Dust explosions

Requirements for the occurrence Combustion and explosion characteristics Measures

Dr. Frank Hauert

Conditions for dust explosions

air

Ignition source

Conditions for dust explosions

Slow combustion

Fast combustion

Explosion

Conditions for dust explosions

1m

O=6 m
0,2 m

O=30 m

500 m long => 12.000 m

Increase of the surface!

Explosive Atmosphere
Depends on dust type! Explosion possible

With likelihood => Zone

0,01

0,1

10

100

1000

10000

Concentration [g/m]

Bestimmung bei optimaler Konzentration

Ignition sources
hot surface smoldering pocket electrical apparatus welding

37,2% 12,7% 3,2% 4,2%

elektrostatic

7,9% Not fire every ignition source will 8,5% ignite each dust type!!
others unknown

3,0% 23,0% 20,0% 40,0%

0,0%

Goal: How can I protect the installation?

What I have to know? What will affect the measures? Which kind of dust are used? What is their behavior? Boundery conditions? What are the details of the installation? Which igition sources are possible?

What are explosion characteristics?

They characterize dusts and gases regarding their behavior during fires and explosion.
explosion characteristics depending on the procedure they are measured => Standardization of the procedure

databank: http://hvbg.de/bia/gestis-staub-ex

example: minimum ignition energy

Condensator
Dust type Minimum ignition energy 0.005 <MZE< 0.01 50 <MZE< 100 0.05 <MZE< 0.1

High voltage generator sparks

Maltodextrin Tabacco dust Wheat dust

Modified Hartmann-tube

Combustion test

Ignition source

Dust sample Base

Combustion test

Ammoniumdichromat

Lycopodium

Determination pmax dp/dt LOL

1 m - chamber
Ignition source Pressure sensor Dust chamber

Opening valve
Perforated semicircular spray pipe

Result of the experiment : pmax , dp/dt

Pressure rise Max explosion pressure pressure p

time t

Influence of the temperature

100
3 UEG [g/m ]

Melanin Lykopodium coal

50

0 20 100 200 T [C]

Influence of the temperature to MIE

Minimum ignition energy MZE [mJ] 105 104 103 102 101 Klrschlamm 100 10-1 10-2 10 Melamin Lycopodium Erbsenmehl Herbizid

100 temperature T [C]

1000

Cubic relation

( )
dt ) ( dp V Kst
max

dp dt

max

V1/3 = const = Kst

= maximum rate of explosion pressure = Volume = dust specific constant

Incidence of the dust classes

Kst [bar m/s]
0 bis 200 200 bis 300 > 300

Dust explosion class

St 1 St 2 St 3

35 30 incidence [%] 25 20 15 10 5 0
100 200 300

St 1

St 2

St 3

Kst-Wert
KST

Examples for Kst, Pmax, UEG

Dust type Maise starch wheat tapioka LOL
3

[g/m ]

[bar m/s]

Kst

Pmax
[bar]

60 60 125

200 (140) 60 100

~8,6 7,7 8,8

Characteristics Protective measures

Protective measure Prevention of combustible products Limiting concentration (amount) Inerting Prevention of ignition sources Pertinent characteristics Combustibility, explosibility, heat of combustion Explosible limits Limiting oxygen concentration Glow temperature, ignition temperature, decomposition temperature, autoignition temperature, smoldering point, minimum ignition energy, impact sensitivity, electrostatic behavior Maximum explosion pressure Kst-value and maximum explosion pressure explosion pressure

Explosion-proof construction for maximum explosion pressure Explosion pressure venting

Explosion suppression

Influence of the boundary conditions of the process on the explosion characteristics

Increasing of the temperature Decrease of minimum ignition energy (MIE) Decrease of LEL Increase of pressure Increase of maximum pressure Increase of LOL Increase of turbulence Increase of dp/dt Increase of MIE Increase of moisture Increase of MIE Increase of LOL Decrease of dp/dt

What I have to know? What will affect the measures? Which kind of dust are used? What is their behavior? Boundery conditions? What are the details of the installation? Which igition sources are possible?

Explosion measures

preventive measures

secondary measures

organisational measures

constructive measures

constructive measures

Organisational Measures
housekeeping prevention of leaks instruction of the stuff continuous controll regulated maintenance measures during repair of equipment No smoking ....

Manahmen im Explosionsschutz

vorbeugende Manahmen

sekundre Manahmen

organisational measures

design measures

design measures

Primary measures
Prevention of explosible Dust/ Air mixtures Prevention of effective ignition sources
Spark detection in combination with extinguishing Prevent large particles

Inerting

Explosionsfeste Bauweise fr den maximalen

Explosionsdruck Explosionsfeste Bauweise fr den reduzierten Explosionsdruck in Verbindung mit Explosionsdruckentlastung oder Explosions unterdrckung Explosionstechnische Entkopplung von Systemen bzw. Explosionsabbruch Vermeiden von explosionsfhigen Staub / Luft-Gemischen Vermeiden von Staubexplosionen durch Inertisierung Vermeiden von wirksamen Zndquellen Vermeiden von explosionsfhigen Staub / Luft-Gemischen l Vermeiden von Staubexplosionen durch Inertisierung l Vermeiden von wirksamen Zndquellen l Explosionsfeste Bauweise fr den maximalen Explosionsdruck l Explosionsfeste Bauweise fr den reduzierten Explo-sionsdruck in Verbindung mit Explosionsdruckent-lastung oder Explosions-unterdrckung l Explosionstechnische Entkopplung von

Manahmen im Explosionsschutz

vorbeugende Manahmen

sekundre Manahmen

Organisatorische Manahmen

Konstruktive Manahmen

Konstruktive Manahmen

Secondary design measures

1. explosion venting 2. explosion suppression 3. explosion disengagement 4. explosion pressure resistant design
capable of withstandig the maximum explosion pressure

Secondary design measures

1. explosion venting 2. explosion suppression 3. explosion disengagement 4. explosion pressure resistant design
capable of withstandig the maximum explosion pressure

Explosion venting
pressure [bar]

120 ms

time

Explosion venting
pressure [bar]

time

Calculation of vebt area according european standard EN14

Explosion venting

Explosion venting

Explosion venting
Vented explosion of an 60 m3-Silo Using homogeneous dust distribution with wheat flour

Secondary design measures

1. explosion venting 2. explosion suppression 3. explosion disengagement 4. explosion pressure resistant design
capable of withstandig the maximum explosion pressure

suppression
pressure [bar]

Detektor

time

suppression
pressure [bar]
0.035 20 ms

Detektor

time

suppression
pressure [bar]
30 ms

Detektor

time

suppression
pressure [bar]

Detektor

50 ms

time

suppression
pressure [bar]

Without suppression

Detektor

0.15

80 ms

time

Secondary design measures

1. explosion venting 2. explosion suppression 3. explosion disengagement 4. explosion pressure resistant design
capable of withstandig the maximum explosion pressure

Explosion disengagement
Control unit

chamber I
Detektor

chamber II

Sufficient space

disengagement

disengagement
Rotary air lock

disengagement

Ventex valve

Thank you for your attention