Dust explosions in vented silos: Simulations and comparisons with current standards

Dust explosions represent a serious hazard to personnel and equipment in industries and silo facilities that handle combustible materials. Venting devices are the most common protective systems employed in silos, although their use may pose problems in large and low-strength silos. The main aim of the present work was to simulate dust explosions in silos using a commercial CFD program, the DESC code, to determine the pressures developed in vented explosions with vent areas of different sizes. Dust cloud characteristics were taken from studies carried out by the FSA (Research Centre for Applied System Safety and Industrial Medicine, Germany) in a 12 m³ silo with a mechanical feeding system. The pressures and associated vent areas in these simulations were compared to those contemplated in two venting standards. The simulated explosion pressures showed the expected trends for the associated vent areas and agreed reasonably well with the values contemplated in NFPA 68 (2007) [5]. However, when the reduced explosion overpressure was low, the vent area contemplated in EN 14491 (2006) [4] was much larger than in the present simulations.     

连通容器气体爆炸流场的CFD模拟

跟单个容器或管道相比,连通容器内气体爆炸会导致较高的爆炸压力和压力上升速率,以至于很多装置或设备不能承受而造成人员伤亡和财产损失。连通容器内气体爆炸强度增加主要是跟气体流动与燃烧过程有关,研究该类气体爆炸机理就必须从爆炸流场着手。本文利用大型计算流体动力学软件FLUENT对气体爆炸流场进行了数值模拟,获得了气体爆炸流场中温度、压力、速度、密度和燃烧速率随时间的变化规律,模拟结果能够比较清晰地反映出气体爆炸的整个过程。研究表明,连通容器中气体燃烧和流动引起未燃气体的压缩和湍流以及湍流诱导的喷射燃烧是系统中气体爆炸强度增加的主要原因,而管道在湍流诱导的喷射火焰中扮演非常重要的角色。     

Computational modelling of explosions caused by failed Li-ion batteries

The implementation rate of renewable energy sources such as lithium-ion batteries has grown over the last decade. Consequently, the number of explosion occurrences associated with these batteries has also increased. Such events are due to a process called thermal runaway (TR). The flamelet combustion approach has been widely used to model premixed combustion. However, its applicability for modelling accidental explosions from lithium-ion batteries remains limited. Moreover, the effects and contributions from stress, strain, and wrinkling on the flame front in gas mixtures from Li-ion batteries are not fully understood. As far as computational modelling is concerned, the same effects require further investigation. The current research investigates the performance of the flamelet approach for modelling premixed combustion scenarios caused by the gases ejected by a fully charged lithium-ion-phosphate (LFP) battery. A new laminar burning velocity correlation is proposed based on experimental data to calculate overpressure, flame position, and flame velocity in a semi-confined geometry. Promising results are presented resorted by good agreement with experimental data.     

Dust lifting behind shock waves: comparison of two modelling techniques

This paper is devoted to the topic of dust entrainment behind shock waves. Although this topic has been researched vigorously in recent years, it has still not been established what mechanism is responsible for the creation of dust cloud, although some theories have been proposed. During this research different types of models were considered and two of them, namely the Eulerian-Eulerian and the Eulerian-Lagrangian were used in two-dimensional domain. The advantage of the latter type of model was the possibility of taking into account both gas-particle and inter-particle collisions. The results of the simulations are shown mainly graphically, as snapshots of particle positions at given times after passing of the shock wave. A comparison between the two types of models was performed and the main conclusion is that the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach led to results that better corresponded to experimental observations. The reason was the fact that the collisions, considered only in the Eulerian-Lagrangian approach, influenced the process significantly.     

Near-source audiovisual,hydroacoustic, and seismic observations of Dead Sea underwater explosions

Results of a study of hydroacoustic, acoustic, and seismic effects from a series of three large-scale chemical explosions of 0.5, 2, and 5 tons, conducted in November, 1999 in the Dead Sea, are presented. The shots were detonated at a water depth of 70 m (485 m below the ocean level). The main objective of the experiment was calibration of seismic stations of the International Monitoring System in the Middle East, using accurate travel times and source phenomenology features of underwater explosions. The largest shot provided magnitude about 4 and was recorded at distances up to 3500 km. Near-source seismic and hydroacoustic observations obtained were utilized to estimate source parameters of the conducted explosions. Based on the curve-fit equation of the time-pressure measurements, the direct shock wave energy was estimated as 30.8% of the total explosive energy. The TNT equivalent to the 5000 kg charge of the explosive used (Chenamon) was determined as 4010 kg, corresponding to the manufacturer’s estimate of the Chenamon energy as ≈80% TNT. __________ Translated from Fizika Goreniya i Vzryva, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 124–136, March–April, 2009.     

CFD Analysis of Dust Explosion Relief System in the Counter-Current Industrial Spray Drying Tower

The aim of the paper was to evaluate the performance of venting devices in an industrial counter-current spray tower during dust explosion using a CFD model and EN14491:2006 standard. Three-dimensional CFD simulations of dust explosion in the spray tower for six different configurations of safety vents located at the top and side walls of the dryer were carried out. In the calculations, in which dust was replaced with a flammable gas-air mixture, the following parameters of dust explosion were analyzed: reaction progress, maximum and average gas temperature, gas velocity, and pressure. Reduced pressures calculated according to EN 14991:2006 standard are close to maximum pressure obtained from CFD simulations for all analyzed spatial configurations of the safety vents, which proves that the CFD model can be used both to design explosion mitigation systems and to describe the mechanism of explosion propagation in the drying chamber. Results of the calculations allowed us to evaluate the performance of analyzed venting devices, to determine the spatial configuration and parameters of venting devices that should be installed to minimize damages of the dryer construction.     

不同管长条件下连通容器预混气体泄爆实验

通过容器与管道的连接组合,改变管道长度,开展不同管道长度的连通容器预混气体等容爆炸与泄爆实验,分析在密闭爆炸与相同泄爆面积条件下,管道长度的变化对连通容器中火焰传播与容器内压力的影响。实验结果表明：火焰在管道中加速传播,随管道长度的增加,传播速率加快;无论是密闭爆炸或是泄爆,连通条件下容器的最大压力上升速率均高于单个容器的情况;连通容器等容爆炸时,传爆容器的压力峰值随管长的增加而增加;泄爆时,传爆容器的泄爆压力峰值超过其单容器泄爆的压力峰值,特别是传爆容器为小容器时,压力峰值更高;随管长的变化情况,与相应密闭条件下的等容爆炸压力密切相关,但变化趋势不完全一致,受容器泄爆面积、火焰传播等多种因素的影响。     

铝粉尘爆炸典型案例分析及安全对策

介绍了铝粉的理化性质和火灾危险性,通过铝粉尘爆炸典型事故案例,分析了铝粉粉尘爆炸的事故特点,铝粉粉尘爆炸的事故原因,探讨了预防铝粉粉尘爆炸的主要技术措施和铝粉粉尘事故发生后一般处置手段和注意事项。     

Morphology and electrochemical activity of SOFC composite cathodes: II. Mathematical modelling

This paper presents a mathematical model of mass and charge transport and electrochemical reaction in porous composite cathodes for application in solid oxide fuel cells. The model describes a porous composite cathode as a continuum, and characterises charge and mass transfer and electrochemical kinetics using effective parameters (i.e. conductivity, diffusivity, exchange current) related to morphology and material properties by percolation theory. The model accounts for the distribution of morphological properties (i.e. porosity, tortuosity, density of contacts among particles) along cathode thickness, as experimentally observed on scanning electron microscope images of LSM/YSZ cathodes of varying thickness. This feature allows the model to reproduce the dependence of polarisation resistance on thickness, as determined by impedance spectroscopy on LSM/YSZ cathodes of varying thickness. Polarisation resistance in these cathodes is almost constant for thin cathodes (up to 10 μm thickness), it sharply decreases for intermediate thickness, to reach a minimum value for about 50 μm thickness, then it slightly increases in thicker cathodes.     

带燃爆泄放口的卧式容器鞍座设计

以Zick分析方法为基本模型 ,考虑了燃爆泄放对容器的冲击力 ,对带燃爆泄放口的卧式容器进行受力分析 ,计算了不同位置的泄放对鞍座强度的影响     

Mathematical modelling on rapid decompression in base natural gas mixtures under rupturing

The paper presents a one-dimensional mathematical model of transient compressible thermal multi-component gas mixture flows in pipes. The set of the mass, momentum and enthalpy conservation equations is solved for gas phase in the model. Thermo-physical properties of multi-component gas mixture are calculated by solving the Equation of State (EOS) model. The Soave–Redlich–Kwong (SRK–EOS) model is chosen. Gas mixture viscosity is calculated on the basis of the Lee–Gonzales–Eakin (LGE) correlation. Numerical analysis on rapid decompression process in a shock tube having base natural gases is performed by using the proposed mathematical model. The model is successfully validated on the experimental measurements of the decompression wave speed in base natural gas mixtures. The proposed mathematical model shows a very good agreement with the experiments in a wide range of pressure values and predicts the decompression in base natural gases much better than analytical and mathematical models, which are available from the open source literature.     

Mathematical modelling of styrene drying by adsorption onto activated alumina

This work is focused on the analysis and modelling of styrene drying, raw material in the manufacture of synthetic rubber, by means of adsorption onto activated alumina. Equilibrium experiments, carried out under isothermal conditions at 10°C, correlated to the equation q (kg/kg)=2.659×10⁻⁴ C (mg/kg). Fixed bed column experiments were performed working with different flow rates and using different bed lengths in order to obtain experimental breakthrough curves. A mathematical model that considers the influence of both film and pore mass transfer resistances described satisfactorily well the experimental results. Finally a value of D_p=6.101×10⁻⁹ m²/s was obtained from correlation of experimental data to simulated curves and using the minimum weighted standard deviation as optimisation criterion.     

密闭容器非理想爆源爆炸过程的数值模拟

采用均匀能量释放模型 ,对密闭空间非理想爆源爆炸进行了数值计算 ,对同种燃料不同体积和同体积不同燃料的爆炸压力随时间变化的曲线进行了对比分析 ,为工程上进一步泄放爆炸分析提供了数据     

球形容器与管道内甲烷-空气混合物爆炸强度的尺寸效应

通过实验和理论分析,从球形容器内径、单个球形容器接管长度和连通容器连通管道长度变化3个方面,研究了球形容器与管道内甲烷-空气混合物爆炸强度的尺寸效应。研究表明:单个球形容器接管后,球形容器中最大爆炸压力和最大压力上升速率均随接管长度的增加逐渐减小,而小球接管时的管道末端气体最大爆炸压力和最大压力上升速率随连接管道长度的增加逐渐增加;在连通器结构中,传爆容器中最大爆炸压力和最大压力上升速率随连通管道长度的增加呈线性关系增加。研究结果揭示了尺寸效应对气体爆炸强度的影响规律,为球形容器与管道泄爆安全设计提供依据和重要参考。     

连通容器内气体爆炸过程的数值分析

为了研究连通容器内气体爆炸强度增加产生机理以及燃烧火焰与压力传播的基本规律,采用k-ε模型和EBU-Arrhen ius混合反应模型,从流体力学和化学反应动力学守恒方程出发,利用大型流体动力学软件F luent 6.1对连通容器内气体爆炸过程进行了数值分析,获得了气体爆炸过程中火焰和压力传播特性以及气体流动特性,模拟结果能够比较清晰地反映气体爆炸的整个过程。研究表明连通容器中气体爆炸过程中火焰始终是加速传播的,气体压缩和反流以及喷射火焰是连通容器气体爆炸强度增加的主要原因。     

丝网结构对连通容器气体爆炸的二次抑制效果

实际生产中大多数储罐、反应器的进料口和卸料口都是与管道相连而形成连通结构,为考查丝网结构对连通容器内气体爆炸的二次抑制作用,以甲烷-空气混合物为研究对象,利用球形容器与管道构成的连通容器进行了抑爆实验,对比分析了单次抑爆与二次抑爆效果,并分析了不同目数和层数的丝网结构对连通容器的二次抑爆效果的影响。结果表明:丝网结构二次抑爆效果优于单次抑爆。当单次抑爆失效时加入40目5层丝网结构进行二次抑爆效果最好;加入60目1层、3层丝网结构无抑爆效果,加入5层、7层、9层丝网结构抑爆效果明显,而且抑爆作用随丝网层数增加而增强。因此,在工程设计中应根据实际情况综合考虑,选用合适的抑爆次数及抑爆结构。     

Mathematical modelling of mixed salt precipitation during convective heat transfer and sub-cooled flow boiling

The main purpose of this investigation was to study the mechanisms of mixed salt crystallisation fouling on heat transfer surfaces during convective heat transfer and sub-cooled flow boiling conditions. In the present investigation, the effects of various operating parameters such as solution composition and hydrodynamics of the system, on crystallisation fouling of mixtures of calcium sulphate and calcium carbonate have been studied experimentally. After clarification of the effects of operating parameters on the deposition process, the results of the experiments were used to develop a mechanistic model for prediction of fouling resistances, caused by crystallisation of mixed salts, under convective heat transfer and sub-cooled flow boiling conditions. Model predictions were compared with the measured experimental data when calcium sulphate and calcium carbonate form deposits on the heat transfer surface simultaneously. Deviations ranging from 6% to 25% were observed which confirm the suitability of the model.     

Coal dust/air explosions in a large-scale tube

Coal dust/air mixture explosions under weak ignition conditions have been studied in a horizontal experimental tube of diameter 199 mm and length 29.6 m. The experimental tube is closed at one end and open at the downstream end. An array of 40 equally spaced dust dispersion units was used to disperse coal dust particles into the experimental tube. The coal dust/air mixture was ignited by an electric spark. A constant-temperature hot-wire anemometer was used to measure the gas velocity during the dispersion process. Kistler piezoelectric pressure sensors were used to measure the propagation of the pressure wave during the explosion process. The maximum overpressure of the coal dust explosion under the weak ignition conditions in the tube was 70 kPa and the propagation velocity of the pressure wave along the tube was approximately 370 m/s. The minimum concentration for obtaining a coal dust explosion that propagated along the tube was 120 g/m³. The suppressing effects on the coal dust explosion of two different kinds of suppressing agents have been studied.     

Mathematical modelling of mass-transfer and hydrodynamics in CO2 absorbers packed with structured packings

This paper presents a mechanistic model that can predict mass-transfer performance and provide an insight into dynamic behavior within structured packings used for CO₂ absorption. The model was built upon the kinetics and thermodynamics of the absorption system, as well as the liquid irrigation features and the geometry of packing elements. A computer program (Fortran 90) was written to simulate CO₂ absorption into aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and monoethanolamine (MEA) in a column packed with Gempak 4A, Mellapak 500Y and Mellapak 500X. The simulation gave essential information, including the concentration of CO₂ in gas-phase, concentration of reactive species in the liquid-phase, system temperature, mass-transfer coefficients (k_G and k_L), and effective interfacial area (a_e) for mass-transfer at different axial positions along the absorption column. The simulation also provided liquid distribution plots representing the quality of liquid distribution or maldistribution across the cross-section of the column. Verification of the model was achieved by comparing simulation results with experimental data. Very good agreement was found for wide ranges of operating and design parameters, including liquid load and initial liquid distribution pattern.     

塑料厂除尘系统的设计分析

除尘系统是捕集、输送、净化含尘气体直至干净气体排放的整个系统,它由集气吸尘罩、除尘管路、除尘设备、除尘风机等组成。提出了除尘系统的设计原则和计算方法,为正确选择、合理配置除尘系统提供了设计依据