Premixed methane-air deflagrations in a completely adiabatic pipe and the effect of the condition of the pipe wall

A completely adiabatic pipe that is similar to a coal-mine coal or rock roadway was simulated using the computational software AutoReaGas. A partially adiabatic pipe was established using an experimental steel pipe with heat-insulating material installed in the inner wall, and a non-adiabatic pipe was also established using the experimental steel pipe without the heat-insulating material. Premixed methane/air deflagrations were studied in the three types of pipe to reveal the influence of the condition of the pipe wall on gas explosions. The results showed that in the completely adiabatic pipe, the maximum explosion overpressure was dynamic and decreased and increased with increasing distance; however, the flame-propagation speed increased gradually. In the partially adiabatic pipe and the non-adiabatic pipe, the maximum explosion overpressure and flame-propagation speed increased initially and then gradually decreased with increasing distance. The majority of explosion overpressure and flame-propagation speed values at each gauge in the completely adiabatic pipe were larger than those of the partially adiabatic pipe. Both measurements at each gauge in the partially adiabatic pipe were much greater than those of the non-adiabatic pipe. The condition of the pipe wall has a large influence on the maximum explosion overpressure and the flame-propagation speed. In future explosion experiments, heat insulating materials should be installed in the inner wall of steel pipes to obtain data for application to the prevention and control of gas explosions in underground coal mines.

► Pipe wall has a large influence on the explosion overpressure and the flame speed.
► Overpressure in the adiabatic pipe is larger than that of partially adiabatic pipe.
► Flame speed in the adiabatic pipe is larger than that of partially adiabatic pipe.
► Measurements in partially adiabatic pipe are greater than those of non-adiabatic pipe.