Inert effects on the flammability characteristics of methanol by nitrogen or carbon dioxide

Abstract

Knowledge of material safety properties is critical for safe handing in the chemical process industries, especially for flammable chemicals that might result in serious fires and explosions. This study investigated the flammability characteristics of methanol under working conditions during the process. The targeted fire and explosion properties, like explosion limits (UEL and LEL), vapor deflagration index (Kg), maximum explosion pressure (Pmax), and maximum explosion pressure rise [(dP dt−1)max], were deliberately obtained via a 20-L-Apparatus in 101 kPa (i.e., 760 mmHg/1 atm), 150 and 200 °C, along with various experimental arrangements containing nitrogen (N2) or carbon dioxide (CO2) as inert component. Particularly, this study discussed and elucidated the inert influence on the above safety-related parameters by two different inerting gases of N2 and CO2. The results indicated that adding an inert component to fuel–inert gas mixtures determined the decrease of explosion range and flammability hazard degree. The results also demonstrated that CO2 possessed higher inerting capability than N2 in this study.