Study on Gasoline–Air Mixture Explosion Overpressure Characteristics and Flame Propagation Behaviors in an Annular Cylindrical Confined Space with a Circular Arch

Abstract

Gasoline–air mixture explosions mostly occur in buried tank rooms, which are annular cylindrical confined spaces with circular arches. In this paper, explosion experiments at different gasoline–air mixture volume fractions are carried out in an annular cylindrical steel bench with a circular arch curvature radius of 900 mm and an annular half-perimeter to radial width ratio of 12π. The results show that the development process of explosion overpressure is clearly divided into four stages after first-order differentiation treatment. Compared with other types of confined spaces, 1.70% is still the most dangerous gasoline–air mixture volume fraction. However, this type of confined space has a larger inner surface area in the same volume condition, which will inevitably increase the heat absorption rate, reduce the chemical reaction rate, and slow down the flame propagation speed. Meanwhile, this spatial structure will inevitably make the explosion flames collide, which will promote positive feedback coupling between explosion flames and pressure waves, making the explosion more violent and dangerous. These results can provide theoretical and technical support for the explosion prevention design of buried tank rooms.

Keywords

• annular cylindrical confined space with circular arch
• gasoline–air mixture explosion
• ratio of annular half-perimeter to radial width
• instantaneous pressure changing speed
• flame propagation speed