Inhibition of different types of inert dust on aluminum powder explosion

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2020.02.021

Abstract

Abstract: Aluminum powder explosion accidents occurred frequently, but the mechanism of aluminum powder explosion is unclear. Therefore, the inhibitive effect of aluminum powder explosion plays a key role. To evaluate the inhibition capacity of different kinds of carbonates and phosphates: NaH₂PO₄, (NH₄)₂HPO₄, NH₄H₂PO₄, KHCO₃ and NaHCO₃ on aluminum deflagrations, a standard 20-L spherical chamber was used to determine the explosion severity, characterized by the maximum explosion pressure (P_max). New parameters have been proposed: the minimum significant inert concentration (MSIC) and the minimum complete inert concentration (MCIC), which characterized the effect of inert. Experimental results showed that from the minimum significant inert concentration (MSIC) and the minimum complete inert concentration (MCIC), phosphate can have a significant inhibiting effect. 40% NaH₂PO₄ can totally inert the aluminum explosion, and 50% (NH₄)₂HPO₄ or 50% NH₄H₂PO₄ can also suppress the explosion. Through simulation, phosphate mainly acts via a chemical inhibition pathway, which inhibits the reaction of aluminum powder and oxygen by catalyzing the recombination of H atoms and O atoms. Carbonate performs inhibition in chemically, producing CO₂, diluting the oxygen around the aluminum powder. Studies indicated that the explosion pressure of the mixture decreases as the concentration of inert dust increases. However, when the concentration of carbonates was low, SEEP (suppressant enhanced explosion parameter) phenomenon was found. This research work has a potential industrial application in high hazard aluminum working condition, which can help decrease the explosion pressure and reduce the accident loss.

Key words: Aluminum dust explosion, Inert, Carbonate, Phosphate, Maximum explosion pressure

摘要： Aluminum powder explosion accidents occurred frequently, but the mechanism of aluminum powder explosion is unclear. Therefore, the inhibitive effect of aluminum powder explosion plays a key role. To evaluate the inhibition capacity of different kinds of carbonates and phosphates: NaH₂PO₄, (NH₄)₂HPO₄, NH₄H₂PO₄, KHCO₃ and NaHCO₃ on aluminum deflagrations, a standard 20-L spherical chamber was used to determine the explosion severity, characterized by the maximum explosion pressure (P_max). New parameters have been proposed: the minimum significant inert concentration (MSIC) and the minimum complete inert concentration (MCIC), which characterized the effect of inert. Experimental results showed that from the minimum significant inert concentration (MSIC) and the minimum complete inert concentration (MCIC), phosphate can have a significant inhibiting effect. 40% NaH₂PO₄ can totally inert the aluminum explosion, and 50% (NH₄)₂HPO₄ or 50% NH₄H₂PO₄ can also suppress the explosion. Through simulation, phosphate mainly acts via a chemical inhibition pathway, which inhibits the reaction of aluminum powder and oxygen by catalyzing the recombination of H atoms and O atoms. Carbonate performs inhibition in chemically, producing CO₂, diluting the oxygen around the aluminum powder. Studies indicated that the explosion pressure of the mixture decreases as the concentration of inert dust increases. However, when the concentration of carbonates was low, SEEP (suppressant enhanced explosion parameter) phenomenon was found. This research work has a potential industrial application in high hazard aluminum working condition, which can help decrease the explosion pressure and reduce the accident loss.

关键词: Aluminum dust explosion, Inert, Carbonate, Phosphate, Maximum explosion pressure

Linlin Dai, Lin Hao, Wei Kang, Wei Xu, Ning Shi, Hongyuan Wei. Inhibition of different types of inert dust on aluminum powder explosion[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2020, 28(7): 1941-1949.

Linlin Dai, Lin Hao, Wei Kang, Wei Xu, Ning Shi, Hongyuan Wei. Inhibition of different types of inert dust on aluminum powder explosion[J]. 中国化学工程学报, 2020, 28(7): 1941-1949.

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