Experimental and chemical kinetics research on the suppression of hydrogen explosion by CO2, N2, and He

The hydrogen energy industry holds significant potential for future development, but the inherent hazardous properties of hydrogen make it highly susceptible to explosion risks during production, transportation, and storage. Studies have shown that the addition of inert gases can effectively suppress H₂-air explosions. This study aims to enhance comprehension of the inhibitory mechanisms of inert gases. It achieves this by utilizing both experimental methodologies and computational simulations to analyze the damping effects of CO₂, N₂, and He on H₂-air explosions comparatively. From an experimental standpoint, the greater specific heat capacity of inert gases allows them to absorb heat more effectively from the reaction zone, which explains this phenomenon. Additionally, by reducing the laminar burning velocity, the addition of inert gases extends the duration of the explosion. This prolongation is positively correlated with heat loss, resulting in a greater overall heat dissipation. CHEMKIN simulation results suggest that CO₂ suppresses reactive free radicals more effectively than N₂ and He, making its inhibitory effect on hydrogen explosions stronger. Additionally, CO₂ more effectively suppresses elementary reactions and promotes the specific negative elementary reaction R99. Moreover, CO₂ also demonstrates a stronger inhibitory effect on the elementary reaction R84, which governs the conversion of H₂ to H₂O. This study advances the theoretical framework for hydrogen explosion suppression while also offering essential technical guidance for implementing gas explosion suppression technologies, highlighting its significant importance for hydrogen energy safety.