Conference Papers
The maximum laminar burning velocity (LBV) of a fuel-air mixture is an important input parameter to vapor cloud explosion (VCE) blast load prediction methods. In particular, the LBV value has a significant impact on the predicted blast loads for high reactivity fuels with the propensity to undergo a deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT). Published data are available for the maximum LBV of many pure fuel-air mixtures. However, little test data are available for mixtures of fuels, particularly for mixtures of fuels and inert species. Such mixtures are common in the petroleum refining and chemical processing industries. It is therefore of interest to be able to calculate the maximum LBV of a fuel/inert mixture based on the mixture composition and maximum LBV of each flammable component.
Mr. Lowry is a member of BakerRisk’s Blast Effects Group. His work is focused on experimental combustion research and CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) modeling of explosion phenomena. Mr. Lowry has 15 years of experience in experimental research of hydrocarbon combustion, particularly LBV (Laminar Burning Velocity) measurements of fuel-air-inert systems. Analytical efforts focus on explosion protection using simplified and CFD approaches, as well as modeling flammability and explosion phenomena in support of commercial projects and litigation.
As the biofuels industry continues to expand in support of global decarbonization mandates and objectives, facility owners and developers are being challenged to balance production efficiency, operational reliability, and personnel safety.
As high hazard facilities, biofuels sites should focus on developing a fire protections strategy informed by performance-based analysis so strategies implemented meet the unique challenges found at each facility.