Vapour cloud explosion model

Abstract Over the last few years vapour cloud explosions have become a subject of major concern. The effects, loss of life and damage to property, have been shown to be very severe. The authorities responsible for safety have need of methods and models to estimate the possible damage from accidental explosions so as to be able to estimate the risk of certain installations or activities. In this paper a model is presented which makes it possible to estimate the overpressure and positive phase duration as a function of the distance for an explosion, whether it is a detonation or a deflagration, on the basis of the reactivity (= sensitivity for flame acceleration) of the combustible mixture under consideration.