Explosion hazard in the concentrated ventilation tube for a group of diesel tanks and its suppression technologies

In this study, the explosion hazard and suppression technology were investigated in a concentrated ventilation tube filled with diesel fuel under room temperature and environmental pressure. A high-speed camera (model: nac HX-3) and pressure sensors (model: CY-YD-205) were used to record the flame picture and explosion overpressure. New explosion suppression balls and an ordinary corrugated flame arrester were employed as explosion suppression apparatuses. The results indicate that the explosion flame can propagate into the adjacent fuel tank through the ventilation tube under room temperature and environmental pressure, causing the second explosion. In addition, the ordinary corrugated flame arrester fails to suppress explosion, and the new explosion suppression balls have better anti-explosion effect. Compared to the case of a smooth ventilation tube, the maximum explosion overpressure can be significantly decreased from about 552.5 kPa to 35.0 kPa in the ignited chamber after the new explosion suppression balls are introduced into the tube. The superior explosion suppression effect of the explosion suppression balls can be due to the hollow porous structures. The porous structures not only can significantly increase the specific surface area and heat loss, but also can effectively segment and weaken the reaction surface. © 2021, Editorial Staff of EXPLOSION AND SHOCK WAVES. All right reserved.