In this study, a vacuumchamber is employed as a newmethod for suppressing gas explosions using a diaphragm,
a device that separates the vacuum chamber from a gas pipe. After over-pressurization in the pipe breaks the
diaphragm, the vacuum chamber plays a role in suppressing gas explosion. Notably, the performance of the diaphragm
significantly influences the way in which gas explosion is suppressed by the vacuum chamber. To perform
experiments for testing such effects, this study used the polytetrafluoroethylene films of 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm
and 0.3mmthickness as the vacuum chamber diaphragm. As the diaphragmthickness changed, the suppression
effect on gas explosion varied. Vacuumchambers have an obvious influence on the propagation characteristics of
explosion flame. When explosion flame spreads to a nearby vacuum chamber, the flame signal weakens, flame
speed decreases, and flame thickness increases. Vacuum chambers can distinctly weaken an explosion's overpressure
and impulse. The thinner the diaphragms, the greater the change in explosion flame parameters and
the smaller the explosion overpressure and impulse. When using a thinner diaphragm, at the point at which
the diaphragm disintegrates, the distance between the explosion flame front and vacuum chamber decreases,
thereby increasing the explosion's flame stretch. Thus, the thinner the diaphragms, the better the overall explosion
suppression.