EXPLOSION PROTECTION SOLUTIONS

by

Explosion Protection Solutions

Practical Guide on:
Explosion Fundamentals Explosion Venting Explosion Isolation Explosion Suppression
Open air cornstarch deflagration

Explosions by Industry

Factory Mutual Data Sheet 7-76

Industry Definitions

Explosion
rupture of an enclosure due to the internal pressure from a deflagration.

Deflagration
propagation of a combustion zone at a velocity that is less than the speed of sound.

Detonation
propagation of a combustion zone at a velocity that is greater than the speed of sound.

Explosion Ingredients

Enclosure Fuel Oxidant Ignition

Explosion Pressure Curve

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Explosion PRESSURE (BARA)

Pmax

KSt
[dp/dt]max

Normal pressure TIME

Explosibility Index

KSt = (dp/dt)maxV1/3
Hazard Class St-1 St-2 St-3 Kst Pmax

200
201-300

10 10 12

> 300

Explosibility Data
MATERIAL COAL (Bituminous) SUGAR POLYETHYLENE CORNSTARCH MAGNESIUM Particle Size Microns 24 30 <10 7 28 KSt Hazard PMAX barg bar-m/sec Class 9.2 8.5 8 10.3 17.5 129 138 156 202 508 1 1 1 2 3

Explosion Ingredients

FUEL: MEC minimum explosible concentration OXIDANT: LOC limiting oxidant concentration IGNITION: MIE minimum ignition energy MAIT minimum auto-ignition temperature

Knowing the Kst & Pmax of your product will define the magnitude and speed of an explosion in your plant. Knowing the MEC, LOC, MIE or MAIT can identify process areas that are subject to explosion. If these values are not known, Fike Corporation can test your product in accordance with recognized procedures.

Explosion Protection 3 Step Process

Define The Hazard Define The Protection Objective Choose The Protection Technique

Define The Hazard

Process Characteristics Hazard Characteristics Physical Characteristics

Process Characteristics

T. Lombardo 9/30/97

Process Characteristics
Enclosure Pressure Blower Location Temperature Bag Filter 0 to - 17mbarg Downstream 48C

Hazard Characteristics
Pmax KSt MEC MIE MAIT LOC 8.3 barg 120 psig 182 bar.m/sec 2,640 psi 90 g/m3 115 mJ 410C 12%

Physical Characteristics
Location H/D Volume Clean Dirty Design Strength Outdoors 1.8 10 m3 1.25 m3 8.75 m3 310 mbarg

Define The Protection Objective

Control the Explosion Pressure Control the Explosion Propagation Control the Explosion Pressure and Flame

Choose The Protection Technique

Explosion Venting Explosion Isolation Explosion Suppression

Venting Concept

A predetermined area Av releases pressure at a given level Pstat resulting in a reduced pressure Pred. Explosion flame, pressure and unburned mixture are vented to a safe area.
(the most widely used method)

Explosion Pressure Curve

Explosion

PRESSURE

Pmax

KSt
[dp/dt]max

Normal pressure TIME

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Vented Explosion
Pmax
PRESSURE

Venting Efficiency Pes Pstat

Normal pressure TIME

PRED

Physical Characteristics
Location H/D Volume Clean Dirty Design Strength Pred Outdoors 1.8 10 m3 1.25 m3 8.75 m3 310 mbarg 310 mbarg

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Process Characteristics
Enclosure Pressure Bag Filter 0 to - 17 mbarg 100 mbarg

Pstat Blower Downstream Location Temperature 48C

Explosion Vent Sizing

AV = 0.5 m2 VDI 3673, 6.1.1 Homogeneous Dust Distribution

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Explosion Vent Sizing

Location Discharge Duct Indoors Yes

Explosion Vent Sizing

Discharge Relief Area Duct L 0m 2m Pred

0.5 m 0.3 barg 0.5m 1 m 0.5m 1 m 0.86barg 0.4 barg 1.7 barg 1 barg

4m

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Explosion Vents
Highest efficiency Low unit mass < 12.2 kg/m Certified burst pressures Full predictable opening Non-Fragmenting Low maintenance requirements Available in many sizes and shapes Diversity of materials & designs process (compatibility) Low cost, long life expectancy Must vent to a safe location (outdoors)

Flameless Explosion Venting

Conventional Explosion Venting

An alternative to the use of explosion discharge ducts is the use of Vent Flame Filters in combination with explosion venting. While the explosion is allowed to run full course inside the protected equipment, only pressure will be vented into the surrounding atmosphere and a secondary explosion risk is prevented.

Flameless Venting

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Bucket Elevator Vents

The EleGuard vent is specifically designed for Bucket Elevator Explosion protection The number of vents is required is determined by the Kst, design Strength of the leg and height of the legs

Indoor Venting of Bucket Elevators

The EleQuench device is designed for Bucket Elevator Explosion protection where the Elevators are located Indoor An Indicator called an RI is recommended as this indicates that the Vent has opened

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VENTING SUMMARY
ADVANTAGES

Relatively inexpensive Easy to install or replace Low maintenance Passive system Releasing pressure does not put out the flame. Flame, pressure and unburned products will exit through the vent and may cause further damage or injury. Toxic products may be dispersed into the atmosphere. More Vent area than can practically be installed may be needed.

CONSIDERATIONS

EXAMPLES
VENTING OF SILOS VENTING OF PIPELINES

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EXAMPLES

Explosion Protection Solutions

Practical Guide on:
Explosion Fundamentals Explosion Venting Explosion Isolation Explosion Suppression
Open air cornstarch deflagration

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Explosion Isolation

Why Isolation ?

Explosion pressure and flame will propagate through process interconnections to other plant equipment or personnel occupied areas. Explosions in connected vessels tend to be of higher severity than explosions occurring in single unconnected vessels because of precompression and flame-jet ignition. Deflagrations can accelerate to detonation velocities while traveling through pipelines.

Explosion Pressure and Flame Propagation in Bucket Elevator

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Explosions in Interconnected Enclosures

V = 1.0 m3 P = 7.4 bar dP/dt = 55 bar/s

V = 5.0 m3 P = 7.4 bar dP/dt = 32 bar/s

Explosions in Interconnected Enclosures

V = 1.0 m3 P = 10.2 bar dP/dt = 1.000 bar/s

V = 5.0 m3 P = 11 bar dP/dt = 1.200 bar/s

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Chemical Explosion-isolation System

No restriction, clean procesconnection Only to be used in combination with explosion venting or explosion suppression (Pred <->Pmax) only stops the explosionflame, not the explosionpressure different suppressant agents are available, depending on the application requirements (food industry, CIP, metal dust explosions, etc.)

Explosion Isolation
Xmax Xmin

Fike

0.3 m min 10 dia. max

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Define The Protection Objective

Control the Explosion Pressure Control the Explosion Propagation Control the Explosion Pressure and Flame

Choose The Protection Technique

Explosion Venting Explosion Isolation Explosion Suppression

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Suppression Concept
The heat of combustion develops pressure. Upon pressure detection, sufficient suppressant agent is dispersed into the protected volume. Flame is quenched which prevents any further pressure increase. Flame, pressure and unburned mixture are contained inside the vessel

Ignition
Spark/Flame starts in a closed vessel equipped with detector, control panel and suppressant container

Fike

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Detection
Detector senses pressure wave and sends signal to control panel Time : LESS THAN 1 Milliseconds

Fike

Activation
Control Panel issues command to suppressant container. Initiator opens rupture disc. Time: less than 1 millisecond

Fike

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Injection
Suppression agent released through dispersion nozzle.

Fike

Suppression
Container continues to release agent. Explosion is suppressed. Response time is measured in Milliseconds

Fike

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Explosion Pressure Curve

Explosion

PRESSURE

Pmax

KSt
[dp/dt]max

Normal pressure TIME

Explosion Suppression

ADVANTAGES Process media is contained It can be used inside buildings - near personnel Provides fire protection (after initial deflagration) Can provide automatic process shutdown CONSIDERATIONS Active system Requires regular maintenance

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Fike Explosion Protection Solutions

Explosion risks are an industrial reality; equipment loss, downtime, environmental issues and hazards to personnel can be avoided through the application of the most suitable protection method. Explosion protection technology offers the process and safety engineer a variety of reliable tools.

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