Study on dispersion process and explosion hazard of propylene oxide/aluminum powder blended fuel under windy conditions

Abstract

The wind exerts a significant influence on the dispersion and explosion characteristics of fuel. To solve the problem of the unclear corresponding relationship between wind scales and the dispersion and explosion hazards of fuel, the experiments and simulations of 11 kg propylene oxide/aluminum powder blended fuel are carried out. A dispersion and explosion model of multi-phase fuel under windy conditions is built. The dispersion process, concentration distribution, component reactions, and explosion overpressure of the fuel are obtained. The explosion damage analyses for humans and buildings are conducted by the overpressure criterion and PROBIT equation, respectively. The results show that a light wind of 2 m/s is more conducive to explosion propagation and presents a higher explosion risk. The fuel cloud radius in the downwind area at a wind speed of 2 m/s is 7.24 m, and the peak overpressure can reach 226.5 kPa, which are 11.73 % and 14.15 % higher than those under no-wind conditions, respectively. The probability of building collapse within the cloud area increases by 10 %. Although a strong wind of 8 m/s expands the fuel cloud range, the decrease in concentration leads to a reduction in overpressure and impulse. At a wind speed of 20 m/s, the peak overpressure is 130.74 kPa, which is only 65.89 % of that under no-wind condition. The research is of great significance to the safety design of fuel storage and transportation, the concentration prediction of accidentally released vapor cloud and the prevention of fire and explosion accidents.