Explosion Venting Guide

D I C K A. D E C K E R , SFPE
Union Carbide Corporation

The author discusses the principles of contained and relieved

gaseous explosions. He provides formulas for calculating venting
rates and relief areas, and applies them to a sample problem.

T Hrelief
I S paper is intended to serve as a guide for the design of explosion
for pressure vessels, tanks, and enclosures. Generally, explosion
venting is needed where an internal explosion hazard can exist from an
accumulation, in explosive concentrations, of flammable gases, vapors, and
mists, and combustible dusts. This paper pertains primarily to gas and
vapor explosions, although m a n y of the items discussed also apply to mist
and dust explosions.
M u c h of the information available on explosion venting is empirical,
and a large portion of the experimental data has been obtained from rela-
tively small test vessels. Whenever possible, test data should be obtained
with vessels of similar proportions and similar initial conditions to those to
be protected. When such information cannot be obtained, d a t a m a y be
extrapolated from the literature and used with engineering judgment.
I f additional information should be desired, the bibliography of this
paper contains a list of publications (most of which also have bibliographies)
that discuss explosion venting, tests, empirical relationships, and data.
The "Guide for Explosion Venting" ( N F P A No. 68) provides a composite
list of explosion characteristics for common vapors, gases, and dusts.

CONTAINED GASEOUS EXPLOSIONS

Explosion tests are usually conducted in pressure vessels wherein a
flammable gas or vapor mixture is centrally ignited by a single ignition
source. The test results include rate of pressure rise data and maximum,
closed-vessel explosion pressures.
Turbulence and multiple ignition sources tend to increase the rate of
pressure rise and the explosion pressure. Mixture strength also has a
marked effect on the rate of pressure rise. The most severe pressures are
achieved when the concentration is slightly richer than the stoichiometric
concentration. Tests have shown that the maximum pressure developed
in a contained explosion is practically independent of volume and is de-
pendent upon the nature of the flammable for a certain initial temperature
219
220 Fire Technology
and pressure. Generally, as the initial temperature increases, the m a x i m u m
pressure developed decreases, time to attain maximum pressure decreases,
and the rate of pressure rise increases. On the other hand, a higher initial
pressure will normally result in a higher maximum explosion pressure.

GASEOUS EXPLOSION RELIEF

When an explosion is relieved through a vent, several interrelated fac-
tors are involved in addition to those discussed in the preceding paragraph.
The capacity of the relief vent at critical flow conditions, and therefore,
its resulting effect on the rate of pressure change, greatly influences the
maximum pressure developed. Remote ignition will also cause a higher
pressure to develop than ignition adjacent to the point of relief.
Upon the opening of the relief vent, the volume of material undergoing
combustion changes continuously because flows through the vent vary in
accordance with the differential pressure across the opening. The initial
shock of the relief vent opening may induce turbulence in the gas system
and may increase the burning rate and decrease the venting rate. Conse-
quently, the rate of pressure rise may decrease initially; but as the pressure
builds up again from increased combustion and from flow losses through
the outlet, the rate of rise may increase again until combustion ceases.
Experience shows that the pressure will peak at a pressure greater than the
set pressure of the relief vent. Figure I shows graphically what occurs in
a typical vented explosion in a vessel.

DESIGN OF EXPLOSION RELIEF

The venting rate required to relieve a specific volume of gas that is
undergoing combustion is proportional to the rate of pressure rise at the

140
I I I I I I I I I
120 Maximum rate of pressure
rise at stoichiometric Maximum explosion pressure~
lO0 I slightly richer than s t o i c h i o m e t r i c
J
80

pressure/ ./
60
-- / / Possible 2nd peak caused
40 E ~_~ /(.i.,...~, ~ by turbuence
E--/--"<-- "'- m
20
L.,//OV erpressur e "',~ '"~,,
0 V i I I"-t------i "T--.-+--...-4 i
0 I00 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 I000
Minimum time to maximum pressure (reset)

Figure 1. Events of a typical vented explosion in a vessel.

Explosion Venting 221
time the set pressure of the relief vent is reached. Thus, rate of pressure
rise data or extrapolated data for a particular flammable mixture may be
used with the following formulas to determine the volumetric flow rate and
relief area to vent a gaseous explosion.
RV V
Q - - (1)
P t

where Q = Volumetric flow rate at the relieving condition, cfs

R = M a x i m u m rate of explosion pressure rise, psig s-1
V = Initial volume of explosive mixture, ft 3
P = Set pressure of the relief vent, psig
A = Required relief area, ft 2
M = Equivalent molecular weight of the vapor
T = Temperature of the vented vapors, ° R (normally 500 ° R less
t h a n the m a x i m u m flame temperature to be found in com-
bustion literature or use 3600 ° R)
t = Time, s, to attain the m a x i m u m (set) pressure at a given rate
of pressure rise.
Equation 2 for the required relief area was derived using the ASME
flow formula, W = 3 0 6 a P v ' M / T , for mixed vapors and the volumetric
flow rate, Q, from Equation 1o
Figure 2 is constructed according to the method of L a l a m m e using the
equation Log P + Log V - Log C = 0 (See Bibliography item 3) and m a y
be used to determine the time, t, to attain the m a x i m u m pressure at a
m a x i m u m rate of pressure rise. The time, t, can be used with Equation 2
to determine the required relief area.
R a t e of rise data from a test vessel m a y be adjusted for the vessel to
be protected using the following "Cube L a w " relationships (See Bibliog-
raphy item 2): R / R 1 = t l / t = ( V I / V ) ~, where t~, V~, and RI are test vessel
conditions, and t and R are the protected vessel conditions. V shall be
limited to the m a x i m u m spherical volume possible within the vessel to be
protected.
Whenever significant turbulence can exist within the vessel to be pro-
tected prior to the opening of the relief vent, the rate of rise data to be
adjusted must be from a test vessel having similar turbulence.
When determining the set pressure and relief area for explosion relief,
consider t h e explosion relief device an addition to the primary relief re-
quirements. I n m a n y cases, a set pressure of the explosion relief device of
1.2 times the M A W P (maximum allowable working pressure) is considered
reasonable because the peak pressure of an adequately vented explosion
will generally not exceed 1.5 times the MAWP. However, where operating
conditions permit, a lower set pressure m a y be desirable.
When calculated relief areas are not reasonable, consideration should be
222 Fire T e c h n o l o g y
I00

80

60

40

x
20

CL

I0
~ a

I
,ol .02 .o4 .06 .o8 0.1 0,2 0.4 0.6 0.8 I.O
Time to attain maximum pressure (sec)
Figure 2. T i m e to determine m a x i m u m pressure at a m a x i m u m rate of pressure rise.

given to raising the M A W P of the vessel, decreasing the volume of the ex-
plosive mixture, or reducing the m a x i m u m rate of pressure rise t o t h a t of
a nonstoichiometric mixture.

SAMPLE PROBLEM
Find the flow rate at the relieving condition, Q, and the explosion relief
area, A, required for a 10,000-gal vessel containing a 100-ft 3 stoichiometric
ethyl alcohol-air mixture in the vapor space. The MAWP of the vessel is
50 psig.
According to N F P A No. 68, R1 = 2500 psig s -1 and P1 = 97 psig in a
closed bomb having a volume of 10 liters. The volume of the v a p o r space
in the vessel to be protected is given in ft3; therefore, it is necessary to con-
vert the volume of the test vessel from liters to ft 3. Since I liter = 0.035
ft 3, 10 liters = 0.35 ft 3.
Next, solve for R, the m a x i m u m rate of explosion pressure rise in the
vessel to be protected.
Explosion V e n t i n g 223
R / R 1 = ( V I / V ) ~ = (0.35/100) ~ = 0.152 = R/2500
R = 0.152(2500) = 380 psig s -1
We could also use tl from Figure 2 w i t h V and V1 to find t, a n d t h e n
locate t and PI on Figure 2 to find R. F r o m Figure 2, we find t h a t tl = 0.039
for test vessel conditions R1 and P~.
tl/t = (V~/V) t

t--t~/(Y~/~ - - t l [(~/V~)~] = O.039 [(~00/0.35) ~3 -- 0.26 s.

W i t h a m a x i m u m explosion pressure, P1, of 97 psig a n d t i m e to a t t a i n
m a x i m u m explosion pressure, t~ of 0.26 s, Figure 2 indicates a m a x i m u m
rate of explosion pressure rise of 380 psig s-1.
Using the calculated value of R in E q u a t i o n 1, we can d e t e r m i n e the
flow rate a t the relieving condition, Q. P is the relief pressure setting, which,
in this case, is 1.2 times the M A W P or 60 psig.
q = RV/P = [380(100)]/60 = 633 CfSo
T h e equivalent molecular weight of the mixture, M, equals (0.12) (46)
A- (0.88) (29) = 31.04. I f we assume the t e m p e r a t u r e of the v e n t e d vapor
to be 3600 ° R, we can calculate the required v e n t area, A.
A = [RV(MT)']/132P = [380(100)({31.04/3600)]/132(60) = 0.45 f t 2,
or a 10-in. d i a m e t e r r u p t u r e disc.
Or, locate t on Figure 2 when P = 6 0 psig a n d R = 380 psig s-L
t = 0.155. Therefore,
A = [V(M/T)']/132t = [100 (x/31.04/3600)]/132(0.155) = 0.45 ft 2.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
i Cousins and Cotton, Transactions of the A S M E , Paper 51-PR12 (1951).
Maisey, H. R., Chemical and Process Engineering, Vol. 46, No. 1D, p. 527.
3 Lowenstien, J. C., Chemical Engineering, January 13, 1958, p. 157.
Guide [or Explosion Venting, N F P A No. 68, National Fire Protection Association,
Boston, 1954.
A S M E Pressure Vessel Code, Division 1, Section V I I I (1968).
e Duggan, J. J., Gilmour, C. H., and Fisher, P. F , Transactions of the A S M E , Vol.
66, No. 1 (January 1944).