Effect of Length-to-diameter Ratio on Overpressure Characteristics of Methane/Air Premixed Explosions

To explore the influence of ignition position change on overpressure characteristics of methane/air premixed explosion under different equivalence ratios, several tests with varying length-to-diameter and equivalence ratios on the rise rate of peak overpressure and positive pressure duration were carried out through a self-built explosion test system. The main influencing factors affecting the pressurization characteristics of methane/air premixed explosion were analyzed by the dimensional analysis method, and the calculation formulas of rise rate of overpressure peak and positive pressure during methane/air premixed explosion were proposed. The results show that the rise rate of the overpressure peak increases with the increase of the equivalence ratio, and the increase in length-to-diameter ratio makes the rise rate decrease gradually, which is different from the attenuation rate. The positive pressure duration is gradually prolonged with the rise of the length-to-diameter ratio. However, the maximum positive pressure duration corresponds to different equivalence ratios with the length-to-diameter ratio changes. Furthermore, the calculation formulas of the rise rate of overpressure peak and positive pressure duration of methane/air premixed explosion are obtained by the dimensional analysis method, and the feasibility of the formulas is verified by comparing the experimental values with the theoretical values. It was found that methane/air premixed explosion is significantly affected by the ignition position and equivalence ratio, which can provide a reference for the power evaluation and safety control of methane explosions.