Explosion Properties and Mechanism of Composite Liquid Fuel with Propylene Oxide and Isopropyl Nitrate

The widely utilized propylene oxide (PO) / isopropyl nitrate (IPN) composite liquid fuels exhibit highly flammable and explosive properties at ambient temperatures, posing significant hazards. Herein, we investigate the combustion and explosion behaviors of PO/IPN at confined and venting conditions to estimate its risks in industrial applications. With composite liquid fuel concentration increasing, a trajectory of ascent followed by descent characterizes both the maximum rate of explosion propagation and the peak pressure, with the highest points occurring at 500 g/m3. Moreover, the explosion pressure is highest at the PO/IPN mass ratio of 7:3. The characteristic values of explosion parameters at venting conditions are all decreased, demonstrating that the implementation of pressure relief systems is capable of significantly mitigating the blast intensity. Microscopic combustion simulation results reveal that the difference between the peak and equilibrium values of potential energy is positively correlated with PO content, consistent with experimental findings.