Effects of gas explosions

Effects of gas
explosions
E-learning module
S. EGAN, HSE/PTS

Contents

• Effects of gas phase explosions

• Thermodynamics of gas phase explosions
• Dynamics of gas phase explosions
• Deflagration
• Detonation
• Deflagration to detonation transition (DDT)
• Summary

Effects of gas explosions

2
19/04/2017

1
 Effects of gas phase explosions

• Constant volume and constant pressure combustion

Constant
Volume
Combustion Pf/Po ≈8

Burned gas cloud

Unburned gas
cloud Vf/Vo ≈8
Constant
Pressure
Combustion

Effects of gas explosions

3
19/04/2017

Effects of gas phase explosions

Fuel Heat of combustion Stoech. Maximum KG Fundamental
burning
kJ/g fuel kJ/mol fuel kJ/m3 % v/v fuel pressure bar.m/s
velocity
Mixture of
m/s
air + fuel
Hydrogen 120.9 241.8 2967 29.5 7.3 bar g 550 3.12

CO 10.1 283.0 3473 29.5 7.3 bar g 0.46

CS2 14.1 1076.9 2925 6.53 6.4 bar g 105 0.58

Methane 50.1 802.6 3161 9.47 7.1 bar g 55 0.40

Methanol 19.9 638.2 3249 12.24 7.5 bar g 75 0.56

Ethylene 47.3 1323.0 3593 6.53 8.5 bar g 0.80

Acetylene 48.5 1257.0 4036 7.72 10.5 bar g 1415 1.66

Propane 46.4 2043.1 3416 4.02 7.9 bar g 100 0.46

Xylene 40.8 4331.8 3532 1.96 7.8 bar g

Ammonia 18.6 316.8 2872 21.8 5.4 bar g 10

Typical 46.9 3500 7-8 bar g

Effects of gas explosions

4
19/04/2017

2
 Effects of gas phase explosions
Fuel Heat of combustion Stoech. Maximum KG Fundamental
burning
kJ/g fuel kJ/mol fuel kJ/m3 % v/v fuel pressure bar.m/s
velocity
Mixture of
m/s
air + fuel
Hydrogen 120.9 241.8 2967 29.5 7.3 bar g 550 3.12

CO 10.1 283.0 3473 29.5 7.3 bar g 0.46

CS2 14.1 1076.9 2925 6.53 6.4 bar g 105 0.58

Methane 50.1 802.6 3161 9.47 7.1 bar g 55 0.40

Methanol 19.9 638.2 3249 12.24 7.5 bar g 75 0.56

Ethylene 47.3 1323.0 3593 6.53 8.5 bar g 0.80

Acetylene 48.5 1257.0 4036 7.72 10.5 bar g 1415 1.66

Propane 46.4 2043.1 3416 4.02 7.9 bar g 100 0.46

Xylene 40.8 4331.8 3532 1.96 7.8 bar g

Ammonia 18.6 316.8 2872 21.8 5.4 bar g 10

Typical 46.9 3500 7-8 bar g

Effects of gas explosions

5
19/04/2017

Effects of gas phase explosions

Fuel Heat of combustion Stoech. Maximum KG Fundamental
burning
kJ/g fuel kJ/mol fuel kJ/m3 % v/v fuel pressure bar.m/s
velocity
Mixture of
m/s
air + fuel
Hydrogen 120.9 241.8 2967 29.5 7.3 bar g 550 3.12

CO 10.1 283.0 3473 29.5 7.3 bar g 0.46

CS2 14.1 1076.9 2925 6.53 6.4 bar g 105 0.58

Methane 50.1 802.6 3161 9.47 7.1 bar g 55 0.40

Methanol 19.9 638.2 3249 12.24 7.5 bar g 75 0.56

Ethylene 47.3 1323.0 3593 6.53 8.5 bar g 0.80

Acetylene 48.5 1257.0 4036 7.72 10.5 bar g 1415 1.66

Propane 46.4 2043.1 3416 4.02 7.9 bar g 100 0.46

Xylene 40.8 4331.8 3532 1.96 7.8 bar g

Ammonia 18.6 316.8 2872 21.8 5.4 bar g 10

Typical 46.9 3500 7-8 bar g

Effects of gas explosions

6
19/04/2017

3
 Effects of gas phase explosions
Fuel Heat of combustion Stoech. Maximum KG Fundamental
burning
kJ/g fuel kJ/mol fuel kJ/m3 % v/v fuel pressure bar.m/s
velocity
Mixture of
m/s
air + fuel
Hydrogen 120.9 241.8 2967 29.5 7.3 bar g 550 3.12

CO 10.1 283.0 3473 29.5 7.3 bar g 0.46

CS2 14.1 1076.9 2925 6.53 6.4 bar g 105 0.58

Methane 50.1 802.6 3161 9.47 7.1 bar g 55 0.40

Methanol 19.9 638.2 3249 12.24 7.5 bar g 75 0.56

Ethylene 47.3 1323.0 3593 6.53 8.5 bar g 0.80

Acetylene 48.5 1257.0 4036 7.72 10.5 bar g 1415 1.66

Propane 46.4 2043.1 3416 4.02 7.9 bar g 100 0.46

Xylene 40.8 4331.8 3532 1.96 7.8 bar g

Ammonia 18.6 316.8 2872 21.8 5.4 bar g 10

Typical 46.9 3500 7-8 bar g

Effects of gas explosions

7
19/04/2017

Effects of gas phase explosions

Fuel Heat of combustion Stoech. Maximum KG Fundamental
burning
kJ/g fuel kJ/mol fuel kJ/m3 % v/v fuel pressure bar.m/s
velocity
Mixture of
m/s
air + fuel
Hydrogen 120.9 241.8 2967 29.5 7.3 bar g 550 3.12

CO 10.1 283.0 3473 29.5 7.3 bar g 0.46

CS2 14.1 1076.9 2925 6.53 6.4 bar g 105 0.58

Methane 50.1 802.6 3161 9.47 7.1 bar g 55 0.40

Methanol 19.9 638.2 3249 12.24 7.5 bar g 75 0.56

Ethylene 47.3 1323.0 3593 6.53 8.5 bar g 0.80

Acetylene 48.5 1257.0 4036 7.72 10.5 bar g 1415 1.66

Propane 46.4 2043.1 3416 4.02 7.9 bar g 100 0.46

Xylene 40.8 4331.8 3532 1.96 7.8 bar g

Ammonia 18.6 316.8 2872 21.8 5.4 bar g 10

Typical 46.9 3500 7-8 bar g

Effects of gas explosions

8
19/04/2017

4
 Effects of gas phase explosions
Fuel Heat of combustion Stoech. Maximum KG Fundamental
burning
kJ/g fuel kJ/mol fuel kJ/m3 % v/v fuel pressure bar.m/s
velocity
Mixture of
m/s
air + fuel
Hydrogen 120.9 241.8 2967 29.5 7.3 bar g 550 3.12

CO 10.1 283.0 3473 29.5 7.3 bar g 0.46

CS2 14.1 1076.9 2925 6.53 6.4 bar g 105 0.58

Methane 50.1 802.6 3161 9.47 7.1 bar g 55 0.40

Methanol 19.9 638.2 3249 12.24 7.5 bar g 75 0.56

Ethylene 47.3 1323.0 3593 6.53 8.5 bar g 0.80

Acetylene 48.5 1257.0 4036 7.72 10.5 bar g 1415 1.66

Propane 46.4 2043.1 3416 4.02 7.9 bar g 100 0.46

Xylene 40.8 4331.8 3532 1.96 7.8 bar g

Ammonia 18.6 316.8 2872 21.8 5.4 bar g 10

Typical 46.9 3500 7-8 bar g

Effects of gas explosions

9
19/04/2017

Effects of gas phase explosions

Fuel Heat of combustion Stoech. Maximum KG Fundamental
burning
kJ/g fuel kJ/mol fuel kJ/m3 % v/v fuel pressure bar.m/s
velocity
Mixture of
m/s
air + fuel
Hydrogen 120.9 241.8 2967 29.5 7.3 bar g 550 3.12

CO 10.1 283.0 3473 29.5 7.3 bar g 0.46

CS2 14.1 1076.9 2925 6.53 6.4 bar g 105 0.58

Methane 50.1 802.6 3161 9.47 7.1 bar g 55 0.40

Methanol 19.9 638.2 3249 12.24 7.5 bar g 75 0.56

Ethylene 47.3 1323.0 3593 6.53 8.5 bar g 0.80

Acetylene 48.5 1257.0 4036 7.72 10.5 bar g 1415 1.66

Propane 46.4 2043.1 3416 4.02 7.9 bar g 100 0.46

Xylene 40.8 4331.8 3532 1.96 7.8 bar g

Ammonia 18.6 316.8 2872 21.8 5.4 bar g 10

Typical 46.9 3500 7-8 bar g

Effects of gas explosions

10
19/04/2017

5
 Effects of gas phase explosions
Fuel Heat of combustion Stoech. Maximum KG Fundamental
burning
kJ/g fuel kJ/mol fuel kJ/m3 % v/v fuel pressure bar.m/s
velocity
Mixture of
m/s
air + fuel
Hydrogen 120.9 241.8 2967 29.5 7.3 bar g 550 3.12

CO 10.1 283.0 3473 29.5 7.3 bar g 0.46

CS2 14.1 1076.9 2925 6.53 6.4 bar g 105 0.58

Methane 50.1 802.6 3161 9.47 7.1 bar g 55 0.40

Methanol 19.9 638.2 3249 12.24 7.5 bar g 75 0.56

Ethylene 47.3 1323.0 3593 6.53 8.5 bar g 0.80

Acetylene 48.5 1257.0 4036 7.72 10.5 bar g 1415 1.66

Propane 46.4 2043.1 3416 4.02 7.9 bar g 100 0.46

Xylene 40.8 4331.8 3532 1.96 7.8 bar g

Ammonia 18.6 316.8 2872 21.8 5.4 bar g 10

Typical 46.9 3500 7-8 bar g

Effects of gas explosions

11
19/04/2017

Effects of gas phase explosions

• Thermodynamics of gas phase explosions
• Example: deflagration of methane in air (21 % O2)
• Explosion of stoechiometric CH4 – air mixture in spherical vessel
• CH4 + 2 O2 + 7.5 N2 CO2 + 2 H2O + 7.5 N2
• T = Hc / Cv = 802.6 kJ/mol/(48.71 + [2 X 36.32] + [7.5 X 25.73] J/mol.K)
• T 2500 K
• Ti = 300 K (27 C)
• Tf = Ti + T = 2800 K (2527 C)
• Pf/Pi = (Nf/Ni)(Tf/Ti) = (10.5/10.5)(2800 K/300 K) = 9.3
• Pi = 1.0 atm.
• Pf = 9.3 atm. (c.f. 8.1 atm. from literature)
• Questions:
• What happens if the oxygen content is more than 21 %? Pf increases
• What happens if the initial pressure is 2 atm. ? Pf doubled
• What happens if the initial temperature is 600 K (327 C)? Pf halved
• What happens if there are two interconnected vessels ? Pressure piling

Effects of gas explosions

12
19/04/2017

6
 Effects of gas phase explosions
• Effect of oxygen concentration on Pmax

Pmax Graphs at iso oxidant concentrations

O2 = 27 %

6 à 10

O2 = 21 %

O2 = 15 %

[fuel]
LEL UEL
Effects of gas explosions
13
19/04/2017

Effects of gas phase explosions

Pressure piling
A
Separate but interconnected spaces

If final pressure in A is x times the initial

pressure, final pressure in B might be B
x2 times the initial pressure in both spaces

Effects of gas explosions

14
19/04/2017

7
 Effects of gas phase explosions

1 litre
1 m3
Ignition source
Pressure sensor 20 m3

• A gas explosion is carried out spherical vessels of different sizes

• Which shows the highest rate of pressure rise?
• The smallest one !
• If the flame front travels at 5 m/s it will take:
• 280 ms in the 20 m3 sphere,
• 100 ms in the 1 m3 sphere
• 10 ms in the 1 litre sphere
Effects of gas explosions
15
19/04/2017

Effects of gas phase explosions

• A gas explosion is carried out spherical vessels of different sizes
• The rate of pressure decreases as the size of the vessel increases
• Cube root law:

• Caracteristic parameter:
V = 0.001 m3 V =1 m3 V = 20 m3
P dP/dt = 720 dP/dt = 75 dP/dt = 27
bar bar/s bar/s bar/s
7

t (s)
Effects of gas explosions
16
19/04/2017

8
 Deflagration
• Initial conditions for deflagration
• Fuel-air mixture inside explosive limits
• Ignition source (weak)
• No turbulence Flame front
• Spherical geometry
• No obstacles Pressure wave : 340
m/s in the air

• Pressure waves propagation

• Pressure wave (340 m/s)
• Compression of unburnt gases
• Burned gas are hot (above AIT) Burned
• Unburnt gas heated by the flame gas
• Flame front at a few m/s
• Pmax 10 X Po
• Pmax may be reduced by venting

Effects of gas explosions

17
19/04/2017

Detonation
• Initial conditions for detonation
• Fuel-air mixture inside explosive limits
• Powerful ignition source
• Turbulence
• Elongated geometry (L/D > 3) Flame front
+
• Obstacles
Shock

• Propagation by a supersonic shock wave

• Adiabatic compression of unburned gas above AIT
• Supersonic velocity (1000m/s to 4000m/s)
• Shock wave & reaction front are coupled Burned
• Formation of detonation cells
gas
• Pmax 16 to 30 X Po
• Pmax cannot be reduced by venting
Unburned gas

Effects of gas explosions

18
19/04/2017

9
Deflagration to Detonation Transition (DDT)
• Obstacles turbulence flame acceleration shock wave

combustion expansion flow

turbulence

• Pressure reached in a closed pipe can be 150 times original !

Effects of gas explosions
19
19/04/2017

Summary
• We have looked at the effects of gas phase explosion.

• Some obvious factors are :

• Gas concerned (H2 > CH4 > NH3)
• Ratio of oxidxant gas to fuel
• Initial temperature
• Initial pressure
• Confined / unconfined

• Geometry is important in closed vessels:

• Pressure piling raises the final pressure
• Obstactes can lead to a deflagration to detonation transition

• The rule that 'Pmax 10 X Po’ does not always hold true!
Effects of gas explosions
20
19/04/2017

10