Domnina Razus

Comparison of empirical and semi-empirical calculation methods for venting of gas explosions

Venting is a widely applied method to protect process equipment from being destroyed by internal explosions. The key problem in venting is the appropriate design of the vent area necessary for an effective release of the material. For gas explosions different calculation methods exist, but there are no clear recommendations which one should be preferred for the practical cases under consideration. The present paper gives a review of different calculation methods, their ranges of validity, their physical background and applicability. The presented examples include a comparison of computed reduced explosion pressures for methane-air, propane-air and hydrogen-air mixtures with experimental data and two fictitious test cases. The results of different methods show a wide range of scatter, however some recommendations for their applicability can be given.

Explosion characteristics of LPG-air mixtures in closed vessels.

The experimental study of explosive combustion of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)-air mixtures at ambient initial temperature was performed in two closed vessels with central ignition, at various total initial pressures within 0.3-1.3bar and various fuel/air ratios, within the flammability limits. The transient pressure-time records were used to determine several explosion characteristics of LPG-air: the peak explosion pressure, the explosion time (the time necessary to reach the peak pressure), the maximum rate of pressure rise and the severity factor. All explosion parameters are strongly dependent on initial pressure of fuel-air mixture and on fuel/air ratio. The explosion characteristics of LPG-air mixtures are discussed in comparison with data referring to the main components of LPG: propane and butane, obtained in identical conditions.

Temperature and pressure influence on explosion pressures of closed vessel propane-air deflagrations.

An experimental study on pressure evolution during closed vessel explosions of propane-air mixtures was performed, for systems with various initial concentrations and pressures ([C(3)H(8)]=2.50-6.20 vol.%, p(0)=0.3-1.2 bar). The explosion pressures and explosion times were measured in a spherical vessel (Phi=10 cm), at various initial temperatures (T(0)=298-423 K) and in a cylindrical vessel (Phi=10 cm; h=15 cm), at ambient initial temperature. The experimental values of explosion pressures are examined against literature values and compared to adiabatic explosion pressures, computed by assuming chemical equilibrium within the flame front. The influence of initial pressure, initial temperature and fuel concentration on explosion pressures and explosion times are discussed. At constant temperature and fuel/oxygen ratio, the explosion pressures are linear functions of total initial pressure, as reported for other fuel-air mixtures. At constant initial pressure and composition, both the measured and calculated (adiabatic) explosion pressures are linear functions of reciprocal value of initial temperature. Such correlations are extremely useful for predicting the explosion pressures of flammable mixtures at elevated temperatures and/or pressures, when direct measurements are not available.

Limiting oxygen concentration evaluation in flammable gaseous mixtures by means of calculated adiabatic flame temperatures

Abstract The limiting oxygen concentration (LOC) of fuel–air–inert premixed gaseous systems are usually determined from measurements of explosion limits at progressive dilution with inert gas of fuel–air mixtures, which is a long and cumbersome procedure. An alternative procedure to evaluate LOC would be of great interest for all fields of activity involving the use of flammable mixtures, especially when less characterized fuels are used. The paper describes a new procedure (algorithm) meant to estimate the LOC of fuel–air–inert premixed systems, using the values of lower explosion limit (LEL) of the fuel–air mixture and the calculated adiabatic flame temperature (CAFT) both at LOC and LEL when nitrogen is used as an inert gas. It is based on an empirical correlation established between the CAFT computed for fuel–air–nitrogen mixtures at LOC and CAFT at LEL, for a large number of flammable gases and vapors. This requires only the measurement of LEL. The correlation was derived from flammability data taken from literature sources (German and American recommended values). The method is based upon the assumption that mixtures at LOC have an equivalence ratio ϕ =1.250, which is close to the equivalence ratio of the most reactive fuel–air systems. Inverse calculations made with this new algorithm for nine fuel–air–nitrogen mixtures allowed the determination of LOC with a relative deviation of 2–22%.

Temperature and pressure influence on maximum rates of pressure rise during explosions of propane-air mixtures in a spherical vessel.

The maximum rates of pressure rise during closed vessel explosions of propane-air mixtures are reported, for systems with various initial concentrations, pressures and temperatures ([C(3)H(8)]=2.50-6.20 vol.%, p(0)=0.3-1.3 bar; T(0)=298-423 K). Experiments were performed in a spherical vessel (Φ=10 cm) with central ignition. The deflagration (severity) index K(G), calculated from experimental values of maximum rates of pressure rise is examined against the adiabatic deflagration index, K(G, ad), computed from normal burning velocities and peak explosion pressures. At constant temperature and fuel/oxygen ratio, both the maximum rates of pressure rise and the deflagration indices are linear functions of total initial pressure, as reported for other fuel-air mixtures. At constant initial pressure and composition, the maximum rates of pressure rise and deflagration indices are slightly influenced by the initial temperature; some influence of the initial temperature on maximum rates of pressure rise is observed only for propane-air mixtures far from stoichiometric composition. The differentiated temperature influence on the normal burning velocities and the peak explosion pressures might explain this behaviour.

Explosion of gaseous ethylene–air mixtures in closed cylindrical vessels with central ignition

Explosions of gaseous ethylene-air mixtures with various concentrations between 3.0 and 14.0 vol.% and initial pressures between 0.20 and 1.10 bar were experimentally investigated at ambient initial temperature, using several elongated cylindrical vessels with length to diameter ratio between 1.0 and 2.4. The maximum explosion pressures p(max), the explosion times θ(max), the maximum rates of pressure rise, (dp/dt)(max) and the severity factors of centrally ignited explosions K(G) are examined in comparison with similar data obtained in a spherical vessel. The measured deflagration indices are strongly influenced by the length to diameter ratio of the vessels, initial pressure and composition of the flammable mixtures. Even when important heat losses are present, linear correlations p(max)=f(p(0)) and (dp/dt)(max)=f(p(0)) were found for all examined fuel-air mixtures, in all closed vessels. The heat losses appearing in the last stage of explosions occurring in asymmetrical vessels were estimated from the differences between the experimental and adiabatic maximum explosion pressures. These heat losses are higher when the asymmetry ratio L/D is higher and were found to depend linearly on the initial pressure.

High voltage and break spark ignition of propylene/air mixtures at various initial pressures

Abstract The original break spark test apparatus for intrinsically safe circuits was modified to allow the measurements of minimum ignition currents (MICs) at different initial pressures between 20 and 120 kPa. The MICs of different propylene/air mixtures at ambient temperature and at both atmospheric and sub-atmospheric pressures were measured. The corresponding minimum ignition energies (MIEs) using break sparks were calculated and compared with those derived from MIE/quenching distance correlations using high voltage sparks between flanged electrodes.

Inert gas influence on the laminar burning velocity of methane-air mixtures

Flame propagation was studied in methane-air-inert (He, Ar, N2 or CO2) mixtures with various initial pressures and compositions using pressure-time records obtained in a spherical vessel with central ignition. The laminar burning velocities of CH4-air and CH4-air-inert mixtures obtained from experimental p(t) records of the early stage of combustion were compared with literature data and with those obtained from numerical modeling of 1D flames. The overall reaction orders of methane oxidation were determined from the baric coefficients of the laminar burning velocities determined from power-law equations. For all mixtures, the adiabatic flames temperatures were computed, assuming that the chemical equilibrium is reached in the flame front. The overall activation energy for the propagation stage of the combustion process was determined from the temperature dependence of the laminar burning velocity.

Numerical study of the laminar flame propagation in ethane-air mixtures

AbstractThe structure of premixed free one-dimensional laminar ethane-air flames was investigated by means of numerical simulations performed with a detailed mechanism (GRI-Mech version 3.0) by means of COSILAB package. The work provides data on ethane-air mixtures with a wide range of concentrations ([C2H6] = 3.0–9.5 vol.%) at initial temperatures between 300 and 550 K and initial pressures between 1 and 10 bar. The simulations deliver the laminar burning velocities and the profiles of temperature, chemical species concentrations and heat release rate across the flame front. The predicted burning velocities match well the burning velocities measured in various conditions, reported in literature. The influence of initial concentration, pressure and temperature of ethane-air mixtures on maximum flame temperature, heat release rate, flame thickness and peak concentrations of main reaction intermediates is examined and discussed.

Pressure evolution of ethylene-air explosions in enclosures

The peak explosion pressure and the maximum rate of pressure rise are important safety parameters for assessing the hazard of a process and for design of vessels able to withstand an explosion or of their vents used as relief devices. Using ethylene-air with various fuel concentrations (4-10 vol% C2H4) as test mixture, the propagation of explosion in four closed vessels (a spherical vessel with central ignition and three cylindrical vessels with various L/D ratios, centrally or side ignited) has been studied at various initial pressures between 0.3–2.0 bar. In all cases, the peak pressures and the maximum rates of pressure rise were found to be linear functions on the total initial pressure, at constant fuel concentration. Examining several enclosures, the maximum values of explosion pressures and rates of pressure rise have been found for the spherical vessel. For the same initial conditions, the peak explosion pressure and maximum rates of pressure rise determined in cylindrical vessels decrease with the increase of L/D ratio. Asymmetric ignition, at vessels bottom, induces important heat losses during flame propagation. This process is characterized by the lowest rates of pressure rise, as compared to propagation of flame ignited in the centre of the same vessel.