An Introduction To Dust Explosions

Preventable dust explosions continue to occur in industry in spite of significant research and practice efforts worldwide over many years. There is a need for effective understanding of the unique hazards posed by combustible dust. This book describes a number of dust explosion myths – which together cover the main source of dust explosion hazards – the reasons they exist and the corresponding scientific and engineering facts that mitigate these circumstances. An Introduction to Dust Explosions describes the main erroneous beliefs about the origin and propagation of dust explosions. It offers fact-based explanations for their occurrence and the impact of such events and provides a critical guide to managing and mitigating dust explosion risks. Designed to prevent accidents, injury, loss of life and capital damage An easy-to-read, scientifically rigorous treatment of the facts and fictions of dust explosions for those who need to – or ought to – understand dust explosions, their occurrence and consequences Enables the management and mitigation of these critical industrial hazards

Dust Explosion Dynamics focuses on the combustion science that governs the behavior of the three primary hazards of combustible dust: dust explosions, flash fires, and smoldering. It explores the use of fundamental principles to evaluate the magnitude of combustible dust hazards in a variety of settings. Models are developed to describe dust combustion phenomena using the principles of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and chemical kinetics. Simple, tractable models are described first and compared with experimental data, followed by more sophisticated models to help with future challenges. Dr. Ogle introduces the reader to just enough combustion science so that they may read, interpret, and use the scientific literature published on combustible dusts. This introductory text is intended to be a practical guide to the application of combustible dust models, suitable for both students and experienced engineers. It will help you to describe the dynamics of explosions and fires involving dust and evaluate their consequences which in turn will help you prevent damage to property, injury and loss of life from combustible dust accidents. Demonstrates how the fundamental principles of combustion science can be applied to understand the ignition, propagation, and extinction of dust explosions Explores fundamental concepts through model-building and comparisons with empirical data Provides detailed examples to give a thorough insight into the hazards of combustible dust as well as an introduction to relevant scientific literature

Handbook of Powder Technology, Volume 4: Dust Explosions presents the dust explosion problem in general terms and describes how and why dusts explode. This book discusses the various approaches used to deal with the dust explosion hazards. Organized into five chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the methods used to assess, remove, or minimize the hazard of dust explosions. This text then examines the factors that influence the initiation and severity of an explosion. Other chapters consider the explosion prevention and explosion protection techniques. This book discusses as well the characteristics of a dust explosion and the historical development of the problem. The final chapter deals with the significant concept of explosion protection to reduce the worst effects of an explosion to an acceptable level. This book is a valuable resource for managers, engineers, scientists, safety personnel, and others involved in the handling ad processing of materials in solid particulate form.

The interest of the media in dust explosions increased considerably following two major grain-elevator disasters in the United States in 1979. However, these were not isolated incidents and were statistically unusual only in the high loss of life involved. Any oxidizable material that is dispersed in fine powder form may be explosive, and ignition sources with sufficient energy to ignite a dust cloud are easily produced in normal industrial processing. Dust fires and minor incidents are not uncommon in many industries, but fortunately the combination of events and circumstances that must coincide for a large-scale explosion arise only rarely. Nevertheless, this is often more by luck than by good management and many potentially hazardous situations are common in industry. An explosive dust cloud and the circumstances in which it can ignite are not as simple to define as the equivalent situation in gases or flammable vapors. A large number of definitions and experimental tests have been devised to characterize the explosibility of dusts and ignition sources. The aim of this book is to provide a guide describing conditions in industry that could lead to dust explosions and the means to avoid them. Ignition sources and the way in which they can arise in powder processing are discussed and illustrated by case histories of reported incidents. The methods by which the potential hazards of a process or product can be evaluated are described, with special attention paid to the interpretation of the results of the different experimental methods.

The author summarizes todays knowledge of the cause and consequences of dust explosions which were the main focus of his professional life. The presence of explosible dust/air mixtures does not generally represent a risk of an explosion although all organic and metallic dusts are explosible. The author develops test-methods for explosion hazards associated with dust and constructive methods to prevent dust explosions. The book is written for practical use. The reader learns to recognise the hazard of a dust explosion and the effectiveness of safety measures. The book is richly illustrated and demonstrates the correct use of the empirical theories.

There are many different types of explosions, each with its own complex mechanism. Understanding explosions is important in preventing them. This reference provides valuable information on explosions for everyone involved in the operation, design, maintenance, and management of chemical processes, helping enhance understanding of the nature of explosions and the practical methods required to prevent them from occurring. The text includes: Fundamental basis for explosions Explosive and flammable behavior and characteristics of materials Different types of explosions Fire and explosion hazard recognition Practical methods for preventing explosions or minimizing the potential consequences Additional references Understanding Explosions provides a practical understanding of explosion fundamentals, including the different types of explosions, the explosive and flammable behavior of materials, and the hazards related to fires and explosions. It also discusses practical methods to prevent and minimize the probability and consequence of an explosion during routine use of flammable, combustible and/or reactive materials.