Study of the explosion parameters of vapor–liquid diethyl ether/air mixtures

•At SMD of 12.89 and 20.90 μm, the flammable limits were affirmed.•For a SMD of 12.89 μm, the LFL was similar to that of the gaseous DEE/air mixtures.•For a SMD of 20.90 μm, the LFL was greater than that of the gaseous DEE/air mixtures.•The MIEs were 18 mJ and 32 mJ at mean SMD of 12.89 μm and 20.90 μm, respectively.

The knowledge of the vapor–liquid two-phase diethyl ether (DEE)/air mixtures (mist) on the explosion parameters was an important basis of accident prevention. Two sets of vapor–liquid two-phase DEE/air mixtures of various concentrations were obtained with Sauter mean diameters of 12.89 and 22.90 μm. Experiments were conducted on vapor–liquid two-phase DEE/air mixtures of various concentrations at an ignition energy of 40.32 J and at an initial room temperature and pressure of 21 °C and 0.10 MPa, respectively. The effects of the concentration and particle size of DEE on the explosion pressure, the explosion temperature, and the lower and upper flammability limits were analyzed. Finally, a series of experiments was conducted on vapor–liquid two-phase DEE/air mixtures of various concentrations at various ignition energies. The minimum ignition energies were determined, and the results were discussed. The results were also compared against our previous work on the explosion characteristics of vapor–liquid two-phase n-hexane/air mixtures.