CONFIDENTIAL

Combustion Limits in Fire and Explosion Hazards

Geoff Chamberlain and Jonathan Puttock, Major Hazards Management Team, Shell Global solutions UK, Chester.

Early Experiments G. Kalghatgi, 1981

Determined the blow out limits for subsonic gases. Established universal stability curve.

Experimental results Mach No. v burner diameter q q

Flame stability in still air natural gas

1 u j / S u 0.0028RH.1 j / air

1.5

Experiments in crosswinds lifted flames

Sheffield University wind tunnel at Buxton Burners 2-20 mm, crosswinds up to 8m/s Methane, propane, Butagas (propane/butane mix), ethylene Results non-dimensionalised using the grouping

Su ( RH ) ( air/j )1.5

Flames are less stable when burner tilted away from wind

Flame stability lifted flames in crosswind

Flame stability - lifted flames correct H - GTK's data -1 -1.2 -1.4 -1.6 -1.8
u*

-2 -2.2 -2.4 -2.6 -2.8 -3 0 0.0005 0.001 0.0015 0.002 v* Methane Propane Ethylene Butagas 0.0025 0.003 0.0035 0.004

Video

Wake stabilised flames

CONFIDENTIAL

The Universal Flame Stability Map

Universal flame stability map
10
-1

Lifted Flames

Unstable Flames
Uncertain boundary Data boundary

Scaled gas velocity

10

-2
er ay L ry sed da ili un tab Bo S

10

-3

Vortex Stablised

10-4
-5
m d Ri ilise> 1 ab Q St y i f
l on

Unstable Flames
= 1

10

10-6 0.0 0.002 0.004 0.006

Scaled wind speed

Wake stabilised flames effect of burner tilt

Burner tilted away from flame, flame is more stable opposite effect with lifted flames.

Bradley et al simulation heat release contours MW/m3. Jet mean velocity 20m/s, crosswind 5.5 m/s. 10mm diam. CMC flamelet combustion model. HPCx Daresbury.

Bradley et al simulation heat release contours and velocity vectors close to burner tip.

Flammability Limits Fuel/air/water vapour system. Flame extinction and oscillatory flames in compartments.
q q