Modelling of the effect of size on flocculent dust explosions

The effect of size on the severity of explosions involving flocculent materials has been simulated by means of a model previously developed for spherical particles and here extended to the cylindrical geometry of flock. The model consists of the identification of the regime (internal and external heating, pyrolysis/devolatilization reaction, and volatiles combustion) controlling the explosion by the evaluation of dimensionless numbers (Bi, Da, Th and Pc) and then of the estimation of the deflagration index as a function of flocculent size. The model has been validated by means of explosion data of polyamide 6.6 (nylon) at varying diameter and length. The comparison between model and experimental data show a fairly good agreement.     

Investigations into the influence of dustiness on dust explosions

A new safety characteristic the “dustiness” according to VDI 2263 – part 9 (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, 2008) is investigated. Dustiness means the tendency of a dust to form clouds. The paper deals with the influence of the dustiness on vented dust explosions. In order to look into the effects of the dustiness on dust cloud formation and explosion properties experiments and simulations in a vertical dust dispersion glass tube apparatus were carried out.Preliminary explosion experiments showed that the dustiness has an influence on the reduced explosion pressure in a vented 75 L test apparatus. Dusts with comparable p_max and K_St values and different dustiness were tested. Dusts with higher dustiness produced higher overpressures, despite comparable safety characteristics. In order to verify the results for applications in the process industries further tests with different settings are planned as well as industrial scale experiments. Characteristics of the dust such as particle size, density, specific surface area and particle shape, which influence the dispersibility, have been determined experimentally.The Euler/Lagrange and the Euler/Euler approaches are compared for simulating an exemplary dust/air mixture. Especially sedimentation and the ability of the approaches to simulate the tendency of dust to stay airborne were investigated. The Euler/Lagrange approach is better suited for simulating local dust concentrations, particle size distributions and particle forces. It could be used to point out regions of high dust concentrations in a vessel. With the Euler/Euler method it is possible to achieve fast solutions for one specified diameter, but the simulated dust/air mixtures are always more homogenous than in reality. ANSYS CFX version 13 was used in all simulations.     

Triboelectric charging behavior of wood particles during pellet handling processes

Electrostatic charges accumulated on wood particles through triboelectrification during their transportation and handling processes can cause hazardous electrical discharge which may further trigger dust explosion. In this work, tribo-charging behavior of different kinds of wood particles was investigated by a vibrating plate charging method. It was found that reduction in the work function difference between contact bodies might contribute to the reduction of tribo-charge generation, while the reduction of electrical resistivity of wood pellets could effectively accelerate the charge dissipation. As the particle size decreases, accumulated charges increase significantly. In contrast, higher moisture content of wood particles leads to lower charge accumulation due to an accelerated charge dissipation rate. Tribo-charging behaviors of white pellets, torrefied pellet, steam treated pellets and dark pellets have also been investigated. Compared to the white pellets, they all have shown a reduction on charge accumulation to some extent. However, results suggested that all of them have nearly equivalent tribo-charge density as coal and wheat grains used as references in this study.     

Effects of cross-wise obstacle position on methane–air deflagration characteristics

A vented chamber, with internal dimensions of 150 mm × 150 mm × 500 mm, is constructed in which the premixed methane–air deflagration flame, propagating away from the ignition source, interacts with obstacles along its path. Three obstacle configurations with different cross-wise positions are investigated. The cross-wise obstacle positions are found to have significant effects on deflagration characteristics, such as flame structure, flame front location, flame speed, and overpressure transients. The rate of flame acceleration, as the flame passes over the last obstacle, is the highest at the configuration with three centrally located obstacles, whereas the lowest is observed at the configuration with three obstacles mounted on one side of the chamber. Compared with the side configuration, the magnitude of overpressure generated increases by approximately 80% and 165% for the central and staggered configurations, respectively. Furthermore, flame propagation speeds and generated overpressures for both the central and staggered configurations are greater, which should to be avoided to reduce the risk associated with turbulent premixed deflagrations in practical processes.     

Suitability of ignition source “exploding wire” for determination of dust explosion characteristics in the 20-L-sphere

Several safety characteristics of dusts are determined in the 20-L-sphere (also known as SIWEK Chamber) according to international standards. Dust cloud ignition is carried out using pyrotechnical igniters. Due to various disadvantages of such igniters the need for alternative ignition sources arises again and again. An alternative could be an ignition source which is known as “exploding wire” or “fuse wire”. The paper presents test results of a comparative study between both ignition sources for the determination of the safety characteristics “Maximum Explosion Pressure” and “Maximum Rate of Explosion Pressure Rise” of five selected dusts in the 20-L-sphere. In addition to that the ignition mechanisms of both ignition sources were analyzed by high speed camera recordings and the ignition energy was determined with electric and calorimetric recordings. The paper shows results of measurements of the ignition energy of both ignition sources as well as sequences of the flame propagation.     

The effect of admixed material on the flaming and smouldering combustion of dust layers

The rate of propagation of flame and the rate of propagation of smouldering in still air, have been investigated for several particle sizes, mixtures of coarse and fine dusts of the same material, and mixtures containing partially coarse dusts of limestone. Wood sawdust and grass dust were used as the industrial materials. Measurements were made by using a mold of acceptable dimensions. The results obtained indicated that the flaming and smouldering rates are dependent on the particle size and the depth of the layer and the values of the smouldering rates were found to be about 20% of the values obtained with flaming. Also, an admixture of fine dust of 50% of the same material to coarse dust for a 0.5 cm layer of both materials is sufficient to increase the values of the flaming rate by 61% for wood sawdust and the smouldering rate by 88% and 52% for wood sawdust and grass dust, respectively. The admixture of limestone as low as 10% was sufficient to produce zero propagation for both types of burning.     

T型管道不同封闭状态瓦斯爆燃火焰传播特征

为了研究分岔管道不同封闭状态下瓦斯爆燃火焰阵面传播规律,在自制的T型透明分岔管道内,设置支管端口完全封闭、直管左端口弱封闭,采用光电传感器和压力传感器测试了直管右端弱封闭、完全封闭2种情况下,预混甲烷-空气可燃气体爆燃火焰传播过程中速度、超压参数的变化情况。结果表明:由于分岔的存在,2种封闭状态在支管端点火后瓦斯爆燃火焰阵面在支管中的传播速度均先增大后减小;直管右端弱封闭时,经过分岔后火焰加速向直管两端传播速度基本一致,分别达到86.29 m/s和88.07 m/s;直管右端完全封闭时,火焰向弱封闭端传播速度增大至166.67 m/s,火焰向完全封闭端传播时并不断压缩未燃气体产生高压振荡反馈导致火焰振荡传播现象,火焰速度不断减小至4.84 m/s;管道内瓦斯爆燃超压均迅速上升到达峰值,之后受压缩气体的膨胀和冲击后爆燃产物的振荡作用迅速下降。     

点火位置对污水管网可燃气体爆燃特性影响模拟研究

针对典型市政污水管网内可燃气体爆燃过程,采用流体动力学软件Fluidyn,建立了由顶端封闭、深度为4 m的竖直检查井和两端开口、长度各为20 m的水平井构成的管网模型,研究了不同点火位置（检查井上部、中部和下部）对甲烷爆燃特性的影响。研究结果表明:不同位置点火时,管网内测点压力时程呈现出亥姆霍兹振荡,各压力峰值曲线具有明显的分段性,且相同测点的数值接近;爆炸温度在点火位置附近出现最大值,其中上部点火时数值最大,中部点火时居中,下部点火时最小,但在水平井内温度峰值近似呈线性衰减并在端口出现最小值;与下部点火相比,上部和中部点火时,检查井和水平井连接处扩容效应造成火焰传播速度衰减显著,但在水平井内均近似呈线性增大并在端口出现最大值。     

南京市灰霾期间颗粒物污染的主要影响源识别

大气颗粒物污染影响范围广,污染种类繁多,污染物形态复杂多变,消除难度较大。随着2014年南京青奥会的日益临近,南京市"蓝天工程"、灰霾污染的控制进入了最关键的阶段。以南京市为例,从宏观微观两方面同时开展研究。在宏观层面上,采用主成分分析、因子分析、相关分析、逐步回归分析等方法,揭示可吸入颗粒物年均浓度、年均降尘量与表征各类影响源变量因素之间的相关关系,并计算贡献率;在微观层面上,采集各影响源尘样,进行相关实验分析得到各影响源特征谱;科学布点采集南京市空气样品,进行相关实验分析得到各点位大气颗粒物样特征谱;采用化学平衡分析法,揭示各粉尘影响源的主要贡献率大小。两方面相结合得到南京市灰霾的主要贡献源为二次扬尘和建筑扬尘,并根据结果提出控制对策。     

Nex-Hys: minimum ignition temperature of hybrid mixtures

Although the minimum ignition temperature is an important safety characteristic and of practical relevance in industrial processes, actually only standard operation procedures are available for pure substances and single-phase values. Nevertheless, combinations of substances or mixtures are used in industrial processes and up to now it is not possible to provide a standardised minimum ignition temperature and in consequence to design a process safely with regard to the substances used.In order to get minimum ignition temperatures for frequently used hybrid mixtures, first, the minimum ignition temperatures and ignition frequencies were determined in the modified Godbert-Greenwald furnace for two single phase solids and a liquid substance. Second, minimum ignition temperatures and ignition frequencies were determined for several combinations as hybrid mixture of dust and liquid.In parallel to the determination of ignition temperatures a new camera and computer system to differentiate ignition from non-ignition is developed. First results are promising that such a system could be much less operator depended.By a high number of repetitions to classify regions of ignition the base is laid to decide about a new procedure for a hybrid standard and updating existing ones, too. This is one of the necessary aims to be reached in the Nex-Hys project.A noticeable decrease of minimum ignition temperatures below the MIT of the pure solids was observed for the one hybrid mixture tested, yet. Furthermore more widely dispersed area of ignition is shown. In accordance to previously findings, the results demonstrate a strong relationship between likelihood of explosion and amount of added solvent. In consequence the hybrid mixture is characterized by a lower minimum ignition temperature than the single dust.