The Mechanisms of Explosions: 27 Case Studies for their Understanding

Description

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. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Contents Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Part 1. General Information and Approach Chapter 1. The Explosion Phenomenon 1.1. Explosion of an ATEX 1.1.1. Definition of an ATEX 1.1.2. Case of an ATEX consisting of a combustible dust dispersed in air 1.1.3. Case of a hybrid ATEX 1.1.4. Evaluation of the released energy Elib 1.2. Chemical systems other than ATEX 1.2.1. Definition elements 1.2.2. Evaluation of Elib 1.2.3. Flame propagation regimes in explosive system 1 or 2 1.3. Hollow body rupture (or bursting) 1.3.1. Definition elements 1.3.2. Evaluation of Elib 1.4. Superheated liquid vaporization 1.4.1. Definition elements 1.4.2. Evaluation of Elib 1.5. Comparison of Elib with the energy Eeff required to produce the explosion effects Chapter 2. Method of Investigating an Explosion 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Establishment of the explosion mechanism 2.3. Search for answers to the questions of HOW MUCH and WHAT 2.4. Identification of the different types of damage produced by an explosion 2.4.1. Effects on structures 2.4.2. Effects on the human body 2.5. Estimation of the energy required to produce the mechanical effects 2.5.1. Eeff estimation tools 2.5.2. Comparison between Eeff and Elib 2.5.3. Order of magnitude of the yield ñ for each type of explosive system 2.6. Hypothesis on the type of explosion involved 2.7. Estimation of the quantity of the explosive system involved 2.7.1. General case 2.7.2. Specific case of an ATEX explosion occurring in a confined environment 2.8. Evaluation of the hypothesis on the type of explosion involved 2.8.1. Compatibility of the hypothesis with the circumstances of the explosion 2.8.2. Cases of explosions which may a priori involve different systems 2.9. Search for answers to the question of HOW? 2.10. Representation of the mechanism of explosion by tree of events Part 2. 27 Case Studies of Domestic or Industrial Explosions Introduction to Part 2 P2.1. Domestic explosions P2.1.1. Determination of ATEX location and volume P2.1.2. Thermal effects of an explosion on buildings and the human body P2.1.3. Mechanical effects of an explosion in a housing Case 1. Discrimination Between NG and Butane C1.1. Different arguments tentatively used for discrimination C1.2. Thermal effects of the flame C1.3. Mechanical effects of the explosion C1.4. Relevant arguments used for the elimination of a butane leak C1.5. Identified mechanism Case 2. Determination of the Mechanism of an Accident Involving a Fire and an Explosion C2.1. Circumstances and effects of the explosion C2.2. Occurrence of a fire prior to the explosion Case 3. Determination of the Mechanism of an Accident Involving a Fire and Two Explosions C3.1. Nature of the flammable gases or liquids involved in the first explosion C3.2. Determination of the explosion mechanism Case 4. Determination of the Mechanism of an Explosion from the Leak Flow Rate of NG Case 5. Determination of the Mechanism of a Propane Explosion from the Leak Flow Rate Case 6. Determination of the Explosion Mechanism, Based on the Location of the Ignition Source of ATEX C6.1. Circumstances of the explosion C6.2. Discrimination between the boiler leak and the cooker oven leak Lessons learned from the investigation of domestic explosions Case 7. Explosion of a Hydrogenated ATEX in a Pulp Paper Tank C7.1. Description of facilities, circumstances and effects of the explosion C7.2. Objectives of the investigation C7.3. Determination of the composition of the ATEX C7.3.1. Experimental determination of the ATEX components C7.3.2. Determination of the ATEX conditions, formation and ignition C7.3.3. Consistency between the explosion effects and the estimated ATEX volume C7.4. Conclusion Lessons learned from the investigation of the explosion of a hydrogenated ATEX Case 8. Explosion of a Hydrogenated ATEX in an Electrolyzer Cell C8.1. Description of facilities and explosion circumstances C8.2. Effects of the explosion C8.3. Investigation objectives C8.3.1. Formation and location of an ATEX in the electrolyzer C8.3.2. Results of experimental study C8.3.3. Consistency between the mechanical effects and the overpressure Lessons learned from Cases 7 and 8 Case 9. Explosion of an Air–Propane ATEX C9.1. Case presentation C9.1.1. Description of the facilities C9.1.2. Circumstances of the explosion C9.1.3. Explosion damage C9.1.4. Establishment of the explosion mechanism Lessons learned from the investigation Case 10. Explosion in a Refinery C10.1. Case presentation C10.1.1. Description of facilities and circumstances of explosion C10.1.2. Flame propagation regime C10.1.3. Effects of explosion Lessons from the investigation Case 11. Explosions in Recovery Facilities for Cupola Gases C11.1. Case presentation C11.1.1. Description of the facilities C11.1.2. Circumstances of the explosion C11.1.3. Explosion damage C11.1.4. Determination of the explosion mechanism C11.1.5. Flammability of the CGs involved in the explosion Lessons learned from investigation of explosion in cupola facilities Case 12. Explosion of Acetone Vapor C12.1. Case presentation C12.1.1. Description of the facilities C12.1.2. Circumstances of the explosion C12.1.3. Description of explosion damage C12.1.4. Mechanism of the explosion Lessons from investigation of an explosion of acetone vapor Case 13. Explosion of Vapor of Toluene C13.1. Case presentation C13.1.1. Description of the facility and of the circumstances of the explosion C13.1.2. Effects of the explosion C13.1.3. Determination of the mechanism of the explosion Lessons learned from the investigation of an explosion of toluene vapor Case 14. Explosion of Vapor of Kerosene C14.1. Case presentation C14.1.1. Description of the facility C14.1.2. Circumstances of the explosion C14.1.3. Description of explosion damage C14.1.4. Determination of the explosion mechanism Lessons from the investigation of an explosion of kerosene vapor in contact with a hot surface Case 15. Explosion of Volatile Hydrocarbons C15.1. Case presentation C15.1.1. Description of the facility and the circumstances of the explosion C15.1.2. Description of explosion damage C15.1.3. Mechanism of explosion C15.1.4. Estimation of energy released by explosion Lessons to be learned from the investigation of explosion of volatile hydrocarbons Case 16. Explosion in a Spray Dryer of Powdered Milk C16.1. Case presentation C16.1.1. Description of the facility C16.1.2. Circumstances and effects of the explosion C16.1.3. Flammability and explosion characteristics of milk powder C16.1.4. Mechanism of explosion Lessons learned from the expertise of an explosion in a dryer Case 17. Explosion in a Wood Waste Grinding Facility C17.1. Case presentation C17.1.1. Description of the facility C17.1.2. Circumstances of the explosion C17.1.3. Effects of the explosion C17.1.4. Flammability characteristics of the wood dust C17.1.5. Determination of the mechanism of explosion Lessons learned from the investigation Case 18. Explosion of a Chloroduct C18.1. Case presentation C18.2. Circumstances of the explosion C18.3. Effects of explosion C18.4. Determination of the explosion mechanism C18.4.1. Explosive system identification C18.4.2. Estimation of the rupture pressure Pr of the chloroduct C18.4.3. Different arguments for a detonation of the hydrogen–chlorine mixture Lessons learned from investigation of the explosion of a chloroduct Case 19. Combustion of Steel in Oxygen C19.1. Case presentation C19.1.1. Description of the facility C19.1.2. Circumstances of the accident C19.1.3. Effects C19.1.4. Mechanism of the accident Lessons learned from investigation of combustion in oxygen Case 20. Explosion in an Aluminum Foundry C20.1. Case presentation C20.1.1. Description of the facility C20.1.2. Circumstances of the explosion C20.1.3. Explosion effects C20.1.4. Determination of the mechanism of explosion Lessons from investigation of an explosion in an aluminum foundry Case 21. Explosion in a Laboratory Nitration Test C21.1. Case presentation C21.1.1. Nature of the explosive system C21.1.2. Experimental validation of the conditions of the runaway reaction C21.1.3. Results C21.1.4. Conclusion of the tests Lessons learned from investigation of a burst vessel Case 22. Explosion in a Chemical Reactor C22.1. Case presentation C22.1.1. Description of the chemical synthesis process C22.1.2. Circumstances of the explosion C22.1.3. Effects of the explosion C22.1.4. Determination of the explosion mechanism C22.1.5. Description of the explosion process Lessons learned from the investigation Case 23. Explosion and Fire Resulting from an Oxidation by KMnO4 C23.1. Case presentation C23.1.1. Circumstances of the explosion C23.1.2. Effects of the explosion C23.1.3. Fire resulting from an ignition of formaldehyde by KMnO4 Lessons learned from the investigation Case 24. Explosion Involving Hydrazine C24.1. Case presentation C24.1.1. Description of the experimental conditions C24.1.2. Results C24.1.3. Origin of an overpressure in a UHH tank Lessons learned from the investigation Case 25. Burst of a Steel Gas Cylinder C25.1. Case presentation C25.1.1. Circumstances of the burst C25.1.2. Effects of the burst C25.1.3. Determination of the mechanism of the burst C25.1.4. Conclusions of the investigation Lessons learned from the investigation Case 26. Explosion in a Foundry of Steel Waste C26.1. Case presentation C26.1.1. Description of the facility C26.1.2. Circumstances of the explosion C26.1.3. Effects of explosion C26.1.4. Estimation of Eeff based on damage analysis C26.1.5. Determination of the explosion mechanism C26.1.6. Yield of the explosion Lessons learned from the investigation Case 27. Explosion in the Boiler of a Household Waste Incinerator C27.1. Case presentation C27.1.1. Facility description C27.1.2. Circumstances of the explosion C27.1.3. Description of damage C27.1.4. Determination of the explosion mechanism C27.1.5. Protection of the boiler against the effects of an explosion Lessons learned from investigation Conclusion References Index EULA