Effects of particle morphology on transient dispersion and explosion flame propagation of aluminum powder

doi:10.16265/j.cnki.issn1003-3033.2026.02.0582

Abstract

Abstract:

To investigate the influence of particle morphology on the explosion characteristics of aluminum powder, spherical aluminum powder (SAP) and flake aluminum powder (FAP) were selected as research subjects. By combining particle image velocimetry with vertical duct explosion experiments, the effects of particle morphology on transient dispersion behavior and flame propagation characteristics were systematically analyzed. The results show that FAP, due to its larger specific surface area and the asymmetric geometry, exhibits stronger suspension capability and turbulence-inducing effects, leading to a more uniform dispersion state under the same mass concentration. Influenced by enhanced turbulence, increased particle population in the critical ignition zone, and greater suspension stability, FAP demonstrates faster ignition response and significantly promoted flame front wrinkling. At a concentration of 350 g/m³, its flame propagation velocity reaches 44.1 m/s, which is 32.8% higher than that of SAP. In contrast, SAP tends to form localized high-mass concentration regions due to agglomeration, resulting in a white overexposure area accounting for 98.6% during the explosion, indicating a more concentrated heat release behavior.

Key words: aluminum powder, particle morphology, transient dispersion, turbulence intensity, explosion flame

CLC Number:

QIU Dongyang, CHEN Xianfeng, LIU Lijuan, HUANG Chuyuan, WANG Jun, SUN Xuxu. Effects of particle morphology on transient dispersion and explosion flame propagation of aluminum powder[J]. China Safety Science Journal, 2026, 36(2): 189-198.

Figures/Tables 14

Table 1

Fig.1

Fig.2

Fig.3

Fig.4

Fig.5

Table 2

Transient velocity of SAP dust clouds

参数	粉尘云质量浓度/(g·m^-3)
参数	150	200	250	300	350	400
v_x/(m·s^-1)	-2.3-1.8	-3.8-2.5	-1.7-4.4	-5.2-2.8	-2.4-5.8	-4.4-5.5
v_y/(m·s^-1)	-2.7-3.7	-3.4-3.8	-4.0-4.4	-3.3-4.0	-2.9-5.7	-4.8-6.3
\|V\|/(m·s^-1)	0-2.5	0-2.8	0-3.0	0-3.3	0-4.6	0-5.0
$V -$ /(m·s^-1)	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6
ω_z/(s^-1)	-141.2-75.4	-150.0-114.8	-162.4-161.2	-107.1-194.1	-113.2-245.2	-232.0-284.9

Table 2

Table 3

Transit velocity of FAP dust clouds

参数	粉尘云质量浓度/(g·m^-3)
参数	150	200	250	300	350	400
v_x/(m·s^-1)	-2.6-4.2	-2.9-4.4	-6.2-6.1	-8.4-6.0	-6.3-6.1	-6.8-6.8
v_y/(m·s^-1)	-2.7-4.6	-4.0-4.4	-6.9-5.4	-6.4-7.6	-8.7-7.6	-12.1-6.8
\|V\|/(m·s^-1)	0-3.3	0-4.3	0-6.2	0-9.2	0-11.1	0-12.3
$V -$ /(m·s^-1)	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.8	0.8	0.9
ω_z/(s^-1)	-122.7-119.3	-331.7-190.9	-135.9-213.8	-335.3-346.5	-278.4-380.1	-586.9-452.0

Table 3

Fig.6

Fig.7

Fig.8

Fig.9

Table 4

Fig.10

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样品	SAP	FAP
D[3,2]/μm	14.1	12.9
D[4,3]/μm	29.8	26.5
D(0.5)/μm	21.4	20.9
SSA/(m²·g^-1)	0.2	0.5

铝粉	粉尘云质量浓度/(g·m^-3)
铝粉	150	200	250	300	350	400
SAP/%	27.9	39.2	79.8	83.3	98.6	95.9
FAP/%	8.9	29.6	45.7	61.5	97.9	94.5