NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Flammability of methane, propane, and hydrogen gases.

Cashdollar KL; Zlochower IA; Green GM; Thomas RA; Hertzberg M

J Loss Prev Process Ind 2000 May; 13(3-5):327-340

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0950-4230(99)00037-6

20020626

This paper reports the results of flammability studies for methane, propane, hydrogen, and deuterium gases in air conducted by the Pittsburgh Research Laboratory. Knowledge of the explosion hazards of these gases is important to the coal mining industry and to other industries that produce or use flammable gases. The experimental research was conducted in 20 L and 120 L closed explosion chambers under both quiescent and turbulent conditions, using both electric spark and pyrotechnic ignition sources. The data reported here generally confirm the data of previous investigators, but they are more comprehensive than those reported previously. The results illustrate the complications associated with buoyancy, turbulence, selective diffusion, and ignitor strength versus chamber size. Although the lower flammable limits (LFLs) are well defined for methane (CH4) and propane (C3Hg), the LFLs for hydrogen (H2) and its heavier isotope deuterium (D2) are much more dependent on the limit criterion chosen. A similar behavior is observed for the upper flammable limit of propane. The data presented include lower and upper flammable limits, maximum pressures, and maximum rates of pressure rise. The rates of pressure rise, even when normalized by the cube root of the chamber volume (yl/3), are shown to be sensitive to chamber size.

Methanes; Propanes; Explosions; Explosive hazards; Explosive gases; Coal mining; Flammable gases; Explosion prevention; Author Keywords: Gas; Flammable; Explosion; Flammability

Pittsburgh Research Laboratory, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh PA, USA

JLPIE9

74-82-8; 74-98-6; 1333-74-0

20000501

Journal Article

kgc0@cdc.gov

2000

3-5

0950-4230

PRL

Control Technology & Personal Protective Equipment; Research Tools and Approaches

Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries

PA; CO