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.     

Thermal radiation from vapour cloud explosions

The current study estimates the radiation flux emitted from hot extended gas clouds characteristic of vapour cloud explosions along with the corresponding level of irradiance posed on particles suspended in the unburnt part of the cloud ahead of an advancing flame front. The data presented permits an assessment of the plausibility of combustion initiation by such particles due to forward thermal radiation. The thermal radiation will depend on the emissivity of the burned volume, which relates to the concentration of gaseous and particulate combustion products. A sensitivity analysis has been carried out to account for variations in the equivalence ratio, mixture pressure and radiative heat losses. The spatial distribution of irradiance ahead of the flame front has been computed by introducing appropriate geometrical factors to explore the impact of cloud size. Using fuel rich ethylene-air mixtures it has been shown that high flame emissivities can be achieved at path lengths of order 1 m even in the presence of very low soot volume fractions. The emissivity of gas-soot mixtures will hence be mainly determined by the soot concentration and to a lesser extent by the mixture temperature. Our analysis suggests that the role of forward thermal radiation as a contributing factor to flame propagation in large scale vapour cloud explosions can not currently be ruled out.     

Numerical studies on minimum ignition energies in methane/air and iso-octane/air mixtures

In this study, the dependence of minimum ignition energies (MIE) on ignition geometry, ignition source radius and mixture composition is investigated numerically for methane/air and iso-octane/air mixtures. Methane and iso-octane are both important hydrocarbon fuels, but differ strongly with respect to their Lewis numbers. Lean iso-octane air mixtures have particularly large Lewis numbers. The results show that within the flammability limits, the MIE for both mixtures stays almost constant, and increases rapidly at the limits. The MIEs for both fuels are also similar within the flammability limits. Furthermore, the MIEs of iso-octane/air mixtures with a small spherical ignition source increase rapidly for lean mixtures. Here the Lewis number is above unity, and thus, the flame may quench because of flame curvature effects. The observations show a distinct difference between ignition and flame propagation for iso-octane. The minimum energy required for initiating a successful flame propagation can be considerably higher than that required for initiating an ignition in the ignition volume. For iso-octane with a small spherical ignition source, this effect was observed at all equivalence ratios. For iso-octane with cylindrical ignition sources, the phenomenon appeared at lower equivalence ratios only, where the mixture's Lewis number is large. For methane fuel, the effect was negligible. The results highlight the significance of molecular transport properties on the decision whether or not an ignitable mixture can evolve into a propagating flame.     

Influence of thermal radiation on layered dust explosions

Multidimensional unsteady numerical simulations were carried out to explore the influence of thermal radiation on the propagation and structure of layered coal dust explosions. The simulation solved the reactive compressible Navier-Stokes equations coupled to an Eulerian kinetic-theory-based granular multiphase model. The radiation heat transfer is modeled by solving the radiation transfer equation using the third-order filtered spherical harmonics approximation. The radiation was assumed to be gray and all boundaries of the domain are black at 300 K. The reaction mechanism is based on global irreversible reactions for each physical process including devolatilization, char burning, moisture vaporization, and methane combustion. The governing equations were solved using a high-order Godunov method. Several simulation configurations were considered: layer volume fractions of 47% and 1%, channel lengths of 10 m and 40 m, and radiative and non-radiative cases. The results show that gray radiation has a significant influence on the propagation and structure of a layered dust explosion. However, radiation can have opposite effects on different scenarios. For example, radiation promotes the propagation of the dust flame when the layer volume fraction was 1% and in the short-channel cases where reflected shock-flame interactions are important. However, radiation enhances quenching for the 47% volume fraction dust layer in the longer channel.     

Radiation heat transfer in transient dust cloud flame propagation

This study investigates the impact of radiation heat transfer and heat conduction on dust cloud combustion. Radiation plays a very important role in the stability of dust cloud flame, and increasing the amount of radiation drastically raises the possibility of instability and explosion in a dust cloud mixture. Flame speed, which is a function of mixture characteristics, can exhibit a fluctuating behavior. By using the discrete heat source method, it would be possible to study the transient propagation of dust flames. Thus, the propagation speed of flame can be obtained, and as time goes by, the transient speed of dust flame will reach its steady state value. By considering the radiation effect, better agreement is observed between the obtained results and experimental data.     

Inerting characteristics of ultrafine Mg(OH)2 on starch dust explosion flame propagation

Experiments on the flame propagation of starch dust explosion with the participation of ultrafine Mg(OH)₂ in a vertical duct were conducted to reveal the inerting evolution of explosion processes. Combining the dynamic behaviors of flame propagation, the formation law of gaseous combustion products, and the heat dissipation features of solid inert particles, the inerting mechanism of explosion flame propagation is discussed. Results indicate that the ultrafine of Mg(OH)₂ powders can cause the agglomeration of suspended dust clouds, which makes the flame combustion reaction zone fragmented and forms multiple small flame regions. The flame reaction zone presents non-homogeneous insufficient combustion, which leads to the obstruction of the explosion flame propagation process and the obvious pulsation propagation phenomenon. As the proportion of ultrafine Mg(OH)₂ increases, flame speed, flame luminescence intensity, flame temperature and deflagration pressure all show different degrees of inerting behavior. The addition of ultrafine Mg(OH)₂ not only causes partial inerting on the explosion flame, but also the heat dissipation of solid inert particles affects the acceleration of its propagation. The explosion flame propagation is inhibited by the synergistic effect of inert gas-solid phase, which attenuates the risk of starch explosion. The gas-solid synergistic inerting mechanism of starch explosion flame propagation by ultrafine Mg(OH)₂ is further revealed.     

Experimental study of the effect of nitrogen addition on gas explosion

Flame propagation and combustion characteristics of methane/air mixed gas in gas explosion were studied in a constant volume combustion bomb. Stretched flame propagation velocity, unstretched laminar flame propagation velocity, unstretched laminar combustion velocity and Markstein length were obtained at various ratios of nitrogen to gas mixture. Combustion stability at various ratios of nitrogen to gas mixture was analyzed by analyzing the pictures of flame propagation. Furthermore, the effect of initial pressure on the flame propagation and combustion characteristics of methane/air mixed gas in gas explosion was analyzed. The results show that the unstretched laminar flame propagation velocity, the unstretched laminar combustion velocity, Markstein length, flame stability, and the maximum combustion pressure decrease distinctly with the increase of nitrogen fraction in the gas mixture. At the same ratios of nitrogen to gas mixture, Markstein length, unstretched laminar flame propagation velocity and unstretched laminar combustion velocity decrease and the maximum combustion pressure increase with the increase of initial pressure of the gas mixture. When nitrogen fraction in the gas mixture is over 20%, the flame will be unstable and is easy to exterminate.     

A constant pressure dust explosion experiment

A new apparatus has been designed for investigating flame propagation in turbulent dust clouds at near constant pressure conditions. The experimental approach is inspired by the classical soap bubble method for measuring burning velocities in gaseous mixtures. Combustible dust is dispersed with pressurised air to form an explosive mixture inside a transparent latex balloon. After a certain delay time, the turbulent dust cloud is ignited by a 40 J chemical igniter. A digital high-speed video camera records the propagating flame and the expansion of the balloon. Experiments were performed with two types of dust, Lycopódium spores and maize starch, as well as with propane–air mixtures under initially quiescent or turbulent conditions. Although the results are primarily qualitative in nature, they nevertheless demonstrate fundamental differences between premixed combustion of gaseous mixtures, and ‘premixed combustion with non-premixed substructures' in mechanical suspensions of solid particles dispersed in air. The discussion highlights some fundamental challenges for future dust explosion research.     

Interaction of flame instabilities and pressure behavior of hydrogen-propane explosion

The flame destabilization mechanism of hydrogen-propane-air mixture is firstly revealed. The effects of unstable flame formation on pressure rise rate and burning rate are quantified. Finally, the theoretical prediction of explosion pressure behavior is performed by considering diffusive-thermal and hydrodynamic instability. The results demonstrated that before the explosion pressure starts to climbe, as the propane fraction increases, the effective Lewis number of lean and stoichiometric mixture undergoes the transition from Le_eff < 1.0 to Le_eff > 1.0, the stabilizing effect of diffusive-thermal instability continues to reduce for the rich mixture. After the explosion pressure starts to climbe, the hydrogen-propane flame becomes more unstable, which is mainly attributed to enhancing hydrodynamic instability. The maximum rate of pressure rise and burning rate should be augmented by unstable flame formation, the flame instabilities must be considered in the explosion pressure evaluation.     

Fast and tiny: A model for the flame propagation of nanopowders

To avoid the influence of external parameters, such as the vessel volume or the initial turbulence, the explosion severity should be determined from intrinsic properties of the fuel-air mixture. Therefore, the flame propagation of gaseous mixtures is often studied in order to estimate their laminar burning velocity, which is both independent of external factors and a useful input for CFD simulation. Experimentally, this parameter is difficult to evaluate when it comes to dust explosion, due to the inherent turbulence during the dispersion of the cloud. However, the low inertia of nanoparticles allows performing tests at very low turbulence without sedimentation. Knowledge on flame propagation concerning nanoparticles may then be modelled and, under certain conditions, extrapolated to microparticles, for which an experimental measurement is a delicate task. This work focuses on a nanocellulose with primary fiber dimensions of 3 nm width and 70 nm length. A one-dimensional model was developed to estimate the flame velocity of a nanocellulose explosion, based on an existing model already validated for hybrid mixtures of gas and carbonaceous nanopowders similar to soot. Assuming the fast devolatilization of organic nanopowders, the chemical reactions considered are limited to the combustion of the pyrolysis gases. The finite volume method was used to solve the mass and energy balances equations and mass reactions rates constituting the numerical system. Finally, the radiative heat transfer was also considered, highlighting the influence of the total surface area of the particles on the thermal radiation. Flame velocities of nanocellulose from 17.5 to 20.8 cm/s were obtained numerically depending on the radiative heat transfer, which proves a good agreement with the values around 21 cm/s measured experimentally by flame visualization and allows the validation of the model for nanoparticles.     

Flame propagation behaviors of nano- and micro-scale PMMA dust explosions

Flame propagation behaviors of nano- and micro-polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) dust explosions were experimentally studied in the open-space dust explosion apparatus. High-speed photography with normal and microscopic lenses were used to record the particle combustion behaviors and flame microstructures. Simple physical models were developed to explore the flame propagation mechanisms. High-speed photographs showed two distinct flame propagation behaviors of nano- and micro-PMMA dust explosions. For nano-particles, flame was characterized by a regular spherical shape and spatially continuous combustion structure combined with a number of luminous spot flames. The flame propagation mechanism was similar to that of a premixed gas flame coupled with solid surface combustion of the agglomerates. In comparison, for micro-particles, flame was characterized by clusters of flames and the irregular flame front, which was inferred to be composed of the diffusion flame accompanying the local premixed flame. It was indicated that smaller particles maintained the leading part of the propagating flame and governed the combustion process of PMMA dust clouds. Increasing the mass densities from 105 g/m³ to 217 g/m³ for 100 nm PMMA particles, and from 72 g/m³ to 170 g/m³ for 30 μm PMMA particles, the flame luminous intensity, scale and the average propagation velocity were enhanced. Besides, the flame front became more irregular for 30 μm PMMA dust clouds.     

Effect of monoammonium phosphate particle size on flame propagation of aluminum dust cloud

The effect of monoammonium phosphate (NH₄H₂PO₄) particles on 5 μm aluminum dust flames is investigated experimentally and computationally. NH4H2PO4 in three particle size is employed to determine the inhibition efficiency on aluminum flame propagation. Flame inhibition mechanism considering both gas and surface chemistry of aluminum particles is developed. Results show that the inhibition effectiveness monotonously increases as NH₄H₂PO₄ particle size is reduced to 25 μm. Flame morphology and flame microstructure change with the addition of different particle size NH₄H₂PO₄. Small NH₄H₂PO₄ particles within the range studied have a greater reduction in average flame propagation compared to the coarser one. Meanwhile, the fine NH₄H₂PO₄ particles almost decompose completely during the penetration of aluminum flame and then undergo a sufficient chemical interaction with the flame. The simulations indicate that the decomposition products of NH₄H₂PO₄ particles obstruct the oxidation of aluminum particles through flame radical consumption. Additionally, the addition of NH₄H₂PO₄ can reduce the vaporization rate and surface reaction rate of aluminum particles.     

Experimental and numerical study of the fuel effect on flame propagation in long open tubes

Previous works (Daubech et al., 2019) were dedicated to gaseous flame acceleration along long pipes with a set of cases studied both experimentally and numerically. In these cases, the flammable mixture was initially quiescent and homogenously distributed. The impact of the tube diameter and material were studied trough both approaches for rather slow flames, the fuel being methane. While main features of the real flame were recovered by the chosen CFD method, some limits remained.A new experimental dataset is detailed and analyzed with a quicker flame, the fuel being hydrogen and the same experimental set-up as the one used for measuring slow flames. Thus, the fuel effect on the flame dynamics can be directly highlighted.A simple CFD approach is tested for recovering two distinct flame behaviors: a deflagration flame and another undergoing deflagration-to-detonation transition. Furthermore, the modelling results are used to propose elements of interpretation for flame acceleration.     

多分支管道油气爆炸特性大涡模拟

为了研究油库常见的分支结构空间内发生油气爆炸时火焰和压力的传播特性,建立了基于WALE湍流模型及Zimont预混火焰模型的油气爆炸模型;模拟了6种不同分支管道结构空间内汽油/空气混合物爆炸发生发展过程;研究了分支管道数量及相对设置位置对爆炸超压的影响规律,以及分支管道对火焰传播形态和速度的影响规律;模拟结果与前人相关实验规律进行对比。研究结果表明:分支管道对汽油/空气混合气预混爆炸具有明显的强化激励作用;火焰锋面传播经过分支管道时,经历规则—褶皱—规则的变化过程;主管道内火焰传播速度,在分支管道对流场的突扩作用和湍流作用的共同影响下呈震荡变化的规律。     

Impact of a shock wave on a structure on explosion at altitude

The number of explosive attacks on civilian buildings has recently increased and the pattern of damage inflicted on structures when an explosion takes place at altitude remains quite difficult to predict. The primary aim of the work reported here was to enhance the understanding of how blast waves from an explosion at altitude interact with the ground and with a structure. Small-scale experiments were conducted using a propane–oxygen stoichiometric mixture as explosive. This approach is original because it models high-explosive detonation in terms of gaseous charge explosion using TNT equivalents. Several non-dimensional laws are expressed and validated by experiments. These relationships allow determination of the propagation of a blast wave and its interaction with a structure as a function of the position of the explosive charge when the explosion occurs at altitude. Then, from knowledge of the blast loading, using Hopkinson's scaling law and TNT equivalents, we can predict the interaction of blast waves with the ground and a structure on a real scale. Simulations were performed using the Autodyn code, and good correlation with the experimental results was obtained.     

立体结构障碍物对甲烷预混火焰传播影响的研究

使用自行设计的火焰加速试验系统,研究了3种立体结构障碍物对管道内预混火焰传播速度和超压的影响。选用长方体、正四棱柱和圆柱,其阻塞比均为40%。结果表明,管道内障碍物对火焰传播的初始阶段起阻碍作用,当火焰越过障碍物后,障碍物加速火焰传播过程。有障碍物时管道内最大火焰传播速度和峰值超压比无障碍物时要大。随着点火距离的增大,管道中最大火焰传播速度和超压先变大后减小。当障碍物位于约6倍管径处时,对管道中火焰传播速度和超压影响最大。点火距离的改变对火焰传播速度的影响大于对管道内超压的影响。     

乙醇添加比例对乙醇-柴油混合物表面火蔓延的影响研究

实时记录了不同比例乙醇柴油混合燃料的火蔓延过程,对蔓延火焰的外貌结构、火蔓延模式、火蔓延速度以及油面温升规律等进行了探讨。研究发现,当乙醇添加比例10%时,混合燃料火焰低速脉动蔓延,火焰前锋油面下方存在表面流,火蔓延速度变化幅度比较小,燃料表面的升温速率随初温的升高而升高;当乙醇添加比例≥10%时,火焰稳定蔓延,表面流消失,火蔓延速度会随着燃料初温的升高而降低,燃料表面的升温速率随初温的升高而降低。     

Effects of hydrogen addition on propagation characteristics of premixed methane/air flames

An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the effects of hydrogen addition on the fundamental propagation characteristics of methane/air premixed flames at different equivalence ratios in a venting duct. The hydrogen fraction in the methane–hydrogen mixture was varied from 0 to 1 at equivalence ratios of 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2. The results indicate that the tendency towards flame instability increased with the fraction of hydrogen, and the premixed hydrogen/methane flame underwent a complex shape change with the increasing hydrogen fraction. The tulip flame only formed when the fraction of hydrogen ranged from 0 to 50% at an equivalence ratio of 0.8. It was also found that the flame front speed and the overpressure increased significantly with the hydrogen fraction. For all equivalence ratios, the stoichiometric flame (Φ = 1.0) has the shortest time of flame propagation and the maximum overpressure.     

Prevention of gasoline vapor explosions in portable fuel containers

Portable Fuel Containers (PFCs) made for consumer use can, under unusual circumstances, develop a flammable atmosphere in the container headspace. In order to prevent an inadvertent ignition from causing flame propagation into this headspace and a subsequent explosion or flame jetting, PFC manufacturers are developing prototype Flame Mitigation Devices (FMDs) for installation in the PFC. A test method is described in this paper to determine if the installed FMD will indeed prevent flame entry into the PFC in a high-challenge flame propagation scenario. The method entails the use of a butane-air mixture ignited in a 5 cm diameter, 12 cm long tube attached to either the container neck or a spout on the container neck. Two concept FMD designs have successfully prevented repeated attempts at flame propagation into the PFC and have also produced encouraging results in tests for fuel flow restriction, duel dispensing nozzle friction, and prolonged fuel exposure. Versions of these tests are currently being promulgated in a draft ASTM standard on PFC FMDs.