The explosion characteristics of diethyl ether-Al mixtures under different ambient conditions

The explosion characteristics of diethyl ether-Al mixtures under different ambient pressure (57.4–101.3 kPa), temperature (263–333 K), and relative humidity (48.3–90%) were investigated in a 20 L explosion vessel. The explosion pressures and lower flammability mass concentration limits of diethyl ether-Al mixture under different ambient conditions were obtained after a series of experiments. The components of explosion exhaust gas and the morphologies of solid residues were examined by a gas detector and a scanning electron microscope, respectively. The results showed that the ambient pressure had a greater influence on the explosion pressure of diethyl ether-Al mixtures than ambient temperature and relative humidity, while the ambient temperature had a greater influence on the lower flammability mass concentration limit than ambient pressure and relative humidity. The explosion exhaust gases were mainly composed of CO and CO₂ with a small amount of NO and NO₂, and the solid residues were mainly composed of Al₂O₃ and unreacted Al. The effect mechanism of different ambient conditions on the explosion of diethyl ether-Al mixture was discussed based on these results.