Method to mitigate the consequences of an unconfined or partially confined vapor cloud explosion

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method to mitigate the consequences of an unconfined or partially confined vapor cloud explosion due to the accidental release of a flammable gas in an open area, wherein: means capable to release a flame acceleration suppression product are dispersed in said area, a signal is generated by a detector of said flammable gas release, or by an operator, or by an approaching flame or by the explosion itself, or by any combination thereof, said signal activates the release of the flame acceleration suppression product in said area and in a sufficient amount to transform the flammable cloud into a mixture of flammable product, air and said flame acceleration suppression product to prevent flame accelerations in an unconfined vapor cloud explosion but to let the flammable product burn in case of ignition. In a specific embodiment the release of the flame acceleration suppression product is made by a signal generated by a detector of said flammable gas release or by an operator and before ignition or beginning of an explosion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.