Experimental investigation of flame propagation mitigation using woven wire and perforated metal meshes in circular pipe

Abstract

Explosions due to gas leaks from accidents and human errors are major concerns faced in natural gas and related industries. Understanding its formation and dissociation mechanisms at field conditions is keys to its successful prevention and management. In the present study, two different meshes with different sized flow channels were proposed to prevent and control methane combustion in a circular gas pipeline. The perforated metal steel of 6 mm aperture and woven wire steel mesh with 1.31 mm aperture, 0.28 mm wire diameter installed in between the flange positioned 2000 mm in a 6300 mm horizontal circular pipe were used. The effects of propagated flame flow temperature variation and equivalence ratio on wire gauze combustion have been investigated and analyzed experimentally. Methane-air mixture at variable concentrations within the lower and upper flammability ranges of 6 and 9% were used in creating an explosive mixture through the pipe length. The parameters investigated were measured and recorded. The results indicated that the inflated period for methane-air concentrations and mesh sizes varied significantly with time. The wall temperature decreased with a decrease in mesh size. The woven wire and perforated plate on flame propagation showed greatly the mitigating capability of the meshes, with a flame temperature declining tremendously. Therefore, woven wire and perforated sheets installed in gas pipelines can reduce explosion risks efficiently and effectively. However, woven wire mesh is preferable because it declines the flame temperature compared to the perforated metal mesh. Key words: Explosion, combustion, flame propagation, temperature, steel meshes (Woven wire and perforated plate).