Gas Flammability Test

Purpose: Determine if a gas mixture is flammable

Steps: 1. Determine the Gas Composition (from user)
2. Determine the Gas Mixture lower flammablity using Le Chatelier's Rule - reference Bodur
3. Determine if the concentration of combustibles is greater than the lower flammability limit,
4. Determine if there is adequate oxygen present (MOC) to propagate a flame. This tests if

Step 1 & 2
Gas composition

% of Total
Combustible Component concentration LEL, % Combusti
Name , %vol vol, Li ble, xi
Isobutane 0.01% 2.5 1
0
0
0

Total combustible 5.99817E-05

Non Combustible
Air 89.99%
CO2 0
N2 0
H2O 0
O2 0

total non combustibles 0.8999

Total (should be 100) 0.900019963

Step 4.
Usually organic combustible compounds will not propagate a flame if 02 in mixtures of organ
inert gas, and air is below about 10.5 and 13% v/v with N2 and CO2 respectively, as the ine
gases.

concentration
, %vol Formula C H
Isobutane 100.0 1
0 0.0 0 2
0 0.0 1 4
0 0.0 2 4
0 0.0

Fuel Mixture :

Combustible Component Volume Fraction , xi

Isobutane 1.554726 cmh
Total 1.554726 cmh

LEL mix = [Ʃxi/li]^-1 = 1/0.863737 =

xi Total 1.554726
Lel mix 1.15776
1.5%
%LEL 89.52497 cmh
 input
output

elier's Rule - reference Bodurtha; Industrial Explosion Prevention and Protection

n the lower flammability limit, if so it is a combustible mixture (if released into air or by itself)
pagate a flame. This tests if gas is combustible with no additional oxygen required

xi/Li
40 Lower Flammability Limit, % vol 2.50 %
0 Concentration of Combustibles 6E-05 %
0
0 Step 3. Combustible Mixture? No

Note: Gases must have 'similar' flammability characteristics for

Le Chatelier's Rule to be applicable

Note: Composite Upper Flammabiliity may be calculated in

similar manner.

25 Kg
2.01 kg/m3
8 hrs
1.554726 m3/hr

ame if 02 in mixtures of organic,

CO2 respectively, as the inert

O
1 0.5
0 0
0 0
0 0
0

LEL, Li (vol%) xi/li

1.8 0.863737
 Ʃxi/li = 0.863737

1.15776

< 20,000 cmh

 Minimum Oxygen for Combustion (MOC)

Component N2-Air % v/v O2 CO2-Air % v/v O2 LEL

Acetone 13.5 15.5
Benzene 11 14
Butadiene 10 13
Butane 12 14.5
Carbon Disulfide 5 8
Carbon Monoxide 5.5 6 12.5
Diethyl Ether 10.5 13
Ethanol 10.58 13
Ethylene 10 11.5 2.7
Hydrogen 5 6 4
Hydrogen Sulfide 7.5 11.5
Isobutane 12 15
Methane 12 14.5 5
Methanol 10 13.5 6.7
Propane 11.5 14 2.2
Propylene 11.5 14

Notes:
ref Bodurtha who references NFPA standard 69 , Oct 1967

% v/v O2 is in mixtures of the combustible + inert gas + air. Values are for normal room temperature an
 O2 % error
Stoichiom Calculate from
Reaction C's H's O's etric d MOC measured
0 0 -100%
0 0 -100%
0 0 -100%
0 0 -100%
0 0 -100%
CO + 0.5 O2 -> CO2 1 0 1 0.5 6.25 14%
0 0 -100%
0 0 -100%
C2H2 2 2 0 2.5 6.75 -33%
H2 2 0.5 2 -60%
0 0 -100%
0 0 -100%
CH4 1 4 0 2 10 -17%
CH3OH 1 4 1 1.5 10.05 1%
C3H8 + 5O2 -> 3CO2 + 4H2O 3 8 0 5 11 -4%

Values are for normal room temperature and 101.325 kPa

 Gas Flammability Test
Purpose: Determine if a gas mixture is flammable
Steps: 1. Determine the Gas Composition (from user)
2. Determine the Gas Mixture lower flammablity using Le Chatelier's Rule - reference Bodur
3. Determine if the concentration of combustibles is greater than the lower flammability limit,
4. Determine if there is adequate oxygen present (MOC) to propagate a flame. This tests if

Step 1 & 2
Gas composition

% of Total
Combustible Component concentra LEL, % Combusti
Name tion, %vol vol, Li ble, xi
Silane 0.331126 1.5 0.5
Hydrogen 0.331126 4 0.5
0 0
0 0

Total combustible 0.662252

Non Combustible
Air 99.33775
CO2 0
N2 0
H2O 0
O2 0

total non combustibles 99.33775

Total (should be 100) 100

Step 4.
Usually organic combustible compounds will not propagate a flame if 02 in mixtures of
organic, inert gas, and air is below about 10.5 and 13% v/v with N2 and CO2 respectively, a
the inert gases.

concentra
tion, %vol Formula C H
Silane 50.0 1
Hydrogen 50.0 0 2
0 0.0 1 4
0 0.0 2 4
0 0.0
 input
output

hatelier's Rule - reference Bodurtha; Industrial Explosion Prevention and Protection

than the lower flammability limit, if so it is a combustible mixture (if released into air or by itself)
propagate a flame. This tests if gas is combustible with no additional oxygen required

Exhaust
xi/Li
Flow rate,
cmh
33.33333 Lower Flammability Limit, % vol 2.18 % 200
12.5 Concentration of Combustibles 0.662252 % 200
0
0 Step 3. Combustible Mixture? No

Note: Gases must have 'similar' flammability characteristics for 400

Le Chatelier's Rule to be applicable

Note: Composite Upper Flammabiliity may be calculated in 60000

similar manner.

60000
60400

a flame if 02 in mixtures of
with N2 and CO2 respectively, as

O
1 0.25
0 0.25
0 0
0 0
0
 Exhaust
Flow rate,
in %
0.331126
0.331126

0.006623

99.33775

99.33775
100
 GEX GEX SLX
20500 20760 100
cmh cmh cmh
(50cmh x 10)
[P1]
Le Chatelier Formula :
LELmix = (P1 + P2 + Pn) / (P1/Lel1 +P2/Lel2 + …Pn/Leln)
Where :
P1…Pn = volume fractions of components 1,2,3,…,n of the mixture
LEL1…LELn = lower explosion limits of components 1,2,3,…,n of the mixture
UEL1…UELn = upper explosion limits of components 1,2,3,…,n of the mixture
For the UEL, the same equation is used except that lel is replaced by uel
Component
LELmix = (0.5+0.5)/((0.5/0.015)+(0.5/0.04)) P1
LELmix = 0.021818 or 2% LEL P2
Pt
Where :
Table LEL / UEL
Lower Explosive or Upper Explosive or
Fuel Gas Flammable Limit Flammable Limit
(LEL/LFL) (%) (UEL/UFL) (%)
Hydrogen 4 75
Silane 1.5 98

NFPA 69 page 18 -Combustible Concentration Limit

The combustible Concentration shall be maintained at or below 25% of the lower Explosive Limit (LEL)

LELmix = (1-0.25)%b LEL = 1.6%

Ventilation or Air Dilution

Hazardous concentration of exhausted air cannot be drawn into AHU and shall be provided with gas detectors that

Amt of Air Dilution = Sum of Flammable Gases / LEL mix

Amt of Air to be diluted = Pt / % LELmix
Minimum amount of Air to be diluted = 12,222.22 cmh
Actual amount of Air diluted = 61760 cmh GEX

Actual Concentration of Gas = Pt /actual Amount Diluted

Actual Concentration of Gas = 0.003238 or 0.32%
 HEX GEX
100 20500
cmh cmh
(50cmh x 10)
[P2]
>NFPA 69 page 51 Mixture of Gases

Component In %
100 0.5
100 0.5
200 1

r Explosive Limit (LEL)

with gas detectors that interlock to stop air intake