Gas explosion is commonly defined as a premixed fuel-oxidiser combustion process with rapid increase of pressure.
Premixed flame can propagate in two
modes: deflagration and detonation. Usually premixed flame propagate in
deflagration mode, where flame propagates at subsonic speed relative to
the unburned gas. Under certain conditions, deflagration may locally
transits into detonation where flame propagates at supersonic speed.
Accidental gas explosions can be very
destructive. To prevent accidental gas explosion, a good understanding
of gas explosion mechanism is very essential. However, gas explosion is
an extremely complex process, with strong interaction between fluid
dynamics and chemical reaction kinetics. There is no analytical solution
for prediction of gas explosion.
With proper numerical solution method
and proper models, CFD simulation can be a very useful tool for modeling
of gas explosion. Presented below are examples of Simtec simulation of
high speed compressible flow and gas explosions.