CombustibleDust

Presentedby:
NielsPedersen

Disclosure
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cannotbecopiedwithoutproperauthorization.
Someofthesources:
Copyright,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012.Allrights
ReservedNationalFireProtectionAssociation
ReedEducationalAndProfessionalPublishingLtd1991,1997
Copyright,2010.AllrightReservedDanthermFiltration,Inc.
Copyright,2012.AllrightReservedNedermanLLC
Copyright,2012.AllrightReservedEcogateInc.
2

Disclosure
Thispresentationisforinformationalpurposeonly.
NedermanLLCmakesnowarranties,express,impliedor
statutory,astotheinformationinthisdocument.
Thecompanydoesnotacceptanyliabilitywhatsoeverforanyloss
ordamage,whichmaybecausedasaresultofthetransmission
ofthisdocumentbycopy,mail,fax,webdownloadoremail

CombustibleDust
FireandExplosion
Fundamentals

FireTriangle

Air
O2

Fuel
HC

Igniter
>MIT

Deflagration

Dustinsuspension

Air
O2

Fuel
HC

Igniter
>MIT

ExplosionPentagon

Confinement

Air
O2

Fuel
HC

Igniter
>MIT

Background
OrganicDustFiresandExplosions:
Massachusetts
(3killed,9injured)
NorthCarolina
(6killed,38injured)
Kentucky
(7killed,37injured

MetalDustFireandExplosion:Indiana
(1killed,1injured)

OrganicDustFireandExplosion
Jahn Foundry, Springfield, MA
Massachusetts

Fireinafoundryshellmoldingmachine:

Causedaprimaryexplosionin
ductscontainingheavy
depositsofPhenol
formaldehyderesin dust.
Resultedin
a dust cloud from ledge
dust deposits outside the
ducts and
an explosion in the plant
area.

3 dead, 9 Injured
9

OrganicDustFireandExplosion
Massachusetts

Causal factors
Housekeeping tocontrol
dustaccumulations;
Ventilationsystem
design;
Maintenance ofovens;
and,
Equipmentsafety
devices.

1
0

OrganicDustFireandExplosion:NorthCarolina

Combustiblepolyethylene dust accumulated above

suspended ceilings atpharmaceuticalplant

Afireattheplantcaused
dusttobedispersedand
explodeintheceiling
space
6werekilled,38injured
Plantandnearbybuildings
wereseverelydamaged
1
1

ExperienceintheGrainHandlingIndustry
Inthelate1970s,graindustexplosionsleft59peopledead
and49injured.

1
2

ExperienceintheGrainHandlingIndustry
In1987,OSHApromulgatedtheGrainHandlingFacilities
standard(29CFR1910.272)stillineffect.

1
3

1
4

Dawson Creek Elevator Fire

ImperialSugarCompany,PortWentworthGA.
ExplosionandFire
Feb.7,2008
13DeadandNumerousseriousinjuries
1
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ExamplesofCombustibleDustIncidents

CASCADINGEXPLOSIONS

Dustexplosioninaworkarea
Dust

Dust settles on flat

surfaces

Some event
disturbs the
settled dust
into a cloud

Adapted from CSB

Dust cloud is
ignited and
explodes

Primary deflagration inside process equipment

25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 300 325

Time, msec.
(Timing of actual events may vary)

Shock wave caused

by primary deflagration

25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 300 325

Time, msec.

Shock waves reflected by surfaces within

the building cause accumulated dust to go
into suspension

25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 300 325

Time, msec.

Dust clouds thrown in the air by the shock waves

25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 300 325

Time, msec.

Primary deflagration breaks out of the equipment

enclosure - creating a source of ignition

25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 300 325

Time, msec.

Secondary deflagration ignited

25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 300 325

Time, msec.

SecondaryDeflagrationispropagated
throughthedustclouds

25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 300 325

Time, msec.

Secondary
deflagration bursts
from the building

25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 300 325

Time, msec.

Collapsed building with remaining fires

25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 300 325

Time, msec.

DEFLAGRATION
DEMONSTRATION

BasicComDust data
Thehazardismanageablewithproperengineeringdesigns
usingtheproductspecificdata
Dataisestablishedthorough:
1. Actualtestofproductsused/producedinaspecific
process dusttestdata

2. Equipmentdata andparameters configuration,

strengthandtestdata

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DefinitionsofDustTestData

DustClass(ST)
ST0,ST1,ST2,ST3

VolumeNormalizedRateofPressureincrease(Kst)
Thedeflagrationindexofadustcloud.

RateofPressureRise(dP/dt)
Theincreaseinpressuredividedbythetimeintervalnecessaryforthat
increasetooccur.

MaximumRateofPressureRise[(dP/dt)max]
Theslopeofthesteepestpartofthepressureversustimecurve
recordedduringdeflagrationinaclosedvessel.

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DefinitionsofDustTestData
MaximumPressure(Pmax)
Themaximumpressuredevelopedinacontaineddeflagrationofan
optimummixture.

MinimumExplosiveConcentration(MEC)
Theminimumconcentrationofacombustibledustcloudthatis
capableofpropagatingadeflagrationthroughauniformmixtureof
thedustandairunderthespecifiedconditionsoftest.

MinimumIgnitionEnergy(MIE)
Theminimumamountofenergyreleasedatapointinacombustible
mixturethatcausesflamepropagationawayfromthepoint,under
specifiedtestconditions.

DefinitionsofDustTestData
MinimumIgnitionTemperature(MIT)
Minimumignitiontemperatureofahotsurfacecapableofcausing
ignitionofdustinsuspension.

LayerignitiontemperatureorAutoIgnitionTemperature(AIT)
Temperatureatwhichadustlayerignitesonahotsurface(1/2
thicknesstestbase)

LimitingOxygenConcentration(LOC)
Todeterminethehighestoxygenconcentrationatwhichignitionofa
disperseddustatambienttemperatureandpressureisnot possible.

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DefinitionsofDustTestData
ElectricalVolumeResistivity(Rv)
Themeasureofhoweasilyelectricalchargecanflowthroughthe
particulate.

ChargeRelaxationTime
Thetimeittakeforachargetodecreaseto0.37xitsinitialvalue.

PowderChargeability
Thechargeperunitmassthatcanbedevelopedonaspecificmaterial
duringprocessing

DefinitionsofDustTestData
BurnRate
Theflammabilityanddegreeofcombustibilityofmetalpowder/dust

ThermalStability
Processriskathigheroperatingtemperaturesandstorageconditions.

WaterReactivity
Amaterialthatchemicallyreactswithwater,producinganother
compoundthatcanrepresentadifferentsetoffireprotection
concerns

WaterIncompatible
Amaterialthatdoesnotchemicallyreactwithwater,butwhich
undergoesachangeofphaseorstateuponmixturewithwaterthat
rendersitpermanentlychangedorincompatiblewiththeremainder
oftheprocess

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DefinitionofEquipmentData
VentedExplosionPressure(Pred)
Themaximumpressuredevelopedinaventedenclosureduringa
venteddeflagration

EnclosureStrength(Pes)
Uptotwothirdstheultimatestrengthforlowstrengthenclosures;for
highstrengthenclosurestheenclosuredesignpressuresufficientto
resistPred.

UltimateStrength
Thepressurethatresultsinthefailureoftheweakeststructural
componentofanenclosure.

StaticActivationPressure(Pstat)
Pressurethatactivatesaventclosurewhenthepressureisincreased
slowly(witharateofpressureriselessthan0.1bar/min=1.5
psi/min).

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DefinitionofEquipmentData
AirMaterialSeparator(AMS)
Acollectordesignedtoseparatetheconveyingairfromthematerial
beingconveyed.

AirMovingDevice(AMD)
Apowerdrivenfan,blower,orotherdevicethatestablishesanairflow
bymovingagivenvolumeofairperunittime.

Enclosure
Aconfinedorpartiallyconfinedvolume.

Otherdefinitions
AuthorityHavingJurisdiction(AHJ)
Anorganization,office,orindividualresponsibleforenforcingthe
requirementsofacodeorstandard,orforapprovingequipment,
materials,aninstallation,oraprocedure.

Owner/Operator
Theorganizationwithfiscalresponsibilityfortheoperation,
maintenance,andprofitabilityofthefacility.

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Establishingdataforaspecificprocess
ProcessHazardAnalysis(PHA)mustestablish:

Potentiallyhazardousprocesssections
Potentiallyhazardousareas.
Productsrequiredtobetested
Dustaccumulationareastobesampled

Sampling:

Dustondirtysideofcollector
Takefromhighpoints(beamsorotherupfacingsurfaces)
Otherareaswhereairbornedustmayhavesettled
Minimumquantity 2kg

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Dusttesting

DeflagrationIndexKst

Kst providesthebestsinglenumberestimateoftheanticipatedbehavior
ofadustdeflagration.

CombustibledustsareclassifiedbythenumericalvalueofKst.

Kst Value

STClass

ST0

0to200

ST1

201to300

ST2

>300

ST3

ST=Staub (Germanfordust)

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Dusttestdevice

41

Dusttests
Max P generated by
the dust

Volume normalized
rate of pressure increase

Maxvesselpressure
with vent panel

P red
Ignition source
Ignition
activation

P stat

Time
Static pressure limit
for vent panel

42

Dusttests
ST1200

P red
Ignition source

P stat

Time

43

Dusttests
300ST2200

ST1200

P red
Ignition source

P stat

Time

44

Dusttests
ST3300

300ST2200

ST1200

P red
Ignition source

P stat

Time

45

Kst

Coaldusttableinformation
Activated carbon

Browncoal

Bituminouscoal

44

So
Which
onedoI
use

143

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