Effects of explosion-venting interlayer within utility tunnels on the characteristics of natural gas explosions

With the rapid expansion of the national economy and strategic adjustments to the energy structure, natural gas, a crucial clean energy source, encounters significant safety challenges during transportation in utility tunnels, owing to its flammable and explosive nature. To effectively address the current issues in response technologies for gas explosions in utility tunnels, such as inadequate control over the flame propagation range, limited attenuation of overpressure, and the mechanical impact damage effects on the internal structures of the utility tunnels and surrounding buildings, a small-scale experimental platform was constructed independently. This platform is designed to explore how the area and position of vents affect the characteristics of methane explosions within tunnels, utilizing the explosion venting mechanism. The results indicate that, for the same venting position, the maximum flame propagation distance, speed, and peak overpressure all decrease as the venting area increases. When the vent is located at position 1 in each compartment, the reduction in maximum flame propagation distance and speed is the most significant. The maximum decrease in peak overpressure occurs at venting position 2. When the venting position is closer to the ignition source, the rate of explosion overpressure rise and the explosion index both decrease with an increase in venting area, with the most significant reduction occurring at venting position 1. Conversely, when the venting position is farther from the ignition source, the rate of explosion overpressure rise and the explosion index actually increase, with the most significant increase occurring at venting position 4. The research findings offer a theoretical foundation and scientific guidance for developing new technologies aimed at mitigating gas explosion disasters in utility tunnels through internal venting.