Two‐dimensional analysis of a dust explosion

Abstract

Peak pressures and propagation velocities for dust explosions have for many years been studied as a function of particle concentration. There are, however, no multidimensional models in the literature which can be used to compute local pressures and impluses needed to access the potential damage caused by a detonation.A two-dimensional two-phase hydrodynamic computer model was developed in this study to predict pressure propagation in dust explosions. Two cases of detonation of dispersed powders injected into a rectangular cavity were analyzed. The ignition of an idealized, uniformly distributed powder in a box produced a pressure peak that propagated through the powder with an increasing amplitude from the ignition source at one corner. The computational maximum pressure agreed with an approximate calculation of the Chapman-Jouguet pressure. The pressure propagation for the more realistic nonuniform initial particle distribution produced several peaks not unlike those observed on the ground below the detonation. Computed pressures agreed roughly with the measured average pressure peaks.

Kinetic theory based multiphase flow with experimental verification

“…This representation was verified experimentally and computationally for detonation of solid particles, such as TNT, in which the solid particles are rapidly converted into gases (Aldis andGidaspow 1990, Pape and.…”

Numerical simulation of intense reaction propagation in multiphase systems

“…This code has evolved significantly over the years as it has been adapted to a wide variety of applications. The most similar work to that presented herein was by Aldis (1987) and Aldis and Gidaspow (1990). Aldis applied a revised version of the code, MULTIP, with a pressure law reaction rate to simulate combustion propagation in a packed bed of propellant and a dispersed explosive system.…”

“…Aldis used the energy form of the conservation of energy equation and the current work uses the conservation of enthalpy form. In Aldis and Gidaspow (1990), the Model A form described in Gidaspow (1994) was used. Models A and B differ in that Model B considers no pressure drop applied to the particulate phases.…”

Dust explosion of oil shale and olive cake solid fuels: a comparison study

“…According to Alids (1990) and during the years of 1977 and 1978, the destruction caused by grain dust explosions amounted to over 100 million dollars. In 1986, several people died in a coal dust explosion in Japan.…”