Influence of Multiple Factors on the Explosion Characteristics of Flammable Gases in Municipal Sewage Pipelines

Abstract EN

Using the hydrodynamic software Fluidyn, a numerical model comprising a top-sealed vertical inspection well and a horizontal well with openings at both ends was built based on symmetry, to study the explosion propagation of flammable gases in typical municipal sewage pipelines.

The vertical well had a diameter of 0.7 m and different depths (2 m, 4 m, and 6 m), and the horizontal well had a diameter of 0.8 m and a length of 20 m at both sides.

The effects of different ignition positions, well depths, and gas compositions and concentrations on the explosion characteristics and rules governing the propagation of flammable gases in a municipal sewage pipeline were investigated.

The findings suggest that different ignition positions (at the top, middle, and bottom of the inspection well) did not lead to a significant difference between peak explosion pressure and temperatures but had a substantial influence on the propagation velocity of the explosion flame near the corner of the junction between the vertical inspection well and the horizontal well.

Different inspection well depths had no significant impact on the peak explosion pressure or temperature but had a substantial effect on the propagation velocity of the explosion flame at the bottom of the well.

Compared with a methane (CH4) explosion at a concentration of 6%, the peak explosion pressure, peak explosion temperature, and flame propagation velocity of a CH4 and oil-gas mixture at a concentration ratio of 6% : 1% were found to be significantly higher.

With increasing oil-gas concentrations (2%, 4%, and 6%), the peak pressure, temperature, and flame propagation velocity continued to decrease.

The findings of this study can help prevent explosion accidents in municipal sewage pipelines and provide a reference to support the establishment of related standards.