Experimental study on the minimum explosion concentration of anthracite dust: The roles of O2 mole fraction,inert gas and CH4 addition

The explosion characteristics of anthracite coal dust with/without small amount of CH₄ (1.14 vol %) were investigated by using a 20 L spherical explosion apparatus with an emphasis on the roles of oxygen mole fraction and inert gas. Two methods based on overpressure and combustion duration time were used to determine the minimum explosion concentration (MEC) or the lower explosion limit (LEL) of the pure anthracite coal dust and the hybrid coal-methane mixtures, respectively. The experiment results showed that increasing oxygen mole fraction increases the explosion risk of coal dust: with increasing oxygen mole fraction, the explosion pressure (P_ex) and the rate of explosion pressure rise ((dp/dt)_ex)) increase, while MEC decreases. The explosion risk of anthracite dust was found to be lower after replacing N₂ with CO₂, suggesting that CO₂ has a better inhibition effect on explosion mainly due to its higher specific heat. However, the addition of 1.14% CH₄ moderates the inhibition effect of CO₂ and the promotion effect of O₂ on anthracite dust explosion for some extent, increasing explosion severity and reducing the MEC of anthracite dust. For hybrid anthracite/CH₄ mixture explosions, Barknecht's curve was found to be more accurate and conservative than Chatelier's line, but neither are sufficient from the safety considerations. The experimental results provide a certain help for the explosion prevention and suppression in carbonaceous dust industries.     

Effects of a carbon monoxide-dominant gas mixture on the explosion and flame propagation behaviors of methane in air

This work aimed to experimentally evaluate the effects of a carbon monoxide-dominant gas mixture on the explosion characteristics of methane in air and report the results of an experimental study on explosion pressure measurement in closed vessel deflagration for a carbon monoxide-dominant gas mixture over its entire flammable range. Experiments were performed in a 20-L spherical explosion tank with a quartz glass window 110 mm in diameter using an electric spark (1 J) as the ignition source. All experiments were conducted at room temperature and at ambient pressure, with a relative humidity ranging from 52 to 73%. The peak explosion pressure (P_max), maximum pressure rise rate ((dp/dt)_max), and gas deflagration index (K_G) were observed and analyzed. The flame propagation behavior in the initial stage was recorded using a high-speed camera. The spherical outward flame front was determined on the basis of a canny method, from which the maximum flame propagation speed (S_n) was calculated. The results indicated that the existence of the mixture had a significant effect on the flame propagation of CH₄-air and increased its explosion risk. As the volume fraction of the mixed gas increases, the P_max, (dp/dt)_max, K_G and S_n of the fuel-lean CH₄-air mixture (7% CH₄-air mixture) increase nonlinearly. In contrast, addition of the mixed gas negatively affected the fuel-rich mixture (11% CH₄-air mixture), exhibiting a decreasing trend. Under stoichiometric conditions (9.5% CH₄-air mixture), the mixed gas slightly lowered P_max, (dp/dt)_max, K_G, and S_n. The P_max of CH₄-air mixtures at volume fractions of 7%, 9.5%, and 11% were 5.4, 6.9, and 6.8 bar, respectively. The S_n of CH₄-air mixtures at volume fractions of 7%, 9.5%, and 11% were 1.2 m/s, 2.0 m/s, and 1.8 m/s, respectively. The outcome of the study is comprehensive data that quantify the dependency of explosion severity parameters on the gas concentration. In the storage and transportation of flammable gases, the information is required to quantify the potential severity of an explosion, design vessels able to withstand an explosion and design explosion safety measures for installations handling this gas.     

受限空间内惰性气体对CH4爆炸抑制特性研究

N2和CO2是常用的惰性抑爆气体,为研究两种气体的抑爆特性,采用20L球形爆炸试验装置,分析了不同浓度配比条件下N2/CH4/空气以及CO2/CH4/空气混合气体的爆炸压力,同时采集爆炸后的气体样品,对比分析爆炸后残留气体的主要成分。结果显示:随CH4浓度从5%增加至12.5%时,完全抑制CH4爆炸需要的惰性气体最小量先增大后降低,CH4浓度在6.5%~7.5%之间时,抑爆需要的惰性气体的量最大;在同一CH4浓度条件下,抑爆需要N2的量大于CO2,并且CH4浓度在5%~6.5%时,抑爆需要两种惰性气体的量值差别最大;当CH4浓度一定时,随着加入惰性气体量的增大,爆炸最大超压逐渐降低,惰性气体浓度和爆炸超压之间基本呈线性关系;在同样条件下,相对于N2,CO2为抑爆气体时,爆炸后腔体内残留的CH4浓度较高。研究成果为惰性气体抑爆技术提供技术支撑,同时为揭示惰性气体抑爆机理有一定作用。     

Experimental study on CO and CO2 emissions from spontaneous heating of coals at varying temperatures and O2 concentrations

Laboratory experiments were conducted to investigate carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from spontaneous heating of three U.S. coal samples in an isothermal oven at temperatures between 50 and 110 °C. The oxygen (O₂) concentration of an oxygen/nitrogen (N₂) mixture flowing through the coal sample was 3, 5, 10, 15, and 21%, respectively. The temperature at the center of the coal sample was continuously monitored, while the CO, CO₂, and O₂ concentrations of the exit gas were continuously measured. The results indicate that the CO and CO₂ concentrations and the CO/CO₂ ratio increased when the initial temperature was increased. As the inlet O₂ concentration increased, the CO and CO₂ concentrations increased, while the CO/CO₂ ratios tended to converge to the same value. The ratio of CO/CO₂ was found to be independent of coal properties, approaching a constant value of 0.2. The maximum CO production rate correlated well with the maximum coal temperature rise. The apparent order of reaction for coal oxidation was estimated to be between 0.52 and 0.72. The experimental results in this study could be used for early detection and evaluation of a spontaneous heating in underground coal mines.     

多元混合气爆炸极限的非线性预测研究

根据混合气的爆炸极限与混合气各成分的体积浓度之间具有非线性关系的特点,笔者提出采用神经网络非线性方法来计算含有H2,CH4和CO的多元混合气体的爆炸极限。在模型中,H2,CH4和CO的体积浓度作为输入,爆炸上限和下限作为输出。计算结果表明,该非线性模型预测混合气爆炸下限和上限的最大相对误差为3.90%,3.57%,而模型预测值与计算值的相关系数分别为0.971,0.981;非线性模型的预测结果要好于偏最小二乘回归的预测结果。当H2,CO,CH4在混合气中的体积浓度给定时,非线性模型能够准确预测混合气的爆炸极限。     

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。     

Experimental study on the suppression of gas explosion using the gas–solid suppressant of CO2/ABC powder

Gas explosion is the leading accident in underground coal mining in China. Using the self-improved 20 L spherical experimental system, the impacts of 8% CO₂, ABC powder at various concentrations and mixture of them on the suppression of mine gas explosion were investigated. The results indicate that cooperative synergism exists between ABC powder and CO₂. Their combination has a better effect than each of the two components acting alone, especially for the gas of larger concentration. When 0.25 g/L ABC powder was mixed with 8% CO₂, the explosion limits were reduced by about 55%, the time to reach the peak explosion pressure was prolonged 3.56 times on average. Meanwhile, the maximum explosion pressure declined on an average of 59.4% and the maximum explosion overpressure rising rate decreased on an average of 91.1%. A combination of 0.20 g/L ABC powder and 8% CO₂ completely suppressed 11% gas explosion. The explosion suppression mechanism of CO₂ and ABC powder were probed theoretically. CO₂ plays a key part in the whole explosion processes, and it can effectively suppress the forward reaction between gas and oxygen. While it is during the middle-later period of explosion processes that ABC powder plays a critical role. The particles decomposed from heated ABC powder such as nitrogen and phosphor will react with free radicals rapidly. Besides, atoms as N, P are capable of participating in chain reaction and reacting with active groups, significantly suppressing the gas explosion.     

管道内瓦斯煤尘共混爆炸温度特性

采用瞬态火焰传播实验系统,对7%,8%,9%,10%和11%的瓦斯体积浓度分别与不同浓度的长焰煤煤尘混合,并使用直径25 μm的Pt/Rh13-Pt微细热电偶测量温度,揭示受限空间内瓦斯与煤尘混合爆炸温度特性。结果表明:煤尘浓度一定时,随着瓦斯浓度的增加,爆炸温度先增加后减小;纯瓦斯浓度在10%时爆炸温度最高,加入煤尘后的混合体系中,瓦斯浓度为9%时爆炸温度最高;瓦斯浓度不变时,随着煤尘浓度的增加,爆炸温度一直减小;7%~11%瓦斯分别与130 g/m3煤尘混合爆炸后测得最高温度分别为1 333.6,1 475.4,1 511.4,1 455.6,1 396.4 ℃;与9%纯瓦斯爆炸相比,9%瓦斯与130,260,520,780 g/m3煤尘混合爆炸后测得最高温度分别降低7.2%,11.5%,15.0%和22.9%。结论得到的瓦斯煤尘共混爆炸温度数据可为煤矿灾害高温防护提供参考依据。     

CO2-超细水雾对瓦斯/煤尘爆炸抑制特性研究

为了解CO2-超细水雾对瓦斯/煤尘爆炸抑制特性,用自行搭建的实验系统,从超压、火焰传播速度和火焰结构3个方面研究了CO2-超细水雾形成的气液两相介质对9.5%瓦斯/煤尘复合体系爆炸的抑爆效果、影响因素与原因。研究结果表明:随着CO2体积分数和超细水雾质量浓度的增加,爆炸火焰最大传播速度、爆炸超压峰值均出现明显下降,火焰到达泄爆口时间显著延迟;尤其当CO2体积分数达到14%与超细水雾的共同抑爆效果凸显,瓦斯/煤尘复合体系爆炸超压的“震荡平台”消失,同时火焰结构呈现“整体孔隙化”。所得结论为煤矿井下高效防爆抑爆技术进行了完善和增强。     

A case study of promoting CH4 discharge and preventing coal & gas outburst accidents by using cross-layer liquid injection technology

To solve the problem of gas extraction in coal bodies with the outburst risk, the cross-layer drilling fluid injection technology for protecting rock pillars is adopted to promote gas extraction. We combined theoretical calculations, laboratory experiments, and field tests to analyze the degree of fissure development in different parts of the coal body. We also determined the liquid injection parameters and negative extraction pressures. The CH₄ extraction effects of three stages before, during, and after liquid injection was compared. The results show that the possibility of coal outbursts in different parts is reduced by 58%∼70% by using liquid injection and pumping technology. The peak value of CH₄ pure flow in the main pipe is increased by 1.5–2.8 times, and the average value is increased by 1.8–2.6 times. The peak value of gas concentration at the orifice of the extraction hole is increased by 1.6–3.5 times, and the average value is increased by 1.6–4 times. Liquid injection to promote extraction greatly improves the gas extraction efficiency in coal bodies, which is of great significance to reducing cost, shortening the construction period, and ensuring safe production, and providing a reference for similar engineering construction.     

Inerting effect of N2 on explosion of LDPE dust/ethylene hybrid mixtures

Explosion flame propagation characteristics and overpressure distribution of low density polyethylene (LDPE) dust and ethylene hybrid mixture were investigated under N₂ inerting conditions using a custom-designed 12 L cylindrical explosion tank. The results showed that a small amount of ethylene could promote the explosion characteristics of LDPE dust. N₂ inerting had different inhibitory effects on the explosion flame of LDPE dust and its mixture with ethylene. The explosion overpressure strength of the LDPE dust/ethylene hybrid mixture decreased with increasing N₂ concentration. The overall suppression effect of N₂ on the explosion overpressure of the LDPE dust was better than that of the LDPE dust/ethylene hybrid mixture explosion. As the ethylene concentration increased from 0% to 2.5%, the limiting oxygen concentration decreased by 13% oxygen. This small amount of ethylene restricted the traditional inerting process. The study conclusions can provide further scientific basis for the inerting and explosion proofing design of production process equipment involving LDPE dust.     

Explosion parameters of wood chip-derived syngas in air

The wood gasification process poses serious concerns about the risk of explosion. The design of prevention and mitigation measures requires the knowledge of safety parameters, such as the maximum explosion pressure, the maximum rate of pressure rise and the gas deflagration index, K_G, at standard ambient temperature (25 °C) and pressure (1 bar) conditions. However, the analysis at specific process conditions is strongly recommended, as the explosion behavior of gas mixtures may be completely different.In the work presented in this paper, the explosion behavior of mixtures with composition representative of wood chip-derived syngas (CO/H₂/CH₄/CO₂/N₂ mixtures with and without H₂O) was experimentally studied in a closed combustion chamber. Experiments were run at two temperatures, 300 °C and 10 °C, and at atmospheric pressure. Test conditions were requested by the safety engineering designer of an existing industrial-scale wood gasification plant. In order to identify the specific fuel–air ratios to be analyzed, thus reducing the number of experimental tests, a preliminary thermo-kinetic study was performed.Results have shown that the mixtures investigated can be classified as low-reactivity mixtures, the higher value of K_G found (∼36 bar m/s) being much lower than the K_G value of methane (55 bar m/s @ 25 °C).     

Ignitability assessment of shredder dusts of refrigerator and the prevention of the dust explosion

Explosibility of polyurethane dusts produced in the recycling process of refrigerator and the ways to prevent the dust explosion were studied. In recent years, cyclopentane is often used as the foaming agent and this produces explosive atmosphere in the shredding process. The minimum explosive concentration of polyurethane dust, influence of coexisting cyclopentane gas on the explosibility, effect of relative humidity on the minimum explosive concentration of polyurethane dusts, the minimum ignition energy, influence of cyclopentane mixture on the explosion severity, etc. were investigated.The minimum explosive dust concentration decreased with the increase of cyclopentane concentration and increased with the increase of relative humidity. The minimum ignition energy was about 11 mJ. The ignition energy decreased with the increase of the cyclopentane gas concentration. The cyclopentane gas concentration up to about 5300 ppm did not influence too much on the explosion index (K_st) and maximum explosion pressure. From these, it would be a good way to increase the relative humidity and to regulate the cyclopentane concentration in the shredding process to prevent the dust explosion hazard.     

Effects of premixed methane concentration on distribution of flame region and hazard effects in a tube and a tunnel gas explosion

Study of flame distribution laws and the hazard effects in a tunnel gas explosion accident is of great importance for safety issue. However, it has not yet been fully explored. The object of present work is mainly to study the effects of premixed gas concentration on the distribution law of the flame region and the hazard effects involving methane-air explosion in a tube and a tunnel based on experimental and numerical results. The experiments were conducted in a tube with one end closed and the other open. The tube was partially filled with premixed methane-air mixture with six different premixed methane concentrations. Major simulation works were performed in a full-scale tunnel with a length of 1000 m. The first 56 m of the tunnel were occupied by methane–air mixture. Results show that the flame region is always longer than the original gas region in any case. Concentration has significant effects on the flame region distribution and the explosion behaviors. In the tube, peak overpressures and maximum rates of overpressure rise (dp/dt)_max for mixtures with lower and higher concentrations are great lower than that for mixtures close to stoichiometric concentration. Due to the gas diffusion effect, not the stoichiometric mixture but the mixture with a slightly higher concentration of 11% gets the highest peak overpressure and the shock wave speed along the tube. In the full-scale tunnel, for fuel lean and stoichiometric mixture, the maximum peak combustion rates is achieved before arriving at the boundary of the original methane accumulation region, while for fuel rich mixture, the maximum value appears beyond the region. It is also found that the flame region for the case of stoichiometric mixture is the shortest as 72 m since the higher explosion intensity shortens the gas diffusion time. The case for concentration of 13% can reach up to a longest value of 128 m for longer diffusion time and the abundant fuel. The “serious injury and death” zone caused by shock wave may reach up to 3–8 times of the length of the original methane occupied region, which is the widest damage region.     

井下液态CO2爆破增透工业试验研究

为了增加煤层透气性、提高瓦斯抽采效率,选取七台河矿区进行液态CO2爆破煤层增透工业试验。研究液态CO2爆破过程中主管内高压气体P-T曲线,考察不同地应力下的液态CO2爆破有效影响半径和煤层透气性系数,监测爆破前后瓦斯抽采参数。试验结果表明:采用压缩气体与水蒸气容器爆破方法计算液态CO2爆破的当量为180 gTNT;爆破后瓦斯抽采浓度提高3.16倍,瓦斯抽采混合流量提高1.71倍;煤层液态CO2爆破有效影响半径随地应力的增加近线性减小,随爆破压力的增加非线性增加,确定液态CO2爆破时最佳爆破压力范围160~280 MPa;爆破前后对比,煤层透气性系数提升17.49~22.76倍。井下煤层液态CO2爆破技术的实施,有助于降低爆破成本、提高增透效果和瓦斯抽采利用率。     

多元可燃性气体爆炸压力与中间产物发射光谱特性的耦合研究

工业生产中爆炸事故往往是由多元可燃气体与空气混合后遇到明火而引起的,为研究乙烷（C₂H₆）、乙烯（C₂H₄）、一氧化碳（CO）、氢气（H₂）对甲烷爆炸特性的影响,选取多组分可燃气体甲烷爆炸压力特性和自由基发射光谱的影响进行研究,利用陕西省工业过程安全与应急救援工程技术研究中心重点实验室搭建的多功能球形气体/粉尘爆炸实验装置和单色仪进行爆炸实验测试,同步采集时间—压力曲线、中间产物（OH,CH₂O）的发射光谱信号,考察多组分可燃气体浓度对甲烷爆炸压力特性和中间产物的影响。结果表明:在富氧状态下,多组分可燃气体加剧了甲烷—空气混合体系的爆炸剧烈程度,随着体系中氧气含量的减少、由富氧状态变为贫氧状态、促进作用逐渐减弱转变为阻尼作用,爆炸压力特性与中间产物发射光谱参数的影响规律基本保持一致,均呈高度正相关;多元混合体系爆炸剧烈程度越大,自由基发射光谱达到峰值的速度越快,自由基更早、更快的积累是加剧爆炸程度的原因之一。     

Inhibiting effects of gas–particle mixtures containing CO2, Mg(OH)2 particles,and NH4H2PO4 particles on methane explosion in a 20-L closed vessel

The main risk factors from methane explosion are the associated shock waves, flames, and harmful gases. Inert gases and inhibiting powders are commonly used to prevent and mitigate the damage caused by an explosion. In this study, three inhibitors (inert gas with 8.0 vol% CO₂, 0.25 g/L Mg(OH)₂ particles, and 0.25 g/L NH₄H₂PO₄ particles) were prepared. Their inhibiting effects on methane explosions with various concentrations of methane were tested in a nearly spherical 20-L explosion vessel. Both single-component inhibitors and gas–particle mixtures can substantially suppress methane explosions with varying degrees of success. However, various inhibitors exhibited distinct reaction mechanisms for methane gas, which indicated that their inhibiting effects for methane explosion varied. To alleviate amplitude, the ranking of single-component inhibitors for both explosion pressure (P_ex) and the rate of explosion pressure rise [(dP/dt)_ex] was as follows: CO₂, NH₄H₂PO₄ particles, and Mg(OH)₂ particles. In order of decreasing amplitude, the ranking of gas‒particle mixtures for both P_ex and (dP/dt)_ex was as follows: CO₂–NH₄H₂PO₄ mixture, CO₂‒Mg(OH)₂ mixture, and pure CO₂. Overall, the optimal suppression effect was observed in the system with the CO₂–NH₄H₂PO₄ mixture, which exhibited an eminent synergistic effect on methane explosions. The amplitudes of P_ex with methane concentrations of 7.0, 9.5, and 11.0 vol% decreased by 37.1%, 42.5%, and 98.6%, respectively, when using the CO₂–NH₄H₂PO₄ mixture. In addition, an antagonistic effect was observed with CO₂‒Mg(OH)₂ mixtures because MgO, which was generated by the thermal decomposition of Mg(OH)₂, can chemically react with water vapor and CO₂ to produce basic magnesium carbonate (xMgCO₃·yMg(OH)₂·zH₂O), thereby reducing the CO₂ concentration in a reaction system. This research revealed the inhibiting effects of gas‒particle mixtures (including CO₂, Mg(OH)₂ particles, and NH₄H₂PO₄ particles) on methane explosions and provided primary experimental data.     

瓦斯煤尘爆炸特性及抑爆方法研究进展

为探究瓦斯煤尘爆炸特性及抑爆机理,本文通过一系列实验,研究瓦斯、煤尘爆炸的速度和温度等特征,提出利用图像相关系数法和辐射测温原理计算火焰传播速度及温度场变化,定量分析影响煤尘爆炸的因素以及产物变化规律,揭示煤尘爆炸的宏微观机制。结果表明:火焰分形维数可以用来反应瓦斯爆炸强度,即当分形维数更接近2.2937时爆炸反应最为强烈,其爆炸过程中自由基最终生成浓度与CH 4初始浓度呈倒U型关系;当量比对煤粉火焰爆炸压力及速度也有一定影响,在最佳当量比的2倍左右时可以达到最大爆炸压力和最大火焰传播速度。另外本文亦采用泡沫陶瓷对瓦斯的多次爆炸和连续爆炸进行抑爆,发现不同厚度和孔隙的泡沫陶瓷具有不同的抑制效果,孔隙较大的泡沫陶瓷对爆炸能量有较好的抑制作用。     

腐朽坑木与煤混合物升温氧化特性研究

为研究煤层及腐朽坑木着火特性,采集巷道内腐朽坑木与煤样并进行混合,对其混合物进行燃点测定和程序升温实验;通过对不同煤木混合物在升温过程中产生气体的规律性进行分析,优选出混合物产生的单一气体指标及复合指标.研究结果表明:随朽木在混合物中的比例上升,混合物燃点呈下降趋势,且CO,C2 H4等指标气体出现更早,CO产生量更大...     

R290制冷剂惰化燃爆特性实验研究

为了研究R290制冷剂惰化燃爆特性,采用带搅拌功能和氧浓度在线测定的20L球试验装置,对R290制冷剂进行了极限氧浓度测定。实验测定了丙烷在CO2和N2惰化气氛中的爆炸极限及极限空气浓度LAC,确定丙烷的极限氧浓度LOC;采用三元图爆炸区、丙烷-O2二维图爆炸区和ASTM标准分布图分析了混合气体爆炸区边界的燃爆特征,给出了极限氧浓度的确定方法和边界爆炸压力分布规律。实验结果表明:常温常压下R290的爆炸极限为2.1%～9.6%,CO2惰化气氛中的极限氧浓度为13.3%,对应的丙烷浓度为3.3%;N2惰化气氛中的极限氧浓度为10.8%,对应的丙烷浓度为2.7%。通过对比分析不同CO2和N2浓度下的爆炸区分布特征,表明CO2对丙烷的惰化效果要优于N2,以氮气和二氧化氮体积分数比为1∶2测试惰化气氛保护能力,惰化效果介于同浓度单种惰性气体之间。