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The Mechanisms of Explosions
27 Case Studies for their Understanding
Jacques Chaineaux (Author)
9781786308863, Wiley
Hardback, published 19 April 2023
320 pages
23.5 x 15.6 x 2 cm, 1.043 kg
The risk of explosion is inseparable from industrial activity, as we are often reminded by the news. In order to avoid an explosion, it is necessary to understand the phenomena surrounding it, and take the necessary preventive measures to protect society if it comes to the worst-case scenario. This book will detail these phenomena. The Mechanisms of Explosions presents theoretical aspects from a physicochemical point of view and proposes various methods adapted to each type of explosion, including ATEX explosions. The author shares his knowledge of the mechanisms of explosions, acquired during numerous investigations. These 27 case studies – detailing circumstances, mechanisms and the nature and intensity of explosive effects – were selected to cover all of the possible physical or chemical phenomena, substances and mechanisms, without limiting themselves to the most common situations. This book, packed full of information, is designed to benefit those who analyze and investigate explosions, particularly insurance and judicial experts, prevention engineers, security managers and trainers.
Foreword xiii Acknowledgments xv Introduction xvii Part 1 General Information and Approach 1 Chapter 1 The Explosion Phenomenon 3 1.1 Explosion of an ATEX 4 1.1.1 Definition of an ATEX 4 1.1.2 Case of an ATEX consisting of a combustible dust dispersed in air 23 1.1.3 Case of a hybrid ATEX 25 1.1.4 Evaluation of the released energy Elib 25 1.2 Chemical systems other than ATEX 39 1.2.1 Definition elements 39 1.2.2 Evaluation of E lib 40 1.2.3 Flame propagation regimes in explosive system 1 or 2 40 1.3 Hollow body rupture (or bursting) 44 1.3.1 Definition elements 44 1.3.2 Evaluation of Elib 45 1.4 Superheated liquid vaporization 46 1.4.1 Definition elements 46 1.4.2 Evaluation of Elib 46 1.5 Comparison of Elib with the energy E eff required to produce the explosion effects 47 Chapter 2 Method of Investigating an Explosion 49 2.1 Introduction 49 2.2 Establishment of the explosion mechanism 49 2.3 Search for answers to the questions of HOW MUCH and WHAT 50 2.4 Identification of the different types of damage produced by an explosion 51 2.4.1 Effects on structures 52 2.4.2 Effects on the human body 54 2.5 Estimation of the energy required to produce the mechanical effects 55 2.5.1 E eff estimation tools 56 2.5.2 Comparison between Eeff and Elib 64 2.5.3 Order of magnitude of the yield ρ for each type of explosive system 65 2.6 Hypothesis on the type of explosion involved 66 2.7 Estimation of the quantity of the explosive system involved 66 2.7.1 General case 66 2.7.2 Specific case of an ATEX explosion occurring in a confined environment 67 2.8 Evaluation of the hypothesis on the type of explosion involved 67 2.8.1 Compatibility of the hypothesis with the circumstances of the explosion 67 2.8.2 Cases of explosions which may a priori involve different systems 68 2.9 Search for answers to the question of HOW? 71 2.10 Representation of the mechanism of explosion by tree of events 71 Part 2 27 Case Studies of Domestic or Industrial Explosions 73 Introduction to Part 2 75 P2.1 Domestic explosions 78 P2.1.1 Determination of ATEX location and volume 79 P2.1.2 Thermal effects of an explosion on buildings and the human body 82 P2.1.3 Mechanical effects of an explosion in a housing 83 Case 1 Discrimination Between NG and Butane 87 C1.1 Different arguments tentatively used for discrimination 87 C1.2 Thermal effects of the flame 87 C1.3 Mechanical effects of the explosion 88 C1.4 Relevant arguments used for the elimination of a butane leak 88 C1.5 Identified mechanism 89 Case 2 Determination of the Mechanism of an Accident Involving a Fire and an Explosion 91 C2.1 Circumstances and effects of the explosion 91 C2.2 Occurrence of a fire prior to the explosion 91 Case 3 Determination of the Mechanism of an Accident Involving a Fire and Two Explosions 93 C3.1 Nature of the flammable gases or liquids involved in the first explosion 93 C3.2 Determination of the explosion mechanism 94 Case 4 Determination of the Mechanism of an Explosion from the Leak Flow Rate of NG 97 Case 5 Determination of the Mechanism of a Propane Explosion from the Leak Flow Rate 101 Case 6 Determination of the Explosion Mechanism, Based on the Location of the Ignition Source of ATEX 103 C6.1 Circumstances of the explosion 103 C6.2 Discrimination between the boiler leak and the cooker oven leak 104 Lessons learned from the investigation of domestic explosions 106 Case 7 Explosion of a Hydrogenated ATEX in a Pulp Paper Tank 109 C7.1 Description of facilities, circumstances and effects of the explosion 109 C7.2 Objectives of the investigation 110 C7.3 Determination of the composition of the ATEX 110 C7.3.1 Experimental determination of the ATEX components 110 C7.3.2 Determination of the ATEX conditions, formation and ignition 112 C7.3.3 Consistency between the explosion effects and the estimated ATEX volume 112 C7.4 Conclusion 113 Lessons learned from the investigation of the explosion of a hydrogenated Atex 113 Case 8 Explosion of a Hydrogenated ATEX in an Electrolyzer Cell 115 C8.1 Description of facilities and explosion circumstances 115 C8.2 Effects of the explosion 115 C8.3 Investigation objectives 115 C8.3.1 Formation and location of an ATEX in the electrolyzer 116 C8.3.2 Results of experimental study 116 C8.3.3 Consistency between the mechanical effects and the overpressure 116 Lessons learned from Cases 7 and 8 117 Case 9 Explosion of an Air–Propane ATEX 119 C9.1 Case presentation 119 C9.1.1 Description of the facilities 119 C9.1.2 Circumstances of the explosion 120 C9.1.3 Explosion damage 120 C9.1.4 Establishment of the explosion mechanism 121 Lessons learned from the investigation 125 Case 10 Explosion in a Refinery 127 C10.1 Case presentation 127 C10.1.1 Description of facilities and circumstances of explosion 127 C10.1.2 Flame propagation regime 128 C10.1.3 Effects of explosion 128 Lessons from the investigation 130 Case 11 Explosions in Recovery Facilities for Cupola Gases 131 C11.1 Case presentation 131 C11.1.1 Description of the facilities 131 C11.1.2 Circumstances of the explosion 132 C11.1.3 Explosion damage 132 C11.1.4 Determination of the explosion mechanism 133 C11.1.5 Flammability of the CGs involved in the explosion 133 Lessons learned from investigation of explosion in cupola facilities 145 Case 12 Explosion of Acetone Vapor 147 C12.1 Case presentation 147 C12.1.1 Description of the facilities 147 C12.1.2 Circumstances of the explosion 148 C12.1.3 Description of explosion damage 148 C12.1.4 Mechanism of the explosion 149 Lessons from investigation of an explosion of acetone vapor 154 Case 13 Explosion of Vapor of Toluene 155 C13.1 Case presentation 155 C13.1.1. Description of the facility and of the circumstances of the explosion 155 C13.1.2 Effects of the explosion 155 C13.1.3 Determination of the mechanism of the explosion 156 Lessons learned from the investigation of an explosion of toluene vapor 158 Case 14 Explosion of Vapor of Kerosene 159 C14.1 Case presentation 159 C14.1.1 Description of the facility 159 C14.1.2 Circumstances of the explosion 159 C14.1.3 Description of explosion damage 160 C14.1.4 Determination of the explosion mechanism 160 Lessons from the investigation of an explosion of kerosene vapor in contact with a hot surface 166 Case 15 Explosion of Volatile Hydrocarbons 167 C15.1 Case presentation 167 C15.1.1 Description of the facility and the circumstances of the explosion 167 C15.1.2 Description of explosion damage 167 C15.1.3 Mechanism of explosion 168 C15.1.4 Estimation of energy released by explosion 173 Lessons to be learned from the investigation of explosion of volatile hydrocarbons 175 Case 16 Explosion in a Spray Dryer of Powdered Milk 177 C16.1 Case presentation 177 C16.1.1 Description of the facility 177 C16.1.2 Circumstances and effects of the explosion 178 C16.1.3 Flammability and explosion characteristics of milk powder 179 C16.1.4 Mechanism of explosion 181 Lessons learned from the expertise of an explosion in a dryer 182 Case 17 Explosion in a Wood Waste Grinding Facility 185 C17.1 Case presentation 185 C17.1.1 Description of the facility 186 C17.1.2 Circumstances of the explosion 187 C17.1.3 Effects of the explosion 187 C17.1.4 Flammability characteristics of the wood dust 188 C17.1.5 Determination of the mechanism of explosion 189 Lessons learned from the investigation 191 Case 18 Explosion of a Chloroduct 193 C18.1 Case presentation 193 C18.2 Circumstances of the explosion 193 C18.3 Effects of explosion 193 C18.4 Determination of the explosion mechanism 195 C18.4.1 Explosive system identification 195 C18.4.2 Estimation of the rupture pressure Pr of the chloroduct 198 C18.4.3 Different arguments for a detonation of the hydrogen–chlorine mixture 198 Lessons learned from investigation of the explosion of a chloroduct 200 Case 19 Combustion of Steel in Oxygen 201 C19.1 Case presentation 201 C19.1.1 Description of the facility 201 C19.1.2 Circumstances of the accident 203 C19.1.3 Effects 203 C19.1.4 Mechanism of the accident 204 Lessons learned from investigation of combustion in oxygen 206 Case 20 Explosion in an Aluminum Foundry 207 C20.1 Case presentation 207 C20.1.1 Description of the facility 207 C20.1.2 Circumstances of the explosion 208 C20.1.3 Explosion effects 208 C20.1.4 Determination of the mechanism of explosion 211 Lessons from investigation of an explosion in an aluminum foundry 215 Case 21 Explosion in a Laboratory Nitration Test 217 C21.1 Case presentation 217 C21.1.1 Nature of the explosive system 217 C21.1.2 Experimental validation of the conditions of the runaway reaction 218 C21.1.3 Results 218 C21.1.4 Conclusion of the tests 221 Lessons learned from investigation of a burst vessel 221 Case 22 Explosion in a Chemical Reactor 223 C22.1 Case presentation 223 C22.1.1 Description of the chemical synthesis process 223 C22.1.2 Circumstances of the explosion 224 C22.1.3 Effects of the explosion 224 C22.1.4 Determination of the explosion mechanism 225 C22.1.5 Description of the explosion process 227 Lessons learned from the investigation 228 Case 23 Explosion and Fire Resulting from an Oxidation by KMnO 4 229 C23.1 Case presentation 229 C23.1.1 Circumstances of the explosion 229 C23.1.2 Effects of the explosion 230 C23.1.3 Fire resulting from an ignition of formaldehyde by KMnO 4 233 Lessons learned from the investigation 233 Case 24 Explosion Involving Hydrazine 235 C24.1 Case presentation 235 C24.1.1 Description of the experimental conditions 236 C24.1.2 Results 237 C24.1.3 Origin of an overpressure in a UHH tank 241 Lessons learned from the investigation 241 Case 25 Burst of a Steel Gas Cylinder 243 C25.1 Case presentation 243 C25.1.1 Circumstances of the burst 243 C25.1.2 Effects of the burst 243 C25.1.3 Determination of the mechanism of the burst 247 C25.1.4 Conclusions of the investigation 259 Lessons learned from the investigation 260 Case 26 Explosion in a Foundry of Steel Waste 263 C26.1 Case presentation 263 C26.1.1 Description of the facility 263 C26.1.2 Circumstances of the explosion 263 C26.1.3 Effects of explosion 263 C26.1.4 Estimation of E eff based on damage analysis 264 C26.1.5 Determination of the explosion mechanism 265 C26.1.6 Yield of the explosion 265 Lessons learned from the investigation 266 Case 27 Explosion in the Boiler of a Household Waste Incinerator 267 C27.1 Case presentation 267 C27.1.1 Facility description 267 C27.1.2 Circumstances of the explosion 268 C27.1.3 Description of damage 268 C27.1.4 Determination of the explosion mechanism 269 C27.1.5 Protection of the boiler against the effects of an explosion 273 Lessons learned from investigation 275 Conclusion 277 References 281 Index 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Subject Areas: Chemistry [PN]
