Comparison of empirical and semi-empirical calculation methods for ventingof gas explosions

Venting is a widely applied method to protect process equipment from being destroyed by internal explosions. The key problem in venting is the appropr iate design of the vent area necessary for an effective release of the mate rial. For gas explosions different calculation methods exist, but there are no clear recommendations which one should be preferred for the practical c ases under consideration. The present paper gives a review of different cal culation methods, their ranges of validity, their physical background and a pplicability. The presented examples include a comparison of computed reduc ed explosion pressures for methane-air, propane-air and hydrogen-air mixtur es with experimental data and two fictitious test cases. The results of dif ferent methods show a wide range of scatter, however some recommendations f or their applicability can be given. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.