Experimental study of deflagration to detonation transition of hydrogen-air gas explosion

Abstract

Hydrogen is emerging as a promising alternative fuel to fossil-based fuels, and it will play an important role in a carbon-neutral future. However, storing and transporting hydrogen poses a challenge due to the high risk of explosion. Hydrogen-air mixtures have a higher detonability, and explosions could transition from deflagration to detonation. The reason behind this phenomenon is important to address risks and safety concerns.

The study aimed to examine the deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) for hydrogen-air-premixed gas. The experiments were conducted in a one-meter channel as a laboratory experiment. The experiments were conducted for equivalence ratios of 0.8 to 1.5. The results and findings of maximum peak pressures, flame front velocities, and images from high-speed cameras were analyzed to understand DDT. DDT was observed only for the equivalence ratio 1.1 with a 15% probability. A hotspot formation was observed for every detonated case. Flame front velocities were observed between 1800 ms-1 and 2000 ms-1 for detonated cases. The highest average peak pressures were observed for the equivalence ratios 1.0 to 1.3.