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JL  
#1 Posted : 10 March 2023 18:10:44(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
JL

If you mixed several gasses together in a room, would the explosive limit be that of the gas with the highest consentation/explosive limit or the combined gases explosive limits (if they were all below the LEL would the combined value make then potentialy sit within the LEL, or above)

Ian Bell2  
#2 Posted : 10 March 2023 19:17:17(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Ian Bell2

You also have to consider the density properties of the gasses. For example, hydrogen will rapidly rise whereas propane will settle to the lowever levels of the room/enclosure, so you could end up stratification of gas layers

So if these 2 gases were present this is likely to happen you would have different LELs at high and low levels. What is the ventilation in the room/enclosure - does it remove the gases quickly?

As regards which LEL to choose, more information is required. Are you relasing the same volume of each gas or greatly different gas quantities of each gas.

thanks 3 users thanked Ian Bell2 for this useful post.
peter gotch on 11/03/2023(UTC), Martin Fieldingt on 13/03/2023(UTC), A Kurdziel on 14/03/2023(UTC)
JohnW  
#3 Posted : 14 March 2023 11:39:39(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
JohnW

JL, I would add all the % content together and assume the hazard is for the most explosive, because you don't know how well the gases are mixed and a spark may occur where there is a cloud/concentration of the most explosive gas.

peter gotch  
#4 Posted : 14 March 2023 13:24:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Hi JL

JohnW's solution would be a starting point assuming that the gases are relatively similar in nature.

It's all about stoichometrics and it's a very very long time since I did A Level Chemistry!!

The LEL will depend not only on the concentration of flammable gases but also what else is in the mix. 

So, you could calculate an LEL for the mix of flammables in typical air.

But that would differ, if you change the mix to reduce the level of oxygen (and any other oxidising material) e.g. by upping the level of inert gases such as nitrogen.

If in doubt, one for a specialist.

Like so many health and safety problems, sometimes there are easy decisions - "it's obviously a problem, and we can do X, Y and Z"; "the risk is negligible and here is the basis for that conclusion".

So, it's the ones in the middle where you need specialist input (including sometimes when there is obviously a problem but you have implemented the quick fixes).

John Elder  
#5 Posted : 15 March 2023 11:47:32(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
John Elder

JL I hope you are keeping well.

In answer to  your question Le Chatelier’s formula is commonly used to predict the lower flammability limits (LFL).

It cannot be used for calculation of upper flammability limits, furthermore, it cannot be used for partial halogenated hydrocarbons or oxidizers other that air. The formula can be applied for mixtures being flammable but not for mixtures being potentially explosive. According to the formula the lower flammability limit of a mixture of fuel gases (LFLM) is given according to the following equation (Le Chatelier’s Rule).

 

100   =       A₁    +    A₂  + … +  A

LFLM       LFL₁     LFL₁           LFLn

LFL = Lower flammability limit in mol%

A    = Molar fraction in mol% of the single flammable gas.

thanks 1 user thanked John Elder for this useful post.
peter gotch on 15/03/2023(UTC)
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