Visualization of Dust Explosion Under Microgravity Conditions

Abstract

The objective of this work was to apply visualization methods to the experimental study of cornstarch dust-air mixture combustion in a closed vessel volume under microgravity conditions. A dispersion system with a small scale of turbulence was used in the experiments. A gas igniter initiated combustion of the dust-air mixture in the central or lop pan of the vessel. Flame propagation through the quiescent mixture was recorded by a high-speed video camera. Experiments showed a very irregular flame front and irregular distribution of the regions with local reactions of re-burning behind the flame front, at a later stage of combustion. Heat transfer from the hot combustion products to the walls is shown to have an important role in the combustion development. The maximum pressure and maximum rate of pressure rise were higher for flame propagation from the vessel center than for flame developed from the top part of the vessel. The reason for smaller increase of the rate of pressure rise, for the flame developed from the top of the vessel, in comparison with that developed from the vessel center, was much faster increase of the contact surface of the combustion gases with the vessel walls. It was found that in dust flames only small part of heat was released at the flame front, the remaining part being released far behind it.