Application of Composite Materials in the Fire Explosion Suppression System

In order to lighten the weight of the special vehicles and improve their mobility and flexibility, the weight of all subsystems of the whole vehicle must be reduced in the general planning. A fire explosion suppression system is an important subsystem for the self-protection of vehicle, protection of crews and safety of a vehicle. The performances of the special vehicles determine their survival ability and combat capability. The composite bottle is made of aluminum alloy with externally wrapped carbon fiber ; it has been proven by a large number of tests that the new type explosion suppression fire distinguisher made of such composite materials applied in the special vehicle has reliable performance, each of its technical indexes is higher or equal to that of a steel distinguisher, and the composites can also optimize the assembly structure of the bottle, and improve the reliability and corrosion resistance. Most important is that the composite materials can effectively lighten the weight of the fire explosion suppression system to reach the target of weight reduction of the subsystem in general planning.

Experimental investigation on micro-dynamic behavior of gas explosion suppression with SiO_2 fine powders

To study the effect of inert dust on gas explosion suppression mechanism,SiO_2 fine powders were sprayed to suppress premixed CH_4-Air gas explosion in a 20 L spherical experimental system.In the experiment,high speed schlieren image system was adopted to record explosion flame propagation behaviors,meanwhile,pressure transducers and ion current probes were used to clearly record the explosion flame dynamic characteristics.The experimental results show that the SiO_2 fine powders suppressed evidently the gas explosion flame,and reduced the peak value of pressure and flame speed by more than 40%.The ion current result shows that the SiO_2 super fine powders were easy to contact with and absorb free radicals near the combustion reaction region,which greatly reduced the combustion reaction intensity,and in turn influenced the flame propagation and pressure rising.

Experimental study on gas explosion suppression based on ferrocene

In order to study the gas explosion suppression performance based on ferrocene, the self-constructed experimental facility was used to accomplish the experiment of gas explosion suppression. By means of thermogravimetric analysis, the thermal characteristics of ferrocene have been gotten and the gas explosion suppression mechanism of ferrocene has been analyzed. The results show that ferrocene had good effects on gas explosion suppression, and the explosion pressure and flame propagation speed declined obviously. When ferrocene concentration is 0.08 g/L and methane volume concentration is 9.5%, the maximum explosion overpressure and maximum flame propagation speed of methane-air respectively decreased by about 59.5% and 19.6%, respectively. TG and DSC curves showed that the mass loss of ferrocene consists of two processes, which are sublimation and lattice fracture. The temperature of mass loss ranged from 128 ℃ to 230 ℃. The results showed profoundly theoretical significance to gas explosion suppression by ferrocene in coal mines.

Vacuum chamber suppression of gas-explosion propagation in a tunnel

To control and reduce the harm of a gas explosion, a new method is proposed for suppressing gas-explosion propagation in a tunnel by using a vacuum chamber. We studied the suppression effect on gas explosions by placing a vacuum chamber at dif-ferent positions along the tunnel. The results indicate that: 1) the vacuum chamber can absorb the explosion wave and explosion energy as much as possible at the beginning of the gas explosion, and; 2) when the vacuum chamber is used the closer it is to the ignition source the more significant the suppression effect. In addition, by using the vacuum chamber: 1) the flame propagation velocity decreases from ultrasonic to subsonic; 2) the flame propagation distance is remarkably shortened; 3) the maximum peak value of overpressure (pm) decreases from 0.34 to 0.17 MPa or less, and; 4) the impulse of the blast wave (I) decreases from 20 to 8 kPa·s or less.

Combined effects of obstacle and fine water mist on gas explosion characteristics

Combined effects of obstacles and fine water mist on a methane-air explosion of a semi-closed pipe were investigated experimentally.In this study,the diameter of the water mist,the location,and the number of obstacles was considered.The results demonstrated that 5 μm water mist present a significant suppression affected while 45 μm shows a slight promotion effected on a gas explosion of the condition without obstacles.In the presence of an obstacle,however,the inhibitory effect of 5 μm water veils of mist dropped significantly during flame propagation,and the effect of 45 μm water veils of mist changed from the enhancement of inhibition,and its inhibitory effect was significant.The inhibitory effect of 45 μm water veils of mist on gas explosion weakened firstly and then enhanced with the increasing distance between obstacle location from the ignition location as well as in several obstacles.

Comparative experimental study on inhibiting gas explosion using ABC dry powder and diatomite powder

Using a 20 L spherical explosion suppressing test system, the largest gas explosion pressure and maximum pressure rising rate with additives of ultra-fine ABC dry powder and diatomite powder were tested and compared, and the explosion suppression effect of the two kinds of powder was analyzed. Experimental results show that both powders can suppress gas ex- plosion and ABC dry powder is superior to diatomite powder. Adding two powders under the same experimental conditions, when methane concentration is 7.0%, the maximum explosion pressure decreased 39% and 4%, respectively, while the rising rate of the maximum pressure decreased 80% and 53%, respectively. When methane concentration is 9.5%, the maximum ex- plosion pressure decreased 14% and 12%, respectively, the rising rate of maximum pressure decreased 62% and 27%, respec- tively, the maximum explosion pressure decreased 23% and 18%, respectively, while the rising rate of the maximum pressure decreased 77% and 70%, respectively. When methane concentration is 12.0%, the explosion suppression effect of ultra-fine ABC dry powder is not affected by the methane concentration, and the explosion suppression effect of diatomite powder under high methane concentrations is more obvious.

Active protection of work area against explosion of dust-gas mixture

Potentially explosive atmosphere can occur not only in the production systems of the food,energy,chemical and petrochemical industries but also in the production processes of the mining industry.Gases,vapours,mists and dusts arise can escape in an uncontrolled way during production,processing,transportation and storage of flammable substances.In combination with oxygen,they create explosive atmospheres that,if ignited,lead to an explosion causing catastrophic damage to peopled lives and property.To protect against the results of hazardous dust-gas mixtures explosions in a confined work space,where employees can stay,various control and protection mechanisms are used in the form of an active explosion-proof system.The article presents the results of tests on an active system for limiting the effects of ignition of gas and/or dust based on a highly efficient explosion suppression system-equipped with an ignition detection system,high-pressure fire extinguisher and a power supply and trigger system.Smokeless powder was used as the explosive charge and sodium bicarbonate as the suppressive material.Tests of the effectiveness of the active explosion suppression system were carried out on two devices:a small-size dry dust collector and a zone extinguishing system adapted for direct explosion suppression in closed working spaces.In both cases,the explosion suppression process took place through the action of extinguishing powder blown out of the fire extinguisher after membrane perforation by compressed combustion products.