Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Flammability Fires and Explosions
Flammability Fires and Explosions
Flammability
Flash
Points
Flammability limits
Mixtures
Temperature Dependence
Pressure Dependence
Minimum
Oxygen Concentration
Minimum Ignition Energy
Adiabatic Compression
Ignition Sources
Introduction
We have been talking about source models for
the release of materials and about dispersion
models if the material is a toxicant.
Another concern is a release of flammable
materials where we need to worry about fires and
explosions.
Fire Triangle
Most
Fuel
Fuel
Oxidizers
Oxygen is the
Ignition Sources
Heat
Fire Tetrahedron
The
Definitions
Combustion
Explosions
Detonation
Explosions
Confined explosion
an explosion occurring
within a vessel or a building. Usually results in
injury to the building inhabitants and extensive
damage.
Unconfined explosion an explosion occurring in
the open. Usually results from spill of a
flammable gas spill. These explosions are rarer
than confined since dilution occurs.
Explosions
Point
Flammability limits
Mixtures
Temperature Dependence
Pressure Dependence
Minimum
Oxygen Concentration
Minimum Ignition Energy
Adiabatic Compression
Ignition Sources
Flammability
Flash Point (FP)
Example
Methanol
Flammability Limits
There
is usually a range
of compositions of a
flammable vapor and air
where combustion occurs.
Too little fuel (lean
mixture) not enough fuel
to burn.
Too much fuel (rich
mixture) not enough
oxygen to burn
Flammability Limits
Table 6-1
yi
i 1 LFLi
1
n
yi
i 1 UFLi
for Temperature
Correct for Pressure
Calculate for mixture
Flammability
Flash
Points
Flammability limits
Mixtures
Temperature Dependence
Pressure Dependence
Minimum
Oxygen Concentration
Minimum Ignition Energy
Adiabatic Compression
Ignition Sources
MOC
Moles Fuel
Moles O 2
MOC
Moles
Fuel
&
Moles
Air
Moles
Fuel
Moles O2
MOC LFL
Moles
Fuel
Moles Fuel
Flammability
Flash
Points
Flammability limits
Mixtures
Temperature Dependence
Pressure Dependence
Minimum
Oxygen Concentration
Minimum Ignition Energy
Adiabatic Compression
Ignition Sources
Flammability
Flash
Points
Flammability limits
Mixtures
Temperature Dependence
Pressure Dependence
Minimum
Oxygen Concentration
Minimum Ignition Energy
Adiabatic Compression
Ignition Sources
Adiabatic Compression
When gases are compressed they heat up and
can ignite (this is how a diesel engine works, also
the cause of knocking in gasoline engines)
The adiabatic temperature rise is:
Pf
T f Ti
Pi
T and P absolute
Flammability
Flash
Points
Flammability limits
Mixtures
Temperature Dependence
Pressure Dependence
Minimum
Oxygen Concentration
Minimum Ignition Energy
Adiabatic Compression
Ignition Sources
Ignition Sources
Ignition
In Class Problem
What is the UFL of a gas mixture composed of 1%
methane, 2% ethane and 3% propane by volume
at 50C and 2 atmospheres:
Data:
Component
Methane
Ethane
Propane
MW
Heat of Combustion
16.04
30.07
44.09
(kcal/mol)
212.79
372.81
526.74
Solution
Procedure:
Correct
for temperature
Correct for pressure (only for UFL)
Find for mixture.
Solution
Solution cont.
Correction for Pressure
(UFL only)
0.202 MPa
atm 1000kPa
UFL2 atm UFL1atm 20.6(log10 (0.202 MPa ) 1)
UFL2 atm UFL1atm 6.290
UFLMethane 22.61
UFLEthane 19.40
UFLPropane 16.13
Solution cont.
Mixture calculation
Mixture
Vol%
Methane
Ethane
1
2
0.1667
0.3333
Propane
0.5000
Combustibles 6
Equation 6-2
for mixtures
UFLmix
1
n
yi
i 1 UFLi
Solution Continued
UFLMixture
18.0vol %
0.1667 0.3333 0.5