Experimental and numerical study on aerosol explosion characteristics and flame propagation behavior of hydrogen and gasoline spray mixtures

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy Vol. 133; pp. 276 - 290
• Main Authors: Yu, Ke, Hu, Yong, He, Lingfeng, Wang, Xuegui, Kai, Reo, Watanabe, Hiroaki, Kurose, Ryoichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 02.06.2025
• Subjects: Flame propagation; Gasoline spray; Hydrogen; Multiphase explosion; Reaction kinetics; Gasoline spray; Multiphase explosion; Flame propagation; Hydrogen; Reaction kinetics
• ISSN: 0360-3199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.04.498

Understanding the explosion characteristics and flame behaviors of hydrogen related aerosol mixtures is an important subject for the safety maintenance of various hydrogen production and supply chain. As such, in present work, an extensive explosion experiment was conducted in a 5 L duct for gasoline spray/H2 mixture with varying H2 and gasoline concentrations. The explosion pressure and transient flame morphology of gasoline spray/H2 aerosol were investigated, accompanied by a comprehensive analysis of chemical kinetics to elucidate the elementary reaction sensitivity and reaction paths that govern the combustion mechanism of mixed fuel. Results indicate that for median gasoline concentration, the peak explosion pressure of aerosol mixture first increases and then decreases when hydrogen component increases. Meanwhile, the peak explosion pressure shifts towards the lower hydrogen regime as gasoline concentration increases. The flame propagation of aerosol mixture with low gasoline concentration is close to that of gaseous fuel, which is characterized by a uniform combustion and is controlled by chemical dynamics. On the contrary, for higher gasoline concentration, the explosive mixture exhibits a heterogenous combustion, controlled by the multiphase devolatilization. Moreover, the reactions of O2+HO + OH and H2+OHH + H2O are the main pathways for hydrogen to participate in gasoline combustion and explosion, which improve the production rate of H, O, OH radicals and promote the reactivity of the hydrogen dual-fuel flame. •Effect of hydrogen on gasoline spray/air explosion is studied by experiment.•The difference in explosion of gaseous and liquid fuels is highlighted.•Hydrogen addition can increase the explosion risk of gasoline aerosol.•Reaction kinetics analysis was performed to reveal the explosion mechanism.