An investigation of flammability limits of gaseous mixtures at reduced pressures

• Published in: Journal of loss prevention in the process industries 2020-07, Vol.66, p.104195, Article 104195
• Main Authors: Glukhov, I.S., Shebeko, Yu.N., Shebeko, A. Yu, Zuban, A.V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Critical pressure for a flame propagation; Flammability limits; Ignition energy; Reduced pressures
• ISSN: 0950-4230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlp.2020.104195

An experimental investigation of flammability limits of hydrogen, methane and propane in air and oxygen at reduced pressures was carried out. A slow influence of sizes of an experimental vessel of a diameter higher than 125 mm on the flammability limits was revealed, but an influence of a type of an oxidizer (air or oxygen) and an ignition energy is significant. Critical values of an initial pressure for a possibility of a flame propagation were determined. The limiting values of the ignition energy were determined, for which an elevation of this parameter does not influence the critical pressure and the flammability region. A qualitative interpretation of obtained experimental results is given, which is based on a peculiarities of a flame initiation. •Flammability limits of hydrogen, methane and propane at reduced pressures (0.07–100 kPa) in air and oxygen were measured•Experimental vessels of various volumes were used; ignition energy was from 10 to 200 J•Minimum pressures at which flame can propagate were determined, which are in the range from 0.076 to 0.71 kPa•Minimum pressures do not depend on an ignition energy E at E higher than 185 J•Flammability limits do not depend significantly on a size of a reaction vessel for the studied vessels