• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Vapor cloud explosions show different characteristics from that caused by ordinary TNT explosives and their loading effect is similar to pressure waves. Typical methods used for blast pressure calculations are the TNT-equivalent method and multi-energy method. The TNT-equivalent method is based on shock waves, similar to a detonation phenomenon, and multi-energy method is based on pressure waves, similar to a deflagration phenomenon. This study was conducted to derive an appropriate blast pressure by applying various plant explosion cases. SDOF analysis and nonlinear dynamic analysis were performed to compare the degree of deformation and damage of the selected structural members for the explosion cases. The results indicated that the multi-energy method was more exact than the TNT-equivalent method in predicting the blast pressure of vapor cloud explosions. The blast pressure of vapor cloud explosion in plants can be more accurately calculated by assuming the charge strength of multi-energy method as 7 or 8.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1887-1897
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• 2001

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) launched an intermediate scale steam explosion experiment named "Test for Real Corium Interaction with water (TROI)" using reactor material to investigate whether the molten reactor material would lead to energetic steam explosion when interacted wish cold water at low pressure. The melt-water interaction experiment is performed in a pressure vessel with the multi-dimensional fuel and water pool geometry. The novel concept of cold crucible technology, where powder of the reactor material in a water-cooled cafe is heated by high frequency induction, is firstly implemented for the generation of molten fuel. In this paper, the lest facility and cold crucible technology are introduced and the results or the first series of tests were discussed. The 5 kg of molten ZrO$_2$jet was poured into the 67cm deep water pool at 30 ∼ 95 $\^{C}$. Either spontaneous steam explosions or quenching was observed. The morphology of debris and pressure wave profiles clearly indicate the differences between the two cases.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.21-30
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• 2017

When explosives explode in water, the effect of post-explosion gas after explosion should be considered, unlike explosion in the air. During explosion in water, the propagation velocity of the explosion pressure is faster than when the explosion occurs in the air. The generated gas is diffused and trapped in the form of bubbles by water before the energy is dissipated. At this time, the bubble expands and contracts, creating a shock wave. In order to investigate this series of phenomena, a cylinder type steel water tank capable of observing the interior was fabricated and explosion experiments were conducted. In this study, a small amount of shell-free pentolite was exploded in water. Experiments were performed to observe the behavior of the generated gas bubble as well as to measure the shock wave generated. We designed the experimental method of underwater explosion and examined the results.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society for Energy Engineering kosee Conference
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• 1998.05a
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• pp.87-94
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• 1998

폭발현상(explosion phenomena)이 항상 연소(combustion)를 수반하는 것도 아니고, 연소현상이 항상 폭발적으로 일어나는 것이 아님에도 불구하고 많은 사람들은 폭발과 연소 사이에 밀접한 관계가 있는 것으로 생각하고 있다. 일반적으로 폭발이라고 하면 우선 큰 소리와 건물이나 실내의 파괴를 연상한다. 폭발 시에 발생하는 큰소리, 이른바 폭발음은 공기 중을 전파하는 압력파(blast wave)에 의한 것이고 건물이나 실내 파괴는 그들의 내부압력 상승에 의한 것이다. 그러므로 폭발현상은 압력상승과 불가분하다고 생각해도 된다. (중략)

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.34-40
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• 2016

For the safe handling of isoamyl alcohol being used in various ways in the chemical industry, the flash point and the autoignition temperature(AIT) of isoamyl alcohol was experimented. And, the lower explosion limit of isoamyl alcohol was calculated by using the lower flash point obtained in the experiment. The flash points of isoamyl alcohol by using the Setaflash and Pensky-Martens closed-cup testers measured $31^{\circ}C$ and $33^{\circ}C$, respectively. The flash points of isoamyl alcohol by using the Tag and Cleveland open cup testers are measured $43^{\circ}C$and $45^{\circ}C$. The AIT of isoamyl alcohol by ASTM 659E tester was measured as $419^{\circ}C$. The lower explosion limit by the measured flash point $31^{\circ}C$ was calculated as 0.87 vol%. It was possible to predict lower explosion limit by using the experimental flash point or flash point in the literature.

• Explosives and Blasting
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

On August 12, 2015, two huge explosions were accidently happened in Tianjin port, China. The explosion energies of the two explosions were similar to those of TNT 3 tons and TNT 21 tons. Until now, the cause of the explosions was not clearly announced but some guesses of the cause were released. One of the possible cause of the explosion is the generation of explosive acetylene gas from the chemical reaction between $CaC_2$ and spraying water to extinguish fire happened at the storage site of different chemical compounds. The explosion of acetylene gas might ignite the explosion of 800 tons of ammonium nitrate. In this study, the explosion due to the scenario was analyzed in order to check that such a chemical reaction can produce the huge explosion observed at the Tianjin accident.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.499-504
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• 2019

Due to the rapid spread and low minimum ignition energy of hydrogen, rupture is highly likely to cause fire, explosion and major accidents. The self-ignition of high-pressure hydrogen is highly likely to ignite immediately when it leaks from an open space, resulting in jet fire. Results of the diffusion and leakage simulation show that jet effect occurs from the leakage source to a certain distance. And at the end of location, the vapor cloud explosion can be occurred due to the formation of hydrogen vapor clouds by built-up. In the result, it is important that depending on the time of ignition, a jet fire or a vapor cloud explosion may occur. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account jet effect by location of leakage source and establish a damage minimizing plan for the possible jet fire or vapor cloud explosion. And it is required to any kind of measurements such as an interlock system to prevent hydrogen leakage or minimize the amount of leakage when detecting leakage of gas.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

In order to establish detailed plans for fire protection and reduce the possible fire accidents in the future, a study on the shock wave caused by VCE(Vapor Cloud Explosion) is very important. Destruction phenomena of structure by gas explosion is due to the explosion pressure and heat. Explosion pressure is a kind of energy converted from the gas mixture explosion. Therefore, the propagation progress of shock wave and flame is very important. This study investigated the shock wave caused by VCE in enclosure with opened vent port. From a result, the vent port of top at the straight line of ignition and leak location was opened most rapidly, and the vertical vent port not opened.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.54-59
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• 2007

In order to establish detailed plans for fire protection and reduce the possible fire accidents in the future, a study on the shock wave caused by VCE(Vapor Cloud Explosion) is very important. Destruction phenomena of structure by gas explosion is due to the explosion pressure and heat. Explosion pressure is a kind of energy converted from the gas mixture explosion. Therefore, the propagation progress of shock wave and flame is very important. This study investigated the shock wave caused by VCE in enclosure with opened vent port. From a result, the vent port of top at the straight line of ignition and leak location was opened most rapidly, and the vertical vent port not opened.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.265-275
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• 1993

A vapor explosion has been a concern in nuclear reactor safety due to its potential for a destructive mechanical energy release. In order to properly assess the hazard of a vapor explosion, it is necessary to accurately estimate the conversion efficiency of the thermal energy to mechanical energy. In the absence of a complete model to determine the explosive energy yield, one may have to rely on a simpler upper bound estimate such as a thermodynamic model. This paper discusses various thermodynamic models and presents a clarification of each model in their mathematical formulation and the thermodynamic work conversion. It is shown that the work release in the shock adiabatic model of Board and Hall is essentially equal to that of Hicks-Menzies thermodynamic model. The effect of coolant void fraction on the explosion efficiency is also predicted based on these thermodynamic models. Finally, the Hicks-Menzies model is modified to account for the chemical reaction between a metallic fuel and water and the resultant effects on the explosion expansion work are discussed.