Deflagration to detonation transition: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Type of explosion}}

{{more citations needed|date=February 2017}}

'''Deflagration to detonation transition''' ('''DDT''') refers to a phenomenon in [[Combustion|ignitable]] mixtures of a [[flammable]] gas and [[air]] (or [[oxygen]]) when a sudden transition takes place from a [[deflagration]] type of [[combustion]] to a [[detonation]] type of explosion.

==Description==

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Under certain conditions, mainly in terms of geometrical conditions (such as partial confinement and many obstacles in the flame path that cause turbulent flame eddy currents), a subsonic flame front may accelerate to supersonic speed, transitioning from deflagration to detonation. The exact mechanism is not fully understood,<ref name=GexCon>{{cite web|title=Chapter 6: Detonation |url= http://www.gexcon.com/index.php?src=handbook/GEXHBchap6.htm |website=Gexcon AS |archive-date=October 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004174240/http://www.gexcon.com/handbook/GEXHBchap6.htm}}</ref>

and while existing theories are able to explain and model both deflagrations and detonations, there is no theory {{as of|2023|alt=at present}} which can predict the transition phenomenon.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

==Examples==

A deflagration to detonation transition has been a feature of several major [[industrial accident]]s:

* [[1970 Propanepropane vapourvapor cloud explosion in Port Hudson]]

* [[Flixborough disaster]]

* [[Phillips disaster of 1989]] in Pasadena, Texas

* Damage observed in the [[Buncefield fire]]

* [[2020 Beirut explosions|2020 Beirut Explosions]]

==Applications==