• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.790-803
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• 2019

The dioctyl terephthalic acid (DOTP) process produces plastic plasticizers by esterification of terephthalic acid with powder in the form of octanol. In this study, the dust explosion characteristics of terephthalic acid directly injected into the manhole in the form of powder in the presence of flammable solvent or vapor in the reactor of this process were investigated. Dust particle size and particle size distribution dust characteristics were investigated, and pyrolysis characteristics of dust were investigated to estimate fire and explosion characteristics and ignition temperature. Also, the minimum ignition energy experiment was performed to evaluate the explosion sensitivity. As a result, the average particle size of terephthalic acid powder was $143.433{\mu}m$. From the thermal analysis carried out under these particle size and particle size distribution conditions, the ignition temperature of the dust was about $253^{\circ}C$. The lower explosive limit (LEL) of the terephthalic acid was determined to be $50g/m^3$. The minimum ignition energy (MIE) for explosion sensitivity is (10 < MIE < 300) mJ, and the estimated minimum ignition energy (Es) based on the ignition probability is 210 mJ. The maximum explosion pressure ($P_{max}$) and the maximum explosion pressure rise rate $({\frac{dP}{dt}})_{max}$ of terephthalic acid dust were 7.1 bar and 511 bar/s, respectively. The dust explosion index (Kst) was 139 mbar/s, corresponding to the dust explosion grade St 1.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.4 no.1 s.9
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• pp.69-76
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• 2000

Explosion Quantities and flashing mass resulting from the variation of temperature are calculated by a computer program, BLEVE ESTIMATOR, to carry out the risk assessment of BLEVE. The damages caused by the BLEVE are estimated under the explosion of the simulation condition similar to the Puchun LP gas station accident, and the results are compared with the commercial program SAFER of Dupont CO. Explosion quantities and flashing mass increase exponentially with the increase of explosion temperature. These values for propane are relatively higher than those for n-butane. In conditions of higher vessel temperature, vessel pressure, and liquid ratio of containment, higher overpressures are calculated.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
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• 1996.11a
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• pp.37-42
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• 1996

The assessment of catastrophic accidents such as BLEVE, vapor cloud explosion, and toxic material releases in the chemical process industries(CPI) shall be carried out according to the Requirement of PSM/SMS enforced by Korea Government Agencies, but reasonable models are not proposed for the practical application. The traditional models, TNT Equivalency Model, are well-known and helpful for the assessment of vapor cloud explosion. However, the estimated-damage-area using the traditional model has much more deviations comparing to the real damage caused by vapor cloud explosion suffered before. These are why an expert system for the assessment of vapor cloud explosion has been developed, which is based on theoretical, statistical and experimental data, and it would be helpful for CPI to evaluate the damage-area in case of vapor cloud explosion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.59-64
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• 2011

Explosion limit and flash point are the major combustion properties used to determine the fire and explosion hazards of the flammable substances. In this study, in order to predict upper explosion limits(UELs), the upper flash point of n-alkanes and aromatic compounds were measured under the VLE(vapor-liquid equilibrium) state by using Setaflash closed cup tester(ASTM D3278). The UELs calculated by Antoine equation and chemical stoichiometric coefficient tusing the experimental upper flash point were compared with the several reported UELs. From the given results, using the proposed experimental and predicted method, it is possible to research the upper explosion limits of the other flammable substances.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.19 no.4 s.60
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• pp.26-31
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• 2005

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 explosion limits of alcohols were predicted by using the normal boiling points and the flash points based on a solution theory. 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 flammable substances.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.600-608
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• 2017

Hazard risk of explosion on pharmaceutical raw materials dust in pharmaceutical industry often exists when it is handled or processed in the industrial sites, and explosion accident is caused by this. In this study, the dust explosion characteristics of the three pharmaceutical raw materials samples were measured. The main explosion characteristics are as follows: $P_{max}$, MIE and MIT of loxoprofen acid having $5.31^{\circ}C$ of median diameter are obtained 8.4 bar, 1 mJ < MIE < 3 mJ and $550^{\circ}C$. $P_{max}$, MIE and MIT of camphorsulfonate having $95.63^{\circ}C$ of median diameter are obtained 7.9 bar, 30 mJ < MIE < 100 mJ and $510^{\circ}C$. $P_{max}$, MIE and MIT of rifampicine having $26.48^{\circ}C$ of median diameter are obtained 7.9 bar and 1 mJ < MIE < 3 mJ and $470^{\circ}C$. The deflagration index ($K_{st}$) and the explosion index (EI) were obtained by using these data. The explosion hazard assessment of pharmaceutical raw materials dust was compared and examined. As a result, the explosion hazard assessment according to deflagration index and explosion index were the explosion class with St 2 and the explosion hazard rating of severe for loxoprofen acid & rifampicine and St 1 and strong for clopidogrel camphorsulfonate, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 1999

Chemical plant's fire and explosion does not only damage to the chemical plants themselves but also damage to people in or near of the accident spot and the neighborhood of chemical plant. For that reason, Chemical process safety management has become important. One of safety management methods is called 'the quantitative analysis', which is used to reduce and prevent the accident. The results of the quantitative analysis could be used to arrange the equipments, evaluate the minimum safety distance, prepare the safety equipments. In this study we make the computer program to make easy to do Quantitative analysis of the accident. The output of the computer program is the magnitude of fire(pool fire and fireball) and explosion(UVCE and BLEVE) effects. We used the thermal radiation as a measure of fire magnitude and used the overpressure as a measure of explosion magnitude. In case of BLEVE, the fly distance of fragment can be evaluated. Also probit analysis was done in every case. As the case study, Buchun LPG explosion accident in Korea was analysed by the program developed. The simulation results showed that the permissible distance was 800m and probit analysis showed that 1st degree bum, 2nd degree burn, and death distances are 450, 280, 260m, respectively the simulation results showed the good agreement with the results from SAFER PROGRAM made by Dupont.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.32-37
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• 2012

The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of explosion and flame velocity that can be utilized to factories where Mg-Al alloy metal powders are handled in the form of raw materials, products or by-product for similar dust explosion prevention and mitigation. Because the strength of the blast pressure is the result due to flame propagation, flame velocity in dust explosion can be utilized as a valuable information for damage prediction. An experimental investigation was carried out on the influences of content ratio of Mg-Al alloy (mean particle size distribution of 151 to 161 ${\mu}m$). And a model of flame propagation velocity based on the time to peak pressure and flame arrival time in dust explosion pressure, assuming the constant burning velocity, leads to a representation of flame velocity during dust explosion. As the results, the maximum flame velocity of Mg-Al(60:40 wt%), Mg-Al(50:50 wt%) and Mg-Al(40:60 wt%) was estimated 15.5, 18 and 15.2 m/s respectively, and also tend to change with content ratio of Mg-Al.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.367-373
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• 2016

Many of plastic powders handled in industry are combustible and have the hazard of dust fire and explosion accidents. However poor information about the safe handling has been presented in the production works. The aim of this research is investigated experimentally on explosive characteristics of various plastic powders used in industry and to provide additional data with safety informations. The explosibility parameters investigated using standard dust explosibility test equipment of Siwek 20-L explosion chamber. As the results, the dust explosion index ($K_{st}$) of ABS ($209.8{\mu}m$), PE ($81.8{\mu}m$), PBT ($21.3{\mu}m$), MBS ($26.7{\mu}m$) and PMMA ($14.3{\mu}m$) are 62.4, 59.4, 70.3, 303 and 203.6[$bar{\cdot}m/s$], respectively. And flame propagation velocity during plastic dust explosions for prediction of explosive damage was estimated using a flame propagation model based on the time to peak pressure and flame arrival time in dust explosion pressure assuming the constant burning velocity.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2011

In the industrial site of 21st century, there are many and various powders of material, product and fuel of coal, chemical, detergent, paint, feed and more. Therefore, there always is a possible danger of dust explosion in each and every procedure and actually, there are increasing frequency of dust explosion as the use of dust and its amount increases in processes. Therefore, if we leave the current status like now, the unexpected massive dust explosion and its risk cannot be effectively prevented so there has to be effective application of understanding and development of explosion-prevention technology about dust explosion. Therefore, this research set the limit of research to systematically arrange the research results about dust explosion phenomenon and its prevention up to date and has its purpose to theoretically establish the prevention technology about dust explosion based on these theories.