The explosion parameters of methanol under variable pressures and 423 K

• Published in: Journal of loss prevention in the process industries 2020-03, Vol.64, p.104079, Article 104079
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xiaoliang, Li, Hao, Yang, Luying, Ding, Dongmei, Ma, Tingguang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Explosion characteristics; High pressure; Methanol flammability; Theoretical prediction model
• ISSN: 0950-4230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2020.104079

The high-temperature and high-pressure methanol one-step oxidation has been the primary process for the mass production of dimethoxymethane. However, the risk of explosion for this process is still not properly defined. This paper presents new results from the experimental study on the explosion characteristics, including the explosion pressure and the explosion limits for methanol/air mixtures with a variable oxygen level, under an initial pressure between 0.3 MPa and 0.75 MPa and at the initial temperature of 423 K. The upper explosive limits were found to increase along with the initial pressure. If the limits for normal air are known, the oxygen effect on flammability is predictable from the thermal balance method. With a correlation for the pressure effect and a method for the oxygen effect, we can have the flammable range predictable. •The upper explosion limits were found to increase along with the rising initial pressure.•The principle of energy conservation is adopted to derive flammable properties.•Developed a methodology for predicting the explosive limits at high pressures for hot methanol in process.