Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The work investigates the use of a new passive system for the mitigation of gas explosion overpressures in which a field of water droplets is generated continuously within the overpressure area. The system relies on the induced liquid flow from an aerodynamically shaped water container and the subsequent atomization in the convective cross flow.</jats:p><jats:p>A wind tunnel has been used to study the transient characteristics of the emerging liquid flow and atomization, by means of flash photography and laser diffraction sizing, for a range of generic devices. The sizes and spray concentrations produced are consistent with published values required for explosion mitigation. A 5.1m long explosion duct has been used to examine the effectiveness of one of the devices, and has demonstrated the possibilities for good explosion suppression. The practical areas of application of the system are for onshore and offshore process plant.</jats:p>