ON THE EXPLOSION PROTECTION OF INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS IN THE PRESENCE OF LEAKS OR SPILLAGE OF HEAVY HYDROCARBONS OF HIGH VAPOR PRESSURE

摘要

The possibility of fuel vapor condensation in ordinary shock waves in fuel-rich (cyclohexane-oxygen) gaseous mixtures is discussed. It is shown, that condensation process can essentially change the chemical composition of the gas. For example, the molar fraction of the oxidizer can increase in a few times. As a result, mixtures in which the initial concentration of fuel vapor exceeds the upper flammability limit can, nevertheless, explode if condensation shifts the composition of the mixture to the ignition region. The fuel vapor condensation should be taken into account in estimation the explosion hazard of chemical reactors, industrial and civil constructions, which may contain fuel-rich gaseous mixtures of heavy hydrocarbons with air. The mass of the liquid fuel that can be evaporated by heat exchange with the hot products of explosion of the gas mixture located above the liquid surface is calculated. It is shown that the evaporated mass can be an order of magnitude higher than the mass of the hot products. Evaporation of such a large mass of fuel can cause secondary explosions due to the mixing of the fuel vapor with air and the formation of a new explosive mixture.