1. Experimental and Numerical Study of Methane-air Deflagrations in a Vented Enclosure
- Author
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Sergey B. Dorofeev, J.L. Chaffee, and C.R. Bauwens
- Subjects
Engineering ,business.industry ,Turbulence ,Enclosure ,Mechanical engineering ,Mechanics ,Computational fluid dynamics ,Combustion ,Methane ,law.invention ,Ignition system ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,law ,Deflagration ,business ,Large eddy simulation - Abstract
Results of a series of tests on the deflagration of methane-air mixtures in a large vented enclosure are presented. Experiments were made in FM Global’s 63.7 m 3 chamber. The chamber was 4.6 x 4.6 x 3.0 m with a vent opening on one side. Vent areas of either 2.7 or 5.4 m 2 were used. Tests were performed with ignition either at the center of the chamber or at the center of the wall opposite the vent. Methane-air mixtures with methane concentrations close to 9.5% vol. were used in the tests. Pressure data, as function of time, and flame time-of-arrival data were obtained both inside and outside the chamber near the vent. Detailed experimental data is used in the paper to test a three-dimensional gasdynamic model for the simulation of gaseous combustion in vented enclosures. The model is based on a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) solver created using the OpenFOAM CFD toolbox using sub-grid turbulence and flame wrinkling models. Results from the calculations are compared with the experimental data. The capabilities and deficiencies of the model are discussed.
- Published
- 2008
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