Analysis of the explosive processes development for the creation of the explosion protection decision support systems, taking into account the possibility of secondary explosions

Abstract

This study emphasises the need to explore the possibility of secondary explosions at complex potentially explosive objects, because in some cases, secondary explosions can be much more powerful and dangerous than primary ones. Modern explosion protection decision support systems practically do not take into account the possibility of secondary explosions, so this gap must be filled. A mathematical model has been designed for the development of a primary explosion that can lead to a secondary explosion at a complex potentially explosive object. This model is based on the mathematical theory of combustion and explosion, on fuzzy logic and fuzzy set theory, and on the graph theory, including fuzzy graphs. To find directly the graph vertex corresponding to the maximum hazard of a secondary explosion, the well-known Dijkstra’s algorithm for finding the shortest path in graph is used. The developed mathematical model is universal and can be applied to complex potentially explosive objects of almost any physical nature. Examples of this type of complex potentially explosive objects may include industrial enterprises, individual workshops of these enterprises, pipelines and other transport systems, various machines, aggregates and other equipment. Based on the developed mathematical model, it is possible to refine the information model of a complex potential object. The application of this mathematical model to a specific complex potentially explosive object and to specific technological process requires clarification taking into account the specifics of this object or this technological process. The mathematical basis of fuzzification must be linked to complicated problems in gas dynamics and problems of the mathematical theory of combustion and explosion. An algorithm has been developed for identifying the object that poses the greatest risk from the point of view of the possibility of secondary explosion. However, neither this algorithm nor the mathematical model as a whole takes into account the potential damage from a secondary explosion. This factor is very important for decision-making on secondary explosion prevention and should be considered in future research. The question of whether the secondary explosion is deflagration or detonation also requires separate study. This problem seems important because, as a rule, detonation explosions are more powerful and dangerous than deflagration explosions. It should be taken into account that usually the initiation of detonation is significantly more difficult compared to the initiation of a deflagration explosion.