Testing and construction of experimental stands for hydrogen explosions

National Institute for Research and Development in Mine Safety and Protection to Explosion – INSEMEX, 32-34 G-ral Vasile Milea Street, 332047, Petrosani, Hunedoara County, Romania

^* Corresponding author: nicolae.vlasin@insemex.ro

Abstract

The paper presents the design, construction, and testing stages of experimental stands developed for investigating hydrogen explosions. The specific technical requirements for such tests are discussed, including safety parameters, pressure control, and the structural features of the test chambers. The study details the constructive solutions implemented to ensure structural integrity during controlled explosions, the methods employed for monitoring critical parameters, as well as the integration of pressure measurement systems and Schlieren imaging techniques for capturing flame front dynamics. A key aspect of the study is the correlation between experimental tests and numerical simulations conducted on geometrically similar setups in virtual environments using Computational Fluid Dynamics platforms. This integrated approach enables the validation of theoretical models and the refinement of simulation parameters based on experimental data, contributing to an enhanced understanding of hydrogen explosion phenomena and supporting the optimization of experimental stand design. The paper concludes by summarizing the performance of the tested stands and their relevance in relation to experimental objectives and simulation results. In the design of the experimental stands, particular consideration was given to both the rectilinear propagation of hydrogen-air explosions and the change in trajectory of the explosive process at 90-degree angles.