Evaporating liquid flow in a channel (An integral model based on shallow water flow approximation)

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage facilities generally include channels to convey potential spills of the liquid to an impoundment. There is increasing concern that dispersion of vapors generated by flow of LNG in a channel may lead to higher than limit vapor concentrations for safety at site boundary from channels that may be close to the dike walls. This issue is of recent concern to regulatory agencies, because the calculation of vapor hazard distance(s) from LNG flow in a channel is not required under existing LNG facility siting standards or regulations.An important parameter that directly affects the calculated LNG vapor dispersion distance is the source strength (i.e., the rate of vaporization of LNG flow from the wetted channel surfaces, as a function of spatial position and time). In this paper a model is presented which considers the variation of the depth of the flowing LNG with spatial location and time, and calculates the spatial and temporal dependence of the mass rate of vapor generation. Self similar profiles for the spatial variation of the thermal boundary layer in the liquid wetted wall and liquid depth variation are assumed. The variation with time of the location of the liquid spread front and the evaporation rate are calculated for the case of a constant LNG spill rate into a rectangular channel. The effects of two different channel slopes are evaluated. Details of the results and their impact on dispersion distances are discussed.     

Invasion with stage-structured coupled map lattices: Application to the spread of scentless chamomile

Two fundamental aspects of invasion dynamics are population growth and population spread. These quantities have been subject of study in biological invasions and can be used to study management and control of organisms. In this paper we derive formulae to calculate wave speed and rates of spread for coupled map lattices. Coupled map lattice models are dynamical models where space and time are discrete. We also show how wave speed and rate of spread can be calculated for structured population coupled map lattices in deterministic, stochastic environments and heterogeneous landscapes. Coupled map lattices are simple mathematical models that can be easily linked to landscape data to study invading organisms control strategies.     

Evaluation of limits for effective flame acceleration in hydrogen mixtures

Results of experiments and data analysis on turbulent flame propagation in obstructed channels are presented. The data cover a wide range of mixtures: H₂/air, H₂/air/steam (from lean to rich) at normal and elevated initial temperatures (from 298 to 650 K) and pressures (from 1 to 3 bar); and stoichiometric H₂/O₂ mixtures diluted with N₂, Ar, He and CO₂ at normal initial conditions. The dataset chosen also covers a wide range of scales exceeding two orders of magnitude. It is shown that basic flame parameters, such as mixture expansion ratio σ, Zeldovich number β and Lewis number Le, can be used to estimate a priori a potential for effective flame acceleration for a given mixture. Critical conditions for effective flame acceleration are suggested in the form of correlations of critical expansion ratio σ^* versus dimensionless effective activation energy. On this basis, limits for effective flame acceleration for hydrogen combustibles can be estimated. Uncertainties in determination of critical σ^* values are discussed.     

A study on the obstacle-induced variation of the gas explosion characteristics

A study on the variation of the gas explosion characteristics caused by the built-in obstacles was conducted in enclosed/vented gas explosion vessels. It has been well known that the obstacles in pipes and long ducts would accelerate the flame propagation, and cause the transition from deflagration to detonation. In this study, the explosion characteristics and the flame behavior of vented explosions and constant-volume explosions were investigated. Experiments were carried out in a 270-liter and 36-liter hexahedron vessels filled with LPG–air mixture. The explosion characteristics of the gas mixture were determined by using a strain-responding pressure transducer. The flame behavior was recorded by using a high-speed video camera. The shape and the size of the obstacle, and the gas concentration, were adjusted in the experiments.

It can be seen from the experimental results that, instead of being accelerated, the flame propagation inside the explosion vessel is decelerated by the plate obstacles fixed at the bottom of the vessel. Also, the characteristics of the enclosed explosion are not so affected by the built-in obstacles as those of the vented explosion are. It is believed that the eddy-induced turbulence behind the obstacle decelerates the flame propagation.     

阴燃中出现有焰火的理论初探

阴燃是一种自维持,不断传播的,异相反应的放热燃烧过程。典型的阴燃例子有蚝烟,地下煤矿的燃烧等。从热安全角度来看阴燃过程,不完全的氧化反应和可燃物热解都会产生很多的有毒气体,对人造成危害;另外在一定的条件下,阴燃还会突然转化为有焰火,进行更猛烈的燃烧,造成更大的破坏。     

Experimental investigation on extinguishing performance of a novel nanocomposite for gaseous fires

A novel nanocomposite was synthesized by incorporating three different types of flame-retardants and its extinguishing performance was tested for gaseous fires. The nanocomposite consists of the inorganic magnesium hydroxide (MH) nanoparticles as the dominant component, the nitrogen-based melamine cyanurate (MCA), and the phosphorus-based ODOPB. The wet mixing, dry mixing, and ultrasonic agitation were employed in the preparation process to enhance the homogeneity of the nanocomposite. The prepared powders were characterized using a series of analytical instruments including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravity analyzer (TGA), and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The efficiency of various samples in extinguishing gaseous fires was investigated in a lab-scale extinguishing system. The fire extinguishing tests indicated that the nanocomposite is considerably more effective in fire extinguishing than other powders in terms of extinction time and agent mass consumed. The fire extinction time of nanocomposite was 45.2% shorter than that of commercial ABC-MAP powder. Furthermore, the consumed amount of nanocomposite was 63.2% less than that of commercial powder. In addition, the order of extinguishing mass concentrations was as follows: the novel nanocomposite (103.7 g/m³) < MH/MCA (148.1 g/m³) < MH/ODOPB (155.6 g/m³) < MH (170.4 g/m³) < commercial ABC powder (281.5 g/m³) < MCA/ODOPB (384.1 g/m³). The fire suppression mechanisms of the nanocomposite were also discussed. It was inferred that the extinguishing mechanism of nanocomposite comprised of simultaneous chemical and physical inhibition actions involving chemical inhibition action, cooling action, and asphyxiation action. This study provides a promising attempt to gain benefits from the striking features of nanotechnology and flame-retardants in extinguishing gaseous fires.     

盾构铁路隧道坡度对火灾烟气蔓延的影响研究*

为研究坡度隧道内列车阻滞后的火灾烟气蔓延行为，利用火灾动力学模拟软件（FDS）建立盾构铁路隧道火灾模型和CRH6高速列车阻滞模型，隧道坡度分别为0%、1.0%、1.5%、2.0%、2.5%、3.0%、3.5%和4.0%，通过分析隧道内烟气、温度、能见度等特征参数的变化规律，研究坡度隧道内高温烟气的受力情况，探讨坡度变化对火灾烟气蔓延的作用机理。结果表明，坡度隧道内发生火灾，随着烟气的蔓延，隧道内形成沿坡度方向的烟囱效应力，使得烟气在火源两侧呈不对称分布。火源下游区域的高温烟气在火风压和烟囱效应的协同作用下蔓延速度比上游更快，下游烟气层分界中性面与隧道轴线平行，上游烟气层分界中性面呈现水平状态。有坡度的铁路隧道内发生火灾，建议向火源下游方向施加纵向机械通风，人员向火源的上游方向疏散逃生更安全。     

The evolution of flame length for the oil tank fire with different top cover widths and lip heights

This study presents a quantitative analysis and interpretation of the variation in oil tank fire flame lengths for different oil tank sizes, top cover widths, and horizontal air flow velocities. The experimental results show that, at first, the flame length rises slowly with an increase in air flow speed. Then, once over a critical speed (0.6 m/s), the flame length decreases significantly with a further increase in air flow speed. Based on the characteristic length, a new dimensionless heat release rate is obtained, allowing the correlation between flame length, air flow speed, and dimensionless heat release rate to be calculated, which can be used to predict the flame length of an oil tank fire under different air flow speeds, lip heights, and cover widths.     

凹型建筑外立面火灾烟气蔓延特性研究

为了研究凹型建筑外立面火灾烟气蔓延特性，对高层建筑凹槽内火灾烟气“三场”数值模拟。研究表明:结构因子α（进深与槽宽之比）的变化导致凹型建筑结构内呈现不同的火灾烟气蔓延规律；当α为0~0.4时，建筑凹槽内的火灾烟气无烟囱效应；当α为0.6~1.2时，建筑凹槽内的火灾烟气呈现一定的烟囱效应，其火灾烟气温度场、CO浓度场、扩散速度场变化显著；当α>1.2的，建筑凹槽内的火灾烟气烟囱效应显著。     

燃烧假人测试系统及其应用前景

燃烧假人测试系统是国际公认的定量评估防护装备阻燃性能的专用设备，本文主要介绍了燃烧假人测试系统的研究现状、系统构成、技术体系及应用前景。