• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.58-65
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• 2022

Gas explosion accidents could cause a catastrophe. we need specialized and systematic accident investigation techniques to shed light on the cause and prevent similar accidents. In this study, we had performed LPG explosion simulation using AUTODYN which is the commercial explosion program and predicted the damage characteristics of the structures by LNG explosive power. In the first step, we could get LPG's physical and chemical explosion properties by calculation using TNT equivalency method. And then, by applying TNT equivalency value about the explosion limit concentration of LPG on the 2D-AUTODYN simulation, we could get the explosion pressure wave profiles (explosion pressure, explosion velocity, etc.). In the last step, we performed LPG explosion simulation by applying to the explosion pressure wave profiles as the input data on the 3D-AUTODYN simulation. As a result, we had performed analyzing of the explosion characteristics of LPG in accordance with concentration through the 3D-AUTODYN simulation in terms of the explosion pressure behavior and structure destruction and damage behavior. The analyses showed that the generated stresses of the structures were lower than the compressive strengths in cases 1(two lane) and 2(four lane), while the generated stress in case 3(six lane) was 8.68e3 kPa, which exceeded the compressive strength of 5.89e3 kPa.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.9-15
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• 2023

Hydrogen is gaining attention as a sustainable and renewable energy source, potentially replacing fossil fuels. Its high diffusivity, wide flammable range, and low ignition energy make it prone to ignition even with minimal friction, potentially leading to fire and explosion risks. Workplaces manage ignition risks by classifying areas with explosive atmospheres. However, the effective installation of a blast wall can significantly limit the spread of hydrogen, thereby enhancing workplace safety. To optimize the wall installation of this barrier, we employed the response surface methodology (RSM), considering variables such as wall distance, height, and width. We performed 17 simulations using the Box-Behnken design, conducted using FLACS software. This process yielded two objective functions: explosion likelihood near the barrier and explosion overpressure affecting the blast wall. We successfully achieved the optimal solution using multi-objective optimization for these two functions. We validated the optimal solution through verification simulations to ensure reliability, maintaining a margin of error of 5%. We anticipated that this method would efficiently determine the most effective installation of a blast wall while enhancing workplace safety.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.66-71
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• 2010

In order to evaluate the fire and explosion involved and to ensure the safe and optimized operation of chemical processes, it is necessary to know combustion properties. Explosion limit is one of the major combustion properties used to determine the fire and explosion hazards of the flammable substances. In this study, the lower explosion and upper explosion limits of esters were predicted by using the heat of combustion. The values calculated by the proposed equations agreed with literature data within a few percent. From the given results, using the proposed methodology, it is possible to predict the explosion limits of the other ester flammable substances.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.63-69
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• 2012

Explosion limit is one of the major combustion properties used to determine the fire and explosion hazards of the flammable substances. In this study, the lower explosion limit (LEL) and upper explosion limit (UEL) of organic halogenated hydrocarbons were predicted by using the heat of combustion and chemical stoichiometric coefficients. The calculated explosion limits by the proposed equations agreed with literature data within a few percent. From the given results, using the proposed methodology, it is possible to predict the explosion limits of the other organic halogenated hydrocarbons.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2017

Dust explosion hazards are always present when combustible dusts are manufactured or handled in the process. However, industries is experiencing difficulty in establishing chemical accident prevention measures because of insufficiency of information on dust explosion characteristics of combustible dust handled in industry. In this study, we investigated experimentally dust explosion characteristics of two kinds of multi-walled carbon nano tubes (MWCNT) different in particle size distribution and examined classification of dust explosion hazardous area for MWCNT manufacturing or handling process by applying the NFPA 499 code. As a result, $P_{max}$, $K_{st}$, LEL, MIE and MIT of MWCNT 1 having $124.2{\mu}m$ median diameter are obtained 6.3 bar, $56bar{\cdot}m/s$, $125g/m^3$, over 1000 mJ, and over $650^{\circ}C$. $P_{max}$, $K_{st}$, LEL, MIE and MIT of MWCNT 2 having $293.5{\mu}m$ median diameter are 6.2 bar, $42bar{\cdot}m/s$, $100g/m^3$, over 1000 mJ, and over $650^{\circ}C$, respectively. MWCNT 1, 2 are not categorized as combustible dust listed in the NFPA 499 Code for classification of dust explosion hazardous area because explosion severity and ignition sensitivity of MWCNT 1, 2 are below 0.35 and 0.01, respectively.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.629-637
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• 2017

Severe dust explosions occurred frequently in food processing industries and explosion damage increase by flame propagation in pipes or plants. However there are few fire explosion data available due to various powder characteristics. We investigated the characteristics of ignition and explosion on sugar, cornstarch and flour dust with high frequency accidents and high social demand. The measurements showed the median diameter of 27.56, 14.76, $138.5{\mu}m$ and ignition temperature has been investigated using by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The maximum explosion pressure ($P_m$) and dust explosion index ($K_{st}$) of sugar, cornstarch and flour are 7.6, 7.6, 6.1 bar and 153, 133, 61 [$m{\cdot}bar/s$], respectively. The flame propagation time in duct was calculated in order to evaluate the damage increase due to flame propagation during dust explosion. The explosion hazard increase due to flame propagation was higher in the order of sugar, flour and cornstarch dust.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.75-83
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• 2001

The potential of oxygen delignification is a powerful tool to reduce detrimental environmental effects. This study was performed to investigate the effect of steam explosion treatment of chemically treated oak wood on oxygen-alkali pulping. Pulp yield during steam explosion treatment by ${Na_2}{O_3}$-NaOH impregnation was higher than the other impregnation chemicals. Also, NaOH extraction at room temperature after steam explosion treatment improved the kappa number from 140~116 to 90~64. Oxygen-alkali pulping of chemical steam explosion treated woods affected to pulp yields. ${Na_2}{O_3}$-NaOH impregnation was very effective to higher carbohydrate yields at same delignification level. Its carbohydrate yield seemed to be highly related to the effluent pH. Oxygen-alkali pulping after steam explosion treatment of ${Na_2}{O_3}$-NaOH impregnated wood was shown that carbohydrate yield was very high because its effluent pH was increase from natural to mild alkali. Even if oxygen bleaching limit the delignification to 50% in order to avoid unacceptable yield and viscosity losses, oxygen-alkali pulping after steam explosion by ${Na_2}{O_3}$-NaOH impregnation was possible to extend the delignification more than 80%. Considering high pulp yield with lower lignin content from steam explosion treated wood, it might be profitable to end the cook at a high kappa number instead of a low kappa number, and continuously apply the oxygen delignification, in order to better quality pulp.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.205-209
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• 2003

Solubilization of domestic household waste through Steam explosion with Subsequent ethanol production by the microbial saccharifitation and fermentation of the exploded product was studied. The effects of steam explosion on the changes of the density, viscosity, pH, and amounts of extractive components in artificial household waste were determined. The composition of artificial waste used was similar to leftover waste discharged from a typical home in Japan. Consecutive microbial saccharification and fermentation, and simultaneous microbial saccharification and fermentation of the Steam-exploded product were attempted using Aspergillus awamori, Trichoderma viride, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae; the ethanol yields of each process were compared. The highest ethanol yield was obtained with simultaneous microbial saccharification and fermentation of exploded product at a steam pressure of 2 MPa and a steaming time of 3 min.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.811-818
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• 2018

A fire and explosion accident caused by a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) welding and cutting torch gas leak occurred 10 m underground at the site of reinforcement work for bridge columns, killing four people and seriously injuring ten. We conducted a comprehensive investigation into the accident to identify the fundamental causes of the explosion by analyzing the structure of the construction site and the properties of propane, which was the main component of LPG welding and cutting work used at the site. The range between the lower and upper explosion limits of leaking LPG for welding and cutting work was examined using Le Chatelier's formula; the behavior of LPG concentration change, which included dispersion and concentration change, was analyzed using the fire dynamic simulator (FDS). We concluded that the primary cause of the accident was combustible LPG that leaked from a welding and cutting torch and formed a explosion range between the lower and upper limits. When the LPG contacted the flame of the welding and cutting torch, LPG explosion occurred. The LPG explosion power calculation was verified by the blast effect computation program developed by the Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board (DDESB). According to the fire simulation results, we concluded that the welding and cutting torch LPG leak caused the gas explosion. This study is useful for safety management to prevent accidents caused by LPG welding and cutting work at construction sites.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2011

The interest about new and renewable energy is increasing to reduce the burden of problems by depletion of fossil fuels and air pollutions. For example, LNG/CNG and LPG are expected to be replaced, especially in transportation use, by HCNG mixture and DME-LPG mixture, respectively. Because these new energies are still flammable gases, it is not inherently safe from the explosion. In this research, the quantitative risk analysis for using alternative mixtures in existing recharging facilities has been studied by using three types of explosion models (TNT equivalency model, PHAST and CFD-based FLACS) to manage the risk effectively. The differences of results by models were compared against, and the practical ways of when and how to use these models were suggested. It was also predicted that conventional gas filling stations would be converted as new energy stations without additional explosion risk.