New Findings for the Application of Systems for Explosion- Isolation with Explosion Venting

Abstract

Mechanically acting explosion isolation systems like fast-acting valves or explosion isolation flap valves are protective systems which shall avoid transmission of flames and explosion pressure waves via connecting pipes into other parts of apparatus or plant areas.
Latest findings from explosion tests with explosion isolation flap valves connected to explosion vented vessels suggest that these devices might have an impact on the explosion course in the vessel and lead to an increased explosion overpressure in the connected vessel. As the dimensioning of pressure vented vessels according to harmonized European standards does not consider these pressure enhancing effects, a dangerous inappropriate design of the explosion vented vessel cannot be ruled out in particular cases.
Present numerical studies with a special CFD-code (CFD-Computational Fluid Dynamics) showing the course of the explosion inside these systems in a simplified model lead to the conclusion that these effects are possible and can theoretically be expected with other fast acting mechanical explosion isolation systems.
The present study describes the observed effects of the explosion tests in an exemplary way. Apart from that, the first results from numerical simulations are described which can help the systematically study of the phenomenon in the future. The present publication derives additional need for research from the findings so far.