓦斯爆炸诱导煤尘二次爆炸实验系统,从冲击波压力和火焰传播速度2个方面,研究了不同含水率沉积煤尘在瓦斯爆炸诱导下的爆炸传播规律和原因。研究结果表明:当煤尘含水率小于40%时,管道内沉积煤尘会在瓦斯爆炸诱导下产生二次爆炸,同时沉积煤尘总量一定时,沉积煤尘二次爆炸产生的冲击波超压峰值和火焰传播速度随着煤尘含水率的增加先增大后减小;当沉积煤尘含水率为20% 时,煤尘二次爆炸产生的冲击波超压峰值、火焰传播速度峰值达到最大值,分别为1.657 MPa和468.060 m/s;当沉积煤尘含水率大于40%时,沉积煤尘无法产生二次爆炸,此时爆炸产生的威力小于单一瓦斯爆炸,火焰传播速度衰减较无煤尘的瓦斯爆炸更快,沉积煤尘起到抑制瓦斯爆炸传播的作用。研究结果可以为防治煤尘二次爆炸提供理论依据。