Combined effects of obstacle and fine water mist on gas explosion characteristics

Abstract Combined effects of obstacles and fine water mist on a methane-air explosion of a semi-closed pipe were investigated experimentally. In this study, the diameter of the water mist, the location, and the number of obstacles was considered. The results demonstrated that 5 µm water mist present a significant suppression affected while 45 µm shows a slight promotion effected on a gas explosion of the condition without obstacles. In the presence of an obstacle, however, the inhibitory effect of 5 µm water veils of mist dropped significantly during flame propagation, and the effect of 45 µm water veils of mist changed from the enhancement of inhibition, and its inhibitory effect was significant. The inhibitory effect of 45 µm water veils of mist on gas explosion weakened firstly and then enhanced with the increasing distance between obstacle location from the ignition location as well as in several obstacles.