The explosion characteristics of diethyl ether-Al mixtures under different ambient conditions

Abstract

The explosion characteristics of diethyl ether-Al mixtures under different ambient pressure (57.4–101.3 kPa), temperature (263–333 K), and relative humidity (48.3–90%) were investigated in a 20 L explosion vessel. The explosion pressures and lower flammability mass concentration limits of diethyl ether-Al mixture under different ambient conditions were obtained after a series of experiments. The components of explosion exhaust gas and the morphologies of solid residues were examined by a gas detector and a scanning electron microscope, respectively. The results showed that the ambient pressure had a greater influence on the explosion pressure of diethyl ether-Al mixtures than ambient temperature and relative humidity, while the ambient temperature had a greater influence on the lower flammability mass concentration limit than ambient pressure and relative humidity. The explosion exhaust gases were mainly composed of CO and CO2 with a small amount of NO and NO2, and the solid residues were mainly composed of Al2O3 and unreacted Al. The effect mechanism of different ambient conditions on the explosion of diethyl ether-Al mixture was discussed based on these results.