Ignition of a dust layer by a constant heat flux

In real conditions, the surface temperature of an equipment enclosure covered with a combustible dust layer can significantly rise due to insulating properties of the dust layer. To assess this effect, the measurements of minimum ignition temperature of dust layer at constant temperature of the heated plate t_{t min} (standard method) and the same ignition temperature at constant rate of heat generation t_{h min} for two coal dusts were made. Dust layers of thickness between 5 and 50 mm were tested. For each dust, t_{t min} was higher than t_{h min} for every tested thickness of the layer. The difference was biggest for thin layers and decreased with increase of the layer thickness. The results suggest a deficiency of the standard procedure of measuring minimum ignition temperature of a dust layer.     

Smoldering combustion of dust layer on hot surface

The critical temperature as well as the critical flux for ignition of a dust layer of cornflour and a mixture of wheatflour and cornflour (80% wheatflour+20% cornflour) on a hot plate have been determined. The moulded sample was cylindrical in shape and of different heights and diameters. The particle size of dusts ranged between 63 μm to 150 μm. The temperature–time histories for self-heating without ignition and with ignition are offered, showing the critical boundaries between them. Also the times to ignition for each dust, showing the effect of sample size on their values, are determined. Certain experimental correlations which relate to times to ignition, as well as the critical temperature for ignition and thermal and geometrical dimensions of sample are presented.     

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.     

Inerting effect of CaCO3 powder on flame spread of wood dust layer

The effect of CaCO₃ powder, a typical inert dust, on the flame spread characteristics of wood dust layers was studied using an experimental device to understand the ignition characteristics of and develop inert explosion-proof technology for deposited wood dust. The results showed that the flame spread velocity (FSV) of the mixed dust layer was affected by the dispersion effect of CaCO₃ powder and physical heat absorption. As the CaCO₃ powder mass fraction increased, the FSV of the dust layer first increased and then decreased, reaching a peak at a 50% mass fraction. Moreover, the front-end temperature of the flame gradually decreased, and the red spark faded. The combustion reaction of the mixed dust layer could be more completed, and the colour of the combustion residue changed from charcoal black to charcoal grey. The coupling effect of the initial temperature and wind speed can promote an increase in the FSV in the mixed dust layer. The Gauss–Amp model of the FSV of the wood dust layer and mass fraction of CaCO₃ powder showed that the peak of the FSV occurred when the mass fraction of CaCO₃ powder was between 40 and 50%. Thus, a good inerting and explosion-proof effect can be achieved by using CaCO₃ powder with a mass fraction of more than 50%; it can improve the whole inerting process. Inert explosion-proof technology should be considered when assessing fire and explosion risk of dust in real process industry situations.     

超细三七粉最小引燃温度实验研究

为研究三七粉着火燃烧的参数,用粉尘云引燃温度装置和粉尘层引燃温度装置,对三七粉的最小引燃温度(MIT)进行实验研究。分别研究喷吹压力、质量浓度、粉尘层厚度对MIT的影响。结果表明:三七粉尘云的质量在0.2 g时最小引燃温度随着喷尘压力的增加先减小再增大,在0.3 g到0.6 g时最小引燃温度随着喷尘压力的增加而增大;在压力20 kPa、30 kPa时随着质量浓度的增大,粉尘云引燃温度先减小后增大,在40 kPa到60 kPa时,随着质量浓度的增大,粉尘云引燃温度增大;粉尘云最小引燃温度高于粉尘层最小引燃温度;三七粉尘云的最小引燃温度399℃,粉尘层最小引燃温度240℃。     

The effects of phosphorus-free inhibitors on the ignition of lycopodium dust

The minimum ignition temperature of dust suspension (MIT) and the hot surface ignition temperature of the dust layer (LIT) are essential safety parameters for the process industry. However, the knowledge of the ignition behavior when solid mixtures of flammable fuels and phosphorous-free inhibitors are considered is still scarce and further experimental and theoretical analyses are requested. In this work, the ignition temperature of phosphorous-free inhibitors (coal fly ash and calcium carbonate) mixed with lycopodium dust have been studied in terms of LIT analysis (hot plate thickness: 5 mm, 12.5 mm and 15 mm), and by the Godbert-Greenwald test for the MIT. Both coal fly ash and calcium carbonate have been tested at different concentrations and particle sizes.Results show that the effects of the inhibitor can be counter-productive when layer ignition temperature is considered even if the minimum ignition temperature of the dust suspension shows a positive effect from the safety point of view. This behavior has been analyzed in the terms of thermal conductivity and diffusivity of the mixture, by using Maxwell's equation for two-phase solid mixtures. Standard empirical correlations for the ignition temperature of solid mixtures have been also tested, showing their weakness in reproducing mixture behavior.     

不同挥发分煤尘层最低着火温度变化规律研究

针对煤化工等行业的沉积煤尘热自燃问题,运用煤尘层最低着火温度测试系统,研究了不同挥发分煤尘层的着火状态、不同挥发分及不同厚度煤尘层最低着火温度的变化规律。结果表明:煤尘层厚度为5 mm时,挥发分质量分数大于35%的煤尘在较低温度便出现着火现象,肉眼很容易观察到火星的出现,温度曲线波动剧烈,而对于挥发分质量分数小于15%的煤尘,通过煤尘层内部"温度达到450℃"来判断其着火;在灰分质量分数相当的情况下,煤尘层最低着火温度随挥发分增加呈严格递减的趋势变化;得到了煤尘层厚度和最低着火温度的函数关系式,通过试验得到了挥发分质量分数为37.45%煤尘的重要常数M和N。     

Ignition tests for electrical and mechanical equipment subjected to hot surfaces

This paper reports some experimental work on hot surface ignition temperatures of dust deposits. Dust layers up to 75 mm in depth were ignited using a modified version of the standard 5 mm layer apparatus. The measured ignition temperatures show good agreement with predictions using the method given in EN 50281-2-1. Ignition temperatures of conical dust deposits over an electrically heated box were not predictable, but were not too dissimilar from the ignition temperatures of the thick layers. Both tests gave adequate reproducibility in round robin tests. Rotating steel wheels in contact, immersed in a dust deposit produce the frictional hot surfaces. A relation between the power lost by friction and the surface temperature developed has been derived. The surface temperatures leading to ignition were close to the ignition temperatures for the conical deposits on the heated box. The similarities between the ignition temperatures of dust deposits in several configurations indicate that a simple test for ignition temperature measurement could have wide application in dusty environments.     

A numerical model for the prediction of the minimum ignition temperature of dust clouds

This paper presents a numerical model for the prediction of the minimum ignition temperature (MIT) of dust clouds. First, a physical model is developed for the dust cloud ignition in the Godbert-Greenwald furnace. A numerical approach is then applied for the MIT prediction based on the physical model. The model considers heat transfer between the air and dust particles, the dust particle reaction kinetics, and the residence times of dust clouds in the furnace. In general, for the 13 dusts studied, the calculated MIT data are in agreement with the experimental values. There is also great accordance between the experimental and numerical MIT variation trends against particle size. Two different ignition modes are discovered. The first one consists in ignition near the furnace wall for bigger particles characterized by rather short residence times. In the second mode, the ignition starts from the center of the furnace by self-heating of the dust cloud for smaller particles with longer residence times. For magnesium, as dust concentration increases, the lowest ignition temperature of the dust cloud IT(conc) decreases first, then transits to increase at a certain point. The transition happens at different dust concentrations for different particle sizes. Moreover, the MIT of the magnesium dust cloud generally increases as particle size increases, but the increasing trend stagnates within a certain medium particle size range.     

Minimum Ignition Temperature of layer and cloud dust mixtures

The prevention of dust explosions is still a challenge for the process industry. Ignition, in particular, is a phenomenon that is still not completely understood. As a consequence, safety conditions pertaining to ignition suppression are rarely identified to an adequate level. It is well known that, in general, the ignition attitude of a dust depends on several factors, such as the nature of the chemical, the particle size, moisture content, etc., but there is still a lack of knowledge on the effect of the single variables.This paper has the aim of providing data on the Minimum Ignition Temperatures of dust mixtures obtained from a mixing of a combustible dust (flour, lactose, sucrose, sulphur) and an inert dust (limestone, extinguishing powders) as well as from the mixing of two different combustible dusts. Various mixtures with different weight ratios have been tested in a Godbert Greenwald (GG) furnace and on a hot plate in order to measure the effect of mixture composition on the Minimum Ignition Temperature (MIT_L) of the layer and on the Minimum Ignition Temperature (MIT_C) of the cloud. In order to further verify the effects of inert dust particle size, inerts sieved to different size ranges have been tested separately. Generally, both MIT_L and MIT_C increase as the inert content is increased. MIT_C is poorly affected by inert particle size when limestone is used. The MIT_L of pure flour is higher than the MIT_L of mixtures containing up to 40% of 32–75 μm of limestone. This was probably due to the behaviour of pure flour during the test, which demonstrated strong tendency to produce char, cracks in the layer and detachment from the hot plate.     

Effect of superfine KHCO3 and ABC powder on ignition sensitivity of PMMA dust layer

In order to evaluate the flame-retardant capacity of KHCO₃ and ABC on the ignition of PMMA dust layer accumulation on hot surfaces, the ignition time and critical heating temperature of PMMA/KHCO₃ and PMMA/ABC dust layer were experimentally investigated. The thermal stability of the mixed dust, the condensed phase products and gas phase products of the mixed dust combustion were analyzed to reveal the flame-retardant mechanism. The ignition time of 30 μm PMMA was obviously longer than that of 5 μm PMMA, and the critical heating temperature was close to that of 5 μm PMMA. KHCO₃ and ABC could greatly extend the ignition time of the PMMA dust layer and increase the critical heating temperature of the dust layer. ABC was more effective than KHCO₃. The decomposition of KHCO₃ and ABC absorbed the heat and inhibits the pyrolysis of PMMA. The HPO₃ and P₂O₅ generated by the decomposition of ABC would cover the surface of PMMA aggregates or particles and act as a physical barrier. The main light combustible gas produced by PMMA pyrolysis were CO and C₂H₄. The CO₂ generated during the decomposition of KHCO₃ could dilute the combustible gas in the ambient to inhibit the combustion of PMMA.     

A theoretical model for the prediction of the minimum ignition energy of dust clouds

In this study, a physical model of the dust cloud ignition process is developed for both cylindrical coordinates with a straight-line shaped ignition source and spherical coordinates with a point shaped ignition source. Using this model, a numerical algorithm for the calculation of the minimum ignition energy (MIE) is established and validated. This algorithm can evaluate MIEs of dusts and their mixtures with different dust concentrations and particle sizes. Although the average calculated cylindrical MIE (MIE_cylindrical) of the studied dusts only amounts to 63.9% of the average experimental MIE value due to reasons including high idealization of the numerical model and possible energy losses in the experimental tests, the algorithm with cylindrical coordinates correctly predicts the experimental MIE variation trends against particle diameter and dust concentration. There is a power function relationship between the MIE and particle diameter of the type MIE ∝ d_p^k with k being approximately 2 for cylindrical coordinates and 3 for spherical coordinates. Moreover, as dust concentration increases MIE(conc) first drops because of the decreasing average distance between particles and, at fuel-lean concentrations the increasing dust cloud combustion heat; however, after the dust concentration rises beyond a certain value, MIE(conc) starts to increase as a result of the increasingly significant heat sink effect from the particles and, at fuel-rich concentrations the no longer increasing dust cloud combustion heat.     

不同垫水层厚度下薄层扬沸现象燃烧特性研究

利用自行研发的小尺寸薄层扬沸燃烧特性测量平台,开展了不同垫水层厚度下薄层扬沸燃烧特性的实验研究。测试油料的品种为:柴油(0)和航空煤油(Jet A);油盆尺寸为15cm,18cm,30cm和40cm;实验工况中油层厚度为1.0cm,水层厚度选取了与油层厚度数量级相同的三种厚度:1.0cm,1.5cm和2.0cm。结果表明:随着油盆尺寸增大或垫水层厚度上升,扬沸阶段特性从突变型向持续型转变,首次扬沸发生时间缩短,扬沸强度降低。     

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.     

Development of heat transfer and evaporation model of LNG covered by Hi-Ex foam

Natural gas is a kind of clean, efficient green energy source, which is used widely. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is produced by cooling natural gas to −161 °C, at which it becomes the liquid. Once LNG was released, fire or explosion would happen when ignition source existed nearby. The high expansion foam (Hi-Ex foam) is believed to quickly blanket on the top of LNG spillage pool and warm the LNG vapor to lower the vapor cloud density at the ground level and raising vapor buoyancy. To identify the physical structure after it contacted with LN₂ and to develop heat transfer model, the small-scale field test with liquid nitrogen (LN₂) was designed. In experiment, three layers including frozen ice layer, frozen Hi-Ex layer and soft layer of Hi-Ex foam were observed at the steady state. By characterizing physical structure of the foam, formulas for calculating the surface of single foam bubble and counting foam film thickness were deduced. The micro heat transfer and evaporation model between cryogenic liquid and Hi-Ex foam was established. Indicating the physical structure of the frozen ice layer, there were a certain number of icicles below it. The heat transfer and evaporation mathematical model between the frozen ice layer and LNG was derived. Combining models above with the heat transfer between LNG, ground and cofferdam, the heat transfer and evaporation mathematical model of LNG covered by Hi-Ex foam was developed eventually. Finally, LN₂ evaporation rate calculated by this model was compared with the measured evaporation rate. The calculated results are 1.2–2.1 times of experimental results, which were acceptable in engineering and proved the model was reliable.     

航空煤油薄油层燃烧特性实验研究

为研究薄油层燃烧特性,开展航空煤油薄层油池火实验,分析油品燃烧的整个过程、燃烧速率、火焰高度和辐射反馈等参数随时间的变化规律。结果表明:整个薄层燃烧过程除发展、稳定和熄灭阶段外,还存在薄层燃烧衰减阶段。稳定阶段的燃烧速率与初始油层厚度相关,但随着厚度的增加其逐渐趋于稳定;薄层燃烧衰减阶段,燃烧速率会随着实时油层厚度的下降逐渐降低。对比火焰高度的实测值和模型预测值发现,Heskestad模型的预测更接近实际结果;燃烧发展阶段后,火焰辐射反馈基本维持稳定,受初始厚度的影响较小,但辐射透射强度会随着油层厚度的降低而增加,且增速逐渐加快,表明辐射透射在薄层燃烧衰退阶段中起到关键作用。结合辐射透射的变化规律,将辐射反馈分为可吸收和不可吸收2部分,并提出用于预测辐射透射大小的经验模型。     

Analysis of the chosen thermal and flammability parameters of dried sewage dust

The hazardous sludge disposal process in the form of landfills requires the determination inter alia of the flammable and explosion properties of dried sewage sludge dust, which has the ability to ignite and spontaneously combust when stored in silos. At a constant furnace surface temperature, the minimum ignition temperature of the sludge dust layer with a layer thickness of 5 mm is 270 °C, and for a layer thickness of 12.5 mm it is 250 °C. Two selected fire extinguishing powders for Class A, B, C and D fires were used in the study to determine the possibility of reducing the susceptibility of dried wastewater to ignition from heated surface, self-ignition and explosion parameters. The most effective extinguishing powder was ABC Favorit, which increased the value of the minimum ignition temperature of the layer (5 mm thick) to 360 °C and the spontaneous ignition temperature of the sludge with this powder increased by 22 °C at 169.6 cm³ in comparison to the sludge without extinguishing powder, respectively. The lowest self-ignition temperature of 136 °C was recorded for the largest tested volume (169.6 cm³) for dried sewage dust without any fire extinguishing powders. The biggest values of p_max and (dp/dt)_max dried sewage dust were recorded 4.8 bar and 113 bar/s respectively. By analysing the obtained test results, it can be assumed that dried sewage dust is a combustible material with properties similar to biomass.     

辐射热流条件下多层电缆着火的数值模拟

通过CFD计算软件对锥形量热燃烧实验条件下的多层电缆着火性能进行数值模拟计算,对比相应CONE电缆燃烧实验结果,其计算结果表明所建立的电缆模型所得计算结果能够较好预测电缆着火时间。在此基础上,对护套层、绝缘层厚度、线芯层直径等参数对着火时间的影响进行了分析,发现护套层厚度对着火时间影响最大,线芯层对着火时间影响较小;当护套层及绝缘层厚度达到一定数值之后,电缆着火时间将不再发生变化。另外,因为电缆由多层热特性各异的材料组成,不能简单的划分为热薄材料或者热厚材料,但就所模拟电缆而言,其着火时间在不同的热辐射强度下分别表现出与热薄材料或者热厚材料相似的变化规律。     

煤质粉末活性炭自燃和热稳定性分析

针对煤质粉末活性炭最显著的热危险特性——自燃危险性进行试验。采用粉尘层最低着火温度测定系统对煤质粉末活性炭进行自燃试验,测定煤质粉末活性炭的最低着火温度;采用SDT Q600热重分析仪测定煤质粉末活性炭在氮气和空气气氛中以20℃/min的速率升温至700℃时的热解和燃烧特性,通过TG/DTG曲线计算其着火温度,并进行热稳定性评价。粉尘层自燃试验结果表明,煤质粉末活性炭最低着火温度为400℃,具有自燃危险性,易形成阴燃;氮气气氛中热解试验表明,热解过程经历了室温~120.0℃和280.0~700.0℃两次轻缓失重阶段,646.44℃时挥发分热失重速率最大,对应热失重速率峰值为0.082 6%/℃,自燃危险性较低;空气气氛中燃烧试验表明,燃烧过程经历了室温~95.5℃和300.0~600.0℃两次剧烈失重阶段,分别为吸附水分受热蒸发和氧化生成的有机官能团分解脱附导致,565.35℃时挥发分热失重速率最大,对应热失重速率峰值为13.20%/min,粉末较强的氧气吸附效应和较低的导热系数导致其自燃倾向较高,火灾危险性较大。     

Minimum ignition energy theoretical model for flammable gas based on flame propagation layer by layer

To achieve the rapid prediction of minimum ignition energy (MIE) for premixed gases with wide-span equivalence ratios, a theoretical model is developed based on the proposed idea of flame propagation layer by layer. The validity and high accuracy of this model in predicting MIE have been corroborated against experimental data (from literature) and traditional models. In comparison, this model is mainly applicable to uniform premixed flammable mixtures, and the ignition source needs to be regarded as a punctiform energy source. Nevertheless, this model can exhibit higher accuracy (up to 90%) than traditional models when applied to premixed gases with wide-span equivalence ratios, such as C₃H₈-air mixtures with 0.7–1.5 equivalence ratios, CH₄-air mixtures with 0.7–1.25 equivalence ratios, H₂-air mixtures with 0.6–3.15 equivalence ratios et al. Further, the model parameters have been pre-determined using a 20 L spherical closed explosion setup with a high-speed camera, and then the MIE of common flammable gases (CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, C₄H₁₀, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, C₂H₂, C₃H₄, C₂H₆O, CO and H₂) under stoichiometric or wide-span equivalence ratios has been calculated. Eventually, the influences of model parameters on MIE have been discussed. Results show that MIE is the sum of the energy required for flame propagation during ignition. The increase in exothermic and heat transfer efficiency for fuel molecules can reduce MIE, whereas prolonging the flame induction period can increase MIE.