Gas Explosion Handbook

ELSEVIERJournalofHazardousMaterials52(1997)1-150JOURNALOFHRZRRDOUSmnTERIaL5GasExplosionHandbookDagBjerketvedt,JanRoarBakke,KeesvanWingerden*ChristianMichelsenResearchAS,Fanfojiuegen38,5036Fantofi,Bergen,NorwayAbstractThehandbookgivesabriefintroductiontogasexplosionsafety,basedoncurrentknowledgeofthesubjectandonexperienceinapplyingthisknowledgetopracticalproblemsintheindustry.Thehandbookconsistsoffourmajorparts:Thesectionsinthefirstpart“Introduction”containthedescriptionandphysicsofgasexplosionphenomena,definitionsandlossexperience.Under“BackgroundandBasics”,cloudformation,gasexplosions,blastwavesandstructuralresponsearedescribed.Thepart“PracticalAspects”relatestheinformationpresentedin“BackgroundandBasics”todifferentindustrialsituations.Thefinalparton“ToolsandAnalysis”focusesonwhatonecandotoimprovegasexplosionsafety.Contentsl.Fomword.................................................51.1.Howtoreadthehandbook...................................51.2.Objectivesofthehandbook...................................61.3.GasexplosionactivitiesatCMR................................71.4.Experimentaltestprogramme..................................81.5.EnhancementofFLACS....................................91.6.Appliedsafetytechnology....................................91.7.Disclaimer............................................92.Introductiontogasexplosions.....................................92.1.Whatisagasexplosion....................................102.2.Lossexperience........................................122.2.1.Flixborough,1974..................................132.2.2.Brahegatan,1983...................................132.2.3.WestVanguard,1985.................................132.2.4.Icecreamfactory...................................13*Correspondingauthor.Tel.:[phone],Fax.:[phone].03043894/97/$17.00Copyright01997ElsevierScienceB.V.Allrightsreserved.PIISO304-3894(96)01793-lD.BjerketvedtetuI./JournalofHazcrrdousMuterids52(1997)I-1502.2.5.Devnya,1986......................................132.2.6.Bergektra.......................................142.2.7.Roadaccident......................................142.2.8.PiperAlpha,1988....................................142.2.9.Deodorantfactory....................................142.2.10.PortHudson,Missouri,1970..............................152.2.11.Raf’nes,1988......................................152.3.Analysisandmanagementofgasexplosionsafety.......................153.Definitions................................................173.1.Explosion............................................173.2.Combustion...........................................183.3.Gasexplosions..........................................183.4.Confinedgasexplosions.....................................193.5.Partlyconfinedgasexplosions.................................193.6.Unconfmedgasexplosions...................................193.7.Vapourcloudexplosions(VCE)................................203.8.Flamespeedandburningvelocity................................203.9.Burningrate...........................................213.10.Deflagrations..........................................213.11.Detonations...........................................213.12.Turbulence............................................223.13.Hydrodynamicinstability....................................223.14.Flashlires............................................233.15.BLEVEs.............................................233.16.Shockwave...........................................243.17.Blastwave............................................243.18.Pressure.............................................264.Formationofexplosivegasclouds...................................264.1.Jetreleasesandevaporatingpools...............................274.2.Gasdispersiontestsina1:5scaleoffshoremodule......................284.3.GasdispersionsimulationsusingFLACS............................304.4.Gascloudandignition......................................314.5.Ventilationincompartments..................................324.6.Guidelines............................................325.Combustionpropertiesoffuel-airmixtures..............................325.1.Flammabilitylimits(LFLandUFL)..............................325.2.Explosionlimits.........................................345.3.Stoichiometriccompositions..................................345.4.Flashpoints...........................................355.5.Minimumignitionenergy....................................3.55.6.Autoignitiontemperature....................................355.7.Heatofreaction.........................................365.8.Adiabaticflametemperature..................................375.9.Constantvolumeandconstantpressurecombustion......................375.10.Laminarflamespeed......................................385.11.Pressurebuild-uppotential...................................395.12.Otheratmospheresthanair...................................406.Deflagrations...............................................406.1.Deflagrationwav