The current paper is an overview on previous and ongoing research carried out by the authors concerning the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics for the accurate classification of hazardous Ex areas generated by flammable gases, for the optimization of computational simulation of air-methane mixture explosions by using ANSYS CFX and FLUENT and for calibrating computational simulations of gas explosions using the Schlieren effect. These research works containing analytic studies have led to the observation of basic principles which come to support the benefit of computational approaches for estimating gas dispersion within technological installations in which are handled or stored flammable materials and in which there are likely to occur explosive atmospheres. Preliminary results have led to the idea of developing a computational method for assessing the hazardous area extent in case of gas leak explosions in confined spaces. The computational method intended to be developed has to be validated in the lab using an experimental chamber as domain for analysing accidental flammable gas leaks from transportation installations and for studying the formation, ignition and burning of air-flammable gas mixtures in confined spaces. Results obtained from physical experiments will be used for calibrating the mathematical models. Further, verification and validation of computational simulations carried out based on physical experiments will be performed by a comparative analysis of virtual results with the experimental ones. In the end, the mathematical model will be implemented on a small-scale reproduction of a confined industrial area with explosion hazard.
Areas within which could arise explosive atmospheres having high concentrations, therefore requiring special precautions so as to guard the health and safety of concerned employees, are considered to be dangerous. If the electrical equipment used in these hazardous locations is not properly selected and installed for operating in explosive atmospheres, they are likely to generate an ignition and to result in explosion type events with significant environmental and material damages and, moreover, with human victims. Being an extremely difficult field to manage and having major importance, explosion prevention requires quality decisions. The reaching decision person must choose the best solution for putting into operation electrical apparatus in explosive atmospheres, taking into account certain factors, parameters, and the requirements for explosion protection and safety. Nowadays, special IT programs-decision support systems provide assistance for the reaching decision persons from a wide variety of domains. Explosion prevention shall not make an exception, especially because it firstly aims to improve the occupational health and safety of workers who operate within potentially explosive atmospheres. Taking into account the foregoing, the current paper presents the development and operation of a decision support system (DSS) for managing the selection and installation of explosion-proof electrical apparatus which are supposed to be used in atmospheres with explosion danger caused by burnable gases, liquids, vapours or mists.
This paper aims to study the behavior of air-gas explosion systems, in terms of propagation speed of pressure wave and flame front, based on experimental measurements in a shock tube, in order to prevent accidental pollution with the combustion gases. The characteristic parameters of the explosion process determined using the shock tube, the velocity of propagation of the flame front, the speed of propagation of the wave of pressure, explosion pressure at various distances from the source of initiation, can be used in the preparation of explosion risk assessment studies for technological processes carried out in potentially explosive atmospheres. Taking the developed technical measures would make possible ensure both the explosion protection and the prevention of accidental pollution with combustion gases.
Nowadays, the transportation of hazardous substances required for various industrial works is a very common activity. In each national economy, safe transport of hazardous materials on land is an important issue. Much of these materials are either moved by trucks or trains. However, hazardous materials transportation is very likely to generate major accidents with irreversible consequences on surrounding population and on the environment along transportation routes. The current paper deals with analysis and simulation of the consequences of an explosion involving a truck transporting flammable gas cylinders materials. Consequence modelling involves the graphic representation or the calculation and estimation of numerical values which best describe the physical results of loss of containment scenarios which involve flammable/explosive/toxic materials with regard to their impact on surrounding assets or people. In the present study, state of the art software has been used for modelling and simulating the accident scenario, namely the initial fire and the subsequent explosion of the gas cylinders.
Abstract. The design, construction and exploitation of electrical equipment intended to be used in potentially explosive atmospheres presents a series of difficulties. Therefore, the approach of these phases requires special attention concerning technical, financial and occupational health and safety aspects. In order for them not to generate an ignition source for the explosive atmosphere, such equipment have to be subjected to a series of type tests aiming to decrease the explosion risk in technological installations which operate in potentially explosive atmospheres. Explosion protection being a concern of researchers and authorities worldwide, testing and certification of explosion-proof electrical equipment, required for their conformity assessment, are extremely important, taking into account the unexpected explosion hazard due to potentially explosive atmospheres, risk which has to be minimized in order to ensure the occupational health and safety of workers, for preventing material losses and for decreasing the environmental pollution. Besides others, one of the type tests, which shall be applied, for explosionproof electrical equipment is the impact resistance test, described in detail in EN 60079 which specifies the general requirements for construction, testing and marking of electrical equipment and Ex components intended for use in explosive atmospheres. This paper presents an analysis on the requirements of the impact resistance test for explosion-proof electrical equipment and on the possibilities to improve this type of test, by making use of modern computer simulation tools based on finite element analysis, techniques which are widely used nowadays in the industry and for research purposes.
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