An experimental study of the effect of 2.5% methane addition on self-ignition and flame propagation during highpressure hydrogen release through a tube

Author: Zeng Qian, Duan Qiangling, Li Ping, Zhu Hongya, Sun Dongxu, Sun Jinhua

DOI:  10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.11.155

Keywords: High-pressure hydrogen, Self-ignition, Methane, Shock waves, Visualization, rupture rate, explosion, mixtures, gas, visualization, obstacles, geometry

Abstract: 

This paper demonstrates experimental investigation on the self-ignition and subsequent flame propagation of high-pressure hydrogen-methane mixture release via a tube. The proportion of methane added to hydrogen is 2.5% (vol.). A transparent rectangular tube (d = 15 mm, L = 400 mm) is used in the experiments. It is shown that the minimum burst pressure required for self-ignition increases 1.57 times for only 2.5% methane addition from 2.89 MPa (pure hydrogen) up to 4.68 MPa (2.5% CH4 addition). This is mainly caused by the following reasons: on the one hand, methane addition can result in the decease of shock intensity inside the tube, thereby lowering the temperature of the combustible mixture; on the other hand, the hydrogen-methane mixture has the higher minimum ignition energy than that of pure hydrogen. Besides, 2.5% methane addition can increase the initial ignition time, weaken the flame intensity and reduce the flame propagation velocity relative to tube wall inside the tube. Moreover, for cases with 2.5% methane addition, the complete flame throughout the tube is formed closer to the back end of the tube. When the self-sustained flame exits from the tube, the maximum overpressure in a confined space increases with 2.5% methane addition. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.