Open Access

Flame arresters are autonomous protection systems and are among the constructive explosion protection measures that limit the effects of an explosion. In this study, the performance of the standardized test method regulated in the DIN EN ISO 16852 standard for in-line flame arresters for stable and unstable detonations, which is mainly designed for atmospheric conditions, is examined. In an interlaboratory comparison, experiments are performed for different pressures before ignition and explosion groups according to the standardized test method. The experimental data is analyzed in detail to further optimize the test method and to thus achieve an improved reproducibility of detonation tests at high pressures, especially regarding the deflagration to detonation transition. Based on these results, an improved test method for detonation flame arresters will be developed, which will ensure better reproducibility as well as applicability under non-atmospheric conditions.

When it comes to higher accuracies, new technologies and real applications in additive manufacturing, there is one topic which cannot be avoided: The material response on the chosen processing parameters and its agreement and correspondence with literature data of the wrought material grade counterpart. In industrial Additive Manufacturing (AM) standards in terms of printing parameters, protection gas atmospheres or powder handling instructions are not obligatory. Therefore, the question must be answered whether the AM process is reproducible and reliable over different printing companies. This was the motivation to realize a round robin test between 8 European printing companies and academic partners. The consortium had printed and tested fatigue and tensile testing bars under plant-specific conditions. A commonly used cast aluminum alloy, AlSi10Mg, was chosen as test material for the PBF-LB/M process. Differences of the results between the partners and the scatter itself were discussed in detail.

Deflagrationsrohrsicherungen sind Sicherheitseinrichtungen, die den Durchfluss von brennbaren Gasen und Dämpfen brennbarer Flüssigkeiten ermöglichen, den Flammendurchschlag und weitere Explo­sionsausbreitung nach der Zündung von explosionsfähigen Gas-/Dampf-Luftgemischen jedoch verhindern sollen. Die Einbaubedingungen sind dabei von besonderer Bedeutung für die Wirksamkeit der Deflagrations­rohrsicherungen. Oft lassen sich aus betrieblichen bzw. verfahrenstechnischen Gründen entsprechende Einbaubedingungen nur schwer oder nicht realisieren. So können Rohrleitungsverzweigungen zusätzliche Turbulenzen induzieren und dadurch zu erhöhten Flammenausbreitungsgeschwindigkeiten und Explosions­drücken und damit zum Versagen der Deflagrationsrohrsicherung führen. Im vorliegenden Artikel werden die Ergebnisse der experimentellen Untersuchungen in einer geraden und verzweigten Rohrleitung mit einer Deflagrationsrohrsicherung diskutiert.

Für die Durchführung einer quantitativen Risikoanalyse (QRA) in Industrieanlagen, bei denen eine Freisetzung von brennbaren Stoffen nicht ausgeschlossen werden kann, ist die Zündwahrscheinlichkeit ein relevanter Parameter. Durch die Verwendung von konstanten Werten für die Zündwahrscheinlichkeit oder einfachen masse- oder massenstrombasierten Ansätzen zur Berechnung dieser ist eine individuelle Betrachtung der Anlagenstruktur unter Beachtung der vom Betreiber getroffenen Explosionsschutzmaßnahmen nicht möglich. Um diesem Problem Rechnung zu tragen, wurde ein Modell weiterentwickelt, das eine Differenzierbarkeit zwischen unterschiedlichen Nutzungskonzepten des Betriebsgeländes und eine Bewertung von störfallbegrenzenden Maßnahmen ermöglicht.

Heavy gases in large quantities are used worldwide in various industries. Past incidents, such as the liquefied gas disaster in Viareggio (2009) have shown that these materials are difficult to handle in a safe manner. According to the German Hazardous Incident Ordinance (StörfallVO 2000 - 12. BIMSchV), plant operators with extended responsibilities must produce a report in which they verify that , in the event of an unintentional gas release, the surrounding area will not be aversely affected. Essential elements of this report are calculations of both the released mass flow and the gas dispersion. Using models such as the VDI guideline 3783 (state of the art in Germany) plant operators are able to predict the characteristics of likely gas dispersions. The presented experimental investigations were carried out at the BAM better understand heavy gas dispersion with high gas concentrations in the air (≥ 1 Vol.-%), as well as concentrations with approximately neutral density characteristics (≤ 3000ppm) in order to test the accuracy of the VDI guideline. The starting point for experimental trials was the heavy gas releases resulting from pipeline, vessel or standard gas bottle leaks, with mass flows of between 20 and 100 g s-1. Investigations on the gas-phase release process focused on the unsteady mass flow associated with releases from standard gas bottles. The experimental results will be used as comparative parameters for future simulations. The goal of these simulations is to develop a model with which calculation of the unsteady mass flow, based on the material characteristics for any gas, is possible.