Explosive decomposition of ethylene oxide at elevated condition: effect of ignition energy, nitrogen dilution, and turbulence

Experimental and theoretical investigation of explosive decomposition of ethylene oxide (EO) at fixed initial experimental parameters (T = 100 °C, P = 4 bar) in a 20-l sphere was conducted. Safety-related parameters, namely the maximum explosion pressure, the maximum rate of pressure rise, and the Kd values, were experimentally determined for pure ethylene oxide and ethylene oxide diluted with nitrogen. The influence of the ignition energy on the explosion parameters was also studied. All these dependencies are quantified in empirical formulas. Additionally, the effect of turbulence on explosive decomposition of ethylene oxide was investigated. In contrast to previous studies, it is found that turbulence significantly influences the explosion severity parameters, mostly the rate of pressure rise. Thermodynamic models are used to calculate the maximum explosion pressure of pure and of nitrogen-diluted ethylene oxide, at different initial temperatures. Soot formation was experimentally observed. Relation between the amounts of soot formed and the explosion pressure was experimentally observed and was calculated.