Dust explosions in the process industries

754 Pages·2003·24.1 MB·English

by  Rolf Eckhoff

S
E X P L O S I O N
in the Process Industries
T H I R D E D I T I O N

Dust Explosions
in fhe Process Indusfries

Dust Explosions
in the Process Industries
Third Edition
Rolf K. Eckhoff
Gulf Professional Publishing
an imprint of Elsevier Science
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Copyright 02003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-PublicationData
Eckhoff, Rolf K.
Dust explosions in the process industries / Rolf Eckhoff.-3rd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7506-7602-7 (HC : alk. paper)
1. Dust explosions. 2. Fire prevention. 3. Industrial accidents. I. Title.
TH9446.D86E34 2003
604.7-dc2 1 2003040799
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With deep gratitude for their love and support, I dedicate this book to my wife Astrid
and our children Kristian, Ragnar, Solveig, and Jorunn, and their families, and to my
mother and the memory of my father. The words in Isaiah 42.16 also gave me hope and
courage.

Gontents
Foreword xvii
Prefaces xix
1 Dust Explosions-Origin, Propagation, Prevention, and Mitigation:
n
An Overview
1.1 The nature of dust explosions i
1.1.1 The phenomenon 1
1.1.2 Materials that can cause dust explosions 5
1.1.3 Explosible range of dust concentrations-primary and
secondary explosions 7
1.1.4 Ignition sources 10
1.2 Significanceof the dust explosion hazard: statistical records 20
1.2.1 Recording dust explosions, an activity of long traditions 20
1.2.2 Dust explosions in the United States, 1900-1956 21
1.2.3 Dust explosions in the Federal Republic of Germany, 1965-1985 22
1.2.4 Recent statistics of grain dust explosions in the United States 25
1.3 Dust and dust cloud properties that influence ignitability
and explosion violence 25
1.3.1 Dust chemistry, including moisture 25
1.3.2 Particle size or specific surface area 29
1.3.3 Degree of dust dispersion effective particle size 32
1.3.4 Dust concentration 34
1.3.5 Turbulence 36
1.3.6 Oxygen content of oxidizer gas 39
1.3.7 Initial temperature of the dust cloud 44
1.3.8 Initial pressure of a dust cloud 47
1.3.9 Combustible gas or vapor mixed with a dust cloud
(“Hybrid” mixtures) 50
1.3.10 Inerting by mixing inert dust with combustible dust 55
1.3.11 Concluding remarks 56
1.4. Means for preventing and mitigating dust explosions 57
1.4.1 The means available: an overview 57
1.4.2 Preventing ignition sources 57
.4.3 Preventing explosible dust clouds 67
1.4.4 Preventing explosion transfer between process units
via pipes and ducts: explosion isolation 73
I .4.5 Explosion-pressure-resistantequipment 81
1.4.6 Explosion venting 84