Propane-air mixture deflagration hazard with different ignition positions and restraints in large-scale venting chamber. (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Guoxin; Ling, Xiaodong; Zheng, Yi; Gu, Meng; Wang, Haozhe; Yu, Anfeng
• Is Part Of: Journal of loss prevention in the process industries. Volume 71(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Large-scale deflagration -- Explosion hazard -- FLACS -- Overpressure -- Flame acceleration; Chemical industries -- Safety measures -- Periodicals; 660.2804
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2021.104520
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-4230

Abstract

Abstract: In order to better assess the hazards of explosion accidents, propane-air mixture deflagrations were conducted in a large-scale straight rectangular chamber (with a cross-section of 1.5 m × 1.5 m, length of 10 m, and total volume of 22.5 m 3 ). The effect of initial volume, ignition position, and initial restraints on the explosion characteristics of the propane-air mixtures was investigated. The explosion overpressure, flame propagation, and flame speed were obtained and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software was used to simulate the flame-propagation process and field flow for auxiliary analysis. The hazards of large-scale propagation explosion under weak and strong constraints were evaluated and the different phases of flame propagation under weak and strong constraints were discriminated. Results indicate that the hazards caused by propane deflagration under weak constraint are mainly caused by flame spread. And the maximum overpressure under strong constraint appeared at the front part of the chamber under the large-scale condition, which is consistent with the previous small-scale test. Moreover, the simulations of flame structures under weak and strong constraint are in good agreement with experimental results, which furthers the understanding of large-scale propane deflagration under different initial conditions in large-scale spaces and provides basic data for three-dimensional CFD model improvement. Highlights: Risk of large-scale propane/air mixture deflagration under large-scale are examined. Initial concentration and constraint on large-scale explosion are studied. CFD simulation results and experimental results are in good agreement.