MODELING THERMAL EXPLOSIONS ON A REACTOR
CONTAINING CL-20 AND HMX
Chun-Ping Lin1, Sheng-Hung Wu1, Chi-Min Shu1,2*
1
Doctoral Program, Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology,
National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (NYUST), 123,
University Rd., Sec. 3, Douliou, Yunlin, Taiwan 64002, ROC
2
Process Safety and Disaster Prevention Laboratory, Department of Safety, Health, and
Environmental Engineering, NYUST, 123, University Rd., Sec. 3, Douliou, Yunlin, Taiwan
64002, ROC
*
E-mail address: shucm@yuntech.edu.tw
Abstract
This study established a reaction kinetic model on thermal decomposition properties and
explosion hazard for a reactor containing hexanitrohexazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) and
cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX) by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and
thermal explosion simulations. The aim of this study was to analyze the thermokinetic
parameters for CL-20 and HMX by DSC, and then to compare thermal explosion simulations
under various conditions by the explosion model. Experimental results coupled with
simulated outcomes indicated the best condition employed to avoid or cope with any violent
runaway explosion in a reactor containing CL-20 and HMX were also discovered. Finally, this
study created an efficient procedure for obtaining information on thermal decomposition
characteristics and explosion hazard of CL-20 and HMX in a reactor that could be applied as
an inherently safer design during normal or upset operation.
Keywords: hexanitrohexazaisowurtzitane (CL-20), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX),
differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal explosion simulations,
thermokinetic parameters