Systems and methods for reducing an overpressure caused by a vapor cloud explosion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9669245-B2
Application number	US-201314648812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2013
Priority date	Apr 20, 2012
Publication date	Jun 6, 2017
Grant date	Jun 6, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for reducing an overpressure caused by an explosion of a vapor cloud are provided. In one or more embodiments, the system can include one or more sensors operable to detect the explosion of the vapor cloud. The system can also include one or more igniters operable to ignite the vapor cloud at locations throughout, after the explosion of the vapor cloud is detected, to provide a discrete combustion zone at each location. Each combustion zone can form a discrete pressure wave, thereby reducing the overpressure caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for reducing overpressure caused by an explosion of a vapor cloud, comprising:
a plurality of sensors operable to detect the explosion of the vapor cloud, wherein the plurality of sensors are capable of detecting one or more of a presence of a flame, an increase in pressure, a presence of an acoustic sound or a thermal emission, each of which are caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud;
a plurality of igniters operable to ignite the vapor cloud at multiple locations after the explosion of the vapor cloud is detected, wherein each of the one or more igniters provides a discrete combustion zone, and each combustion zone forms a discrete pressure wave, thereby reducing overpressure caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud; and
at least one controller operably connecting the plurality of sensors to the plurality of ignitors to control the operation of the plurality of igniters in response to the detection of one or more of the presence of a flame, an increase in pressure, the presence of an acoustic sound or a thermal emission by at least one of the plurality of sensors.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises an electromagnetic radiation sensor, a pressure sensor, an acoustic sensor, or any combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors comprises an ultraviolet radiation sensor, an infrared radiation sensor, or any combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one igniter is operable to ignite the vapor cloud within a time ranging from about 1 millisecond to about 1 second after the explosion of the vapor cloud is detected.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one igniter is operable to ignite the vapor cloud within a time ranging from about 1 millisecond to about 3 seconds after the explosion of the vapor cloud starts.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one igniter is operable to generate a spark having sufficient energy to ignite the vapor cloud.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one igniter is operable to generate a flame having sufficient energy to ignite the vapor cloud.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one igniter is a hot glowing wire or an exploding fuse wire.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein a distance between any two adjacent igniters ranges from about 1 meters to about 25 meters, and wherein a distance between a first set of adjacent igniters is the same or different with respect to a distance between a second set of adjacent igniters.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the explosion occurs in a facility that includes at least one location at which one or more combustible vapors is processed or stored.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors includes two or more different sensors, wherein at least a first sensor detects one of a presence of a flame, an increase in pressure, a presence of an acoustic sound or a thermal emission, wherein at least a second sensor detects one of a presence of a flame, an increase in pressure, a presence of an acoustic sound or a thermal emission that is not detected by the at least a first sensor.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one controller controls the operation of the plurality of igniters in response to the detection of more of the presence of a flame, an increase in pressure, the presence of an acoustic sound or a thermal emission by at least two of the plurality of sensors.

13. A method for reducing an overpressure caused by an explosion of a vapor cloud in a facility, comprising:
detecting the explosion of the vapor cloud, wherein detecting the explosion of the vapor cloud includes sensing at least one of a flame caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud, a pressure wave caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud, an acoustic emission caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud, heat caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud, or any combination thereof; and then
igniting the vapor cloud in at least one location to provide a discrete combustion zone at each location, wherein each combustion zone forms a discrete pressure wave, thereby reducing the overpressure caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the vapor cloud is located at multiple locations and at least one of the multiple locations is ignited within a time ranging from about 1 millisecond to about 3 seconds after the explosion of the vapor cloud starts.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein a distance between any two adjacent locations ranges from about 1 meters to about 25 meters meters, and wherein a distance between a first set of adjacent locations is the same or different with respect to a distance between a second set of adjacent locations.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the facility includes at least one location at which one or more combustible vapors is processed or stored.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein detecting the explosion of the vapor cloud includes sensing at least one of a flame caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud, a pressure wave caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud, an acoustic emission caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud, heat caused by the explosion of the vapor cloud, or any combination thereof by two or more different sensors.

Assignees

• Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc
• Exxonmobil Res & Eng Co

Inventors

• Baron Norbert

Classifications

• A62C3/06 Primary

  of highly inflammable material, e.g. light metals, petroleum products · CPC title

• A62C99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• A62C3/0285 Primary

  with creation of a fire zone by an explosion or a counter-fire · CPC title

• A62C99/0054

  using counter-fire · CPC title