Damage characteristics of typical fire sealing systems in ultra-high voltage converter station subjected to blast loading

Abstract In response to the limited understanding of the blast resistance and damage behavior of fire sealing systems at valve-side bushings in typical domestic converter stations, following recent fire safety upgrades, this study develops a high-fidelity numerical model of a representative sealing system. The dynamic response of the system under various blast scenarios is systematically analyzed, with particular emphasis on the damage characteristics of critical components such as sealing plates, gap-filling materials around valve-side bushings, steel keels, and connection details. The most vulnerable parts of the system are identified. Moreover, by progressively increasing explosion intensities until structural failure is achieved, the extent of damage within each material layer is quantified based on simulation results under varying conditions. This approach facilitates an assessment of the overall damage level of the sealing system and supports the formulation of a methodology for evaluating system performance under blast loading. The results offer valuable insights for the design of integrated fire and blast-resistant sealing systems and contribute to the advancement of related theoretical models.