Influence of initial condition on the resistance characteristics of corrugated flame arrester for preventing H₂/CH₄ explosions

The effects of initial conditions on the resistance characteristics of corrugated flame arrester were researched by the visual experiment for promoting development of hydrogen energy industry. Corresponding relationships between the explosion resistance parameters under different results were obtained, and the influence mechanisms of initial conditions were clarified. Results show that the increases in ignition energy and initial pressure would greatly improve the failure probability. In contrast to the success, P_max and (dP/dt)_max at two ends were greatly increased and corresponding moment was also advanced under the failure condition. As the initial pressure (−0.04 MPa ≤ P₀ ≤ 0.04 MPa) and ignition energy (8 kV ≤ U ≤ 1.2 kV) increased, the flame resistance effect all presented a transition from success to failure. P_max of upper end was greatly increased from 0.08 MPa to 0.52 MPa and from 0.10 MPa to 0.25 MPa. T_max also exhibited the similar patterns of change and the maximum increase in T_max reached 56.35 % under four equivalence ratios. As the flame resistance failed, an obvious oscillation appeared in the upper pressure history, and the period and oscillation amplitude enhanced as the pressure increased. As the unit diameter increased (50 mm ≤ D ≤ 110 mm), the flame resistance effect changed from the success to failure, but the explosion resistance parameter presented a trend of first reducing and then rising under failure condition and reached the maximum as D = 80 mm. The velocity entering the narrow channel presented a linear relationship with the initial pressure and a quadratic relationship with the ignition energy and unit diameter.