Na'inna, AM, Phylaktou, HN orcid.org/0000-0001-9554-4171 and Andrews, GE orcid.org/0000-0002-8398-1363 (2021) Prediction of distance to maximum intensity of turbulence generated by grid plate obstacles in explosion-induced flows. Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, 69. 104318. ISSN 0950-4230
Abstract
The interaction of unburnt gas flow induced in an explosion with an obstacle results in the production of turbulence downstream of the obstacle and the acceleration of the flame when it reaches this turbulence. Currently, there are inadequate experimental measurements of these turbulent flows in gas explosions due to transient nature of explosion flows and the connected harsh conditions. Hence, majority of measurements of turbulent properties downstream of obstacles are done using steady-state flows rather than transient flows. Consequently, an empirical based correlation to predict distance to maximum intensity of turbulence downstream of an obstacle in an explosion-induced flow using the available steady state experiments was developed in this study. The correlation would serve as a prerequisite for determining an optimum spacing between obstacles thereby determining worst case gas explosions overpressure and flame speeds. Using a limited experimental work on systematic study of obstacle spacing, the correlation was validated against 13 different test conditions. A ratio of the optimum spacing from the experiment, xexp to the predicted optimum spacing, xpred for all the tests was between 2-4. This shows that a factor of three higher than the xpred would be required to produce optimum obstacle spacing that will lead to maximum explosion severity. In planning the layout of new installations, it is appropriate to identify the relevant worst case obstacle separation in order to avoid it. In assessing the risk to existing installations and taking appropriate mitigation measures it is important to evaluate such risk on the basis of a clear understanding of the effects of separation distance and congestion. It is therefore suggested that the various new correlations obtained from this work be subjected to further rigorous validation from relevant experimental data prior to been applied as design tools.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of an article published in Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Gas explosion; Obstacles; Obstacle spacing; Turbulence intensity |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 18 May 2021 14:50 |
Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2021 00:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jlp.2020.104318 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:174090 |
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