Effect of pressure for dust dispersion on minimum ignition temperature

The existing technical standards for determining the minimum ignition temperature (MIT) of dust clouds are inadequate. According to existing technical standards, this study expands the test pressure conditions. The MIT of dust clouds can be determined by a variety of different dispersion pressures, that is, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.1 MPa. But, whether the MIT of dust clouds tested under different dispersion pressures is consistent is lacking in the corresponding exploration. In this study, a set of measurement system of instantaneous concentration and particle size was established, which can observe the flow of dust clouds and the distribution of the instantaneous particle size and concentration of dust clouds in the heating furnace tube. On this basis, the MIT of dust clouds is determined, and the physical mechanism of dispersion pressure affecting the MIT of dust clouds is revealed. The results show that the MIT of dust clouds is consistent when the dispersion pressure in the range of 0.02–0.06 MPa. When the dispersion pressure is not in this range, the MIT of the dust clouds is very different due to the obvious increase of the instantaneous particle size of the dust clouds.     

Minimum ignition temperatures and explosion characteristics of micron-sized aluminium powder

To forestall, control, and mitigate the detrimental effects of aluminium dust, a 20-L near-spherical dust explosion experimental system and an HY16429 type dust-cloud ignition temperature test device were employed to explore the explosion characteristics of micron-sized aluminium powder under different ignition energies, dust particle sizes, and dust cloud concentration (C_dust) values; the minimum ignition temperature (MIT) values of aluminium powder under different dust particle sizes and C_dust were also examined. Flame images at different times were photographed by a high-speed camera. Results revealed that under similar dust-cloud concentrations and with dust particle size increasing from 42.89 to 141.70 μm, the MIT of aluminium powder increased. Under various C_dust values, the MIT of aluminium dust clouds attained peak value when concentrations enhanced. Furthermore, the increase of ignition energy contributed to the increase of the explosion pressure (P_ex) and the rate of explosion pressure rise [(dP/dt)_ex]. When dust particle size was augmented gradually, the P_ex and (dP/dt)_ex attenuated. Decreasing particle size lowered both the most violent explosion concentration and explosive limits.     

敏感条件对粉尘云最小点火能的影响规律分析

为使粉尘云最小点火能实验测量更准确,从多个方面分析影响最小点火能的测量因素,并根据粉尘云状态、粉尘颗粒固有性质、点火电路等几个方面对影响粉尘云最小点火能的因素,即敏感条件进行了分类。在实验测量中,具体归纳为:粉尘浓度、粉尘湿度、粉尘粒度及其分布、粉尘挥发份含量、粉尘温度(环境温度)、粉尘云的湍流度、粉尘分散质量、粉尘云初始压力、环境氧浓度、电极材料、电极直径和电极末端曲率、电极间距、电火花持续时间、点火延迟时间、电火花能量密度、火花触发电路、可燃气体影响、实验次数等18个影响因素。重点分析了敏感条件对最小点火能的影响规律,从粉尘云点火机理和过程出发,着重分析一些敏感条件对最小点火能影响的内在原因和实质。     

A theoretical model for the prediction of the minimum ignition energy of dust clouds

In this study, a physical model of the dust cloud ignition process is developed for both cylindrical coordinates with a straight-line shaped ignition source and spherical coordinates with a point shaped ignition source. Using this model, a numerical algorithm for the calculation of the minimum ignition energy (MIE) is established and validated. This algorithm can evaluate MIEs of dusts and their mixtures with different dust concentrations and particle sizes. Although the average calculated cylindrical MIE (MIE_cylindrical) of the studied dusts only amounts to 63.9% of the average experimental MIE value due to reasons including high idealization of the numerical model and possible energy losses in the experimental tests, the algorithm with cylindrical coordinates correctly predicts the experimental MIE variation trends against particle diameter and dust concentration. There is a power function relationship between the MIE and particle diameter of the type MIE ∝ d_p^k with k being approximately 2 for cylindrical coordinates and 3 for spherical coordinates. Moreover, as dust concentration increases MIE(conc) first drops because of the decreasing average distance between particles and, at fuel-lean concentrations the increasing dust cloud combustion heat; however, after the dust concentration rises beyond a certain value, MIE(conc) starts to increase as a result of the increasingly significant heat sink effect from the particles and, at fuel-rich concentrations the no longer increasing dust cloud combustion heat.     

Does the dust explosion risk increase when moving from μm-particle powders to powders of nm-particles?

Based on experience with powders of particle sizes down to the 1–0.1 μm range one might expect that dust clouds from combustible nm-particle powders would exhibit extreme ignition sensitivities (very low MIEs) and extreme explosion rates (very high K_St-values). However, there are two basic physical reasons why this may not be the case. Firstly, complete transformation of bulk powders consisting of nm-particles into dust clouds consisting of well-dispersed primary particles is extremely difficult to accomplish, due to very strong inter-particle cohesion forces. Secondly, should perfect dispersion nevertheless be achieved, the extremely fast coagulation process in clouds of explosive mass concentrations would transform the primary nm-particles into much larger agglomerates within fractions of a second. Furthermore, for organic dusts and coal the basic mechanism of flame propagation in dust clouds suggests that increased cloud explosion rates would not be expected as the particle size decreases into the <1 μm range. An overall conclusion is that dust clouds consisting of nm primary particles are not expected to exhibit more severe K_St-values than clouds of μm primary particles, in agreement with recent experimental evidence. In the case of the ignition sensitivity recently published evidence indicates that MIEs of clouds in air of some metal powders are significantly lower for nm particles than for μm particles. A possible reason for this is indicated in the paper.     

超细三七粉最小引燃温度实验研究

为研究三七粉着火燃烧的参数,用粉尘云引燃温度装置和粉尘层引燃温度装置,对三七粉的最小引燃温度(MIT)进行实验研究。分别研究喷吹压力、质量浓度、粉尘层厚度对MIT的影响。结果表明:三七粉尘云的质量在0.2 g时最小引燃温度随着喷尘压力的增加先减小再增大,在0.3 g到0.6 g时最小引燃温度随着喷尘压力的增加而增大;在压力20 kPa、30 kPa时随着质量浓度的增大,粉尘云引燃温度先减小后增大,在40 kPa到60 kPa时,随着质量浓度的增大,粉尘云引燃温度增大;粉尘云最小引燃温度高于粉尘层最小引燃温度;三七粉尘云的最小引燃温度399℃,粉尘层最小引燃温度240℃。     

Study of dust cloud behaviour in the modified Hartmann tube using the image subtraction method (ISM)

A dispersion of fine particles in the air is needed for a dust explosion to occur since an explosion is the fast combustion of particles in the air. When particles are poorly dispersed, agglomerated, or their concentration is low, the combustion velocity decreases, and deflagration would not occur. The combustion rate is strictly related to dust concentration. Therefore, the maximum explosion pressure rise occurs at dust concentration close to stoichiometric. Conversely, Minimum Explosion Concentration (MEC) is the lower limit at which self-sustained combustion and a pressure rise are possible. Dust explosion tests are designed to reproduce the dispersion and generation of dust clouds in industrial ambiences by using dispersion devices activated by pressurised air pulses. The resulting dust cloud, which has a marked transient character, is considered representative of real clouds by current standards. Over time, several studies have been carried out to optimise these devices (e.g. to reduce the inhomogeneity of the cloud in the 20 L sphere). The Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) of dust is measured using the Mike3 modified Hartmann tube, where the ignition attempt is made 60–180 ms after dust dispersion regardless of dust characteristics.This work investigates the dust clouds’ actual behaviour inside the modified Hartmann tube before ignition using high-velocity video movies and a new image post-treatment method called Image Subtraction Method (ISM). Movies are recorded with high-speed cameras at a framerate of 2000 fps and elaborated with an on-purpose developed LabVIEW® code. Concentration (mass per volume) and dispersion pressure are varied to evaluate their effect on dust clouds. Maise starch, iron powder and silica powder are chosen to investigate the effect of particle density and size on the cloud structure and turbulence. This approach will help to investigate the structure of the dust cloud, the shape and size of the particle lumps and the change in dust concentration over time. In addition, information on the actual concentration and cloud turbulence at the ignition location and delay time were obtained, which may help identify the local turbulence scale and widen the characterisation of the cloud generated in the Hartmann tube.     

Parametric study of the explosivity of graphite-metals mixtures

The explosivity of dust clouds is greatly influenced by several parameters which depend on the operating conditions, such as the initial turbulence, temperature or ignition energy, but obviously also on the materials composition. In the peculiar case of a mixture of two combustible powders, the physical and chemical properties of both dusts have an impact on the cloud flammability and on its explosivity. Nevertheless, no satisfactory ‘mixing laws’ predicting the mixture behavior are currently available and the composition variable to be considered for such models greatly depend on the safety parameters which have to be determined: from volume ratios for some thermal exchanges and ignition phenomena, to surface proportions for some heterogeneous reactions and molar contents for chemical reactions. This study is mainly focused on graphite/magnesium mixtures as they are encountered during the decommissioning activities of UNGG reactors (Natural Uranium Graphite Gas). Due to the different nature and reactivity of both powders, these mixtures offer a wide range of interests. Firstly, the rate-limiting steps for the combustion of graphite are distinct from those of metals (oxygen diffusion or metal vaporization). Secondly, the flame can be thickened by the presence of radiation during metal combustion, whereas this phenomenon is negligible for pure graphite. Finally, the turbulence of the initial dust cloud is modified by the addition of a second powder. In order to assess the explosivity of graphite/magnesium clouds, a parametric study of the effects of storage humidity, particle size distribution, ignition energy, and initial turbulence has been carried out. In particular, it was clearly demonstrated that the turbulence significantly influences the explosion severity by speeding up the rate of heat release on the one hand and the oxygen diffusion through the boundary layer surrounding particles on the other hand. Moreover, it modifies the mean particle size and the spatial dust distribution in the test vessel, impacting the uniformity of the dust cloud. Thus, the present work demonstrates that the procedures developed for standard tests are not sufficient to assess the dust explosivity in industrial conditions and that an extensive parametric study is relevant to figure out the explosive behavior of solid/solid mixtures subjected to variations of operating conditions.     

Risk assessment method of polyethylene dust explosion based on explosion parameters

The explosion characteristic parameters of polyethylene dust were systematically investigated. The variations in the maximum explosion pressure (P_max), explosion index (K_st), minimum ignition energy (MIE), minimum ignition temperature (MIT), and minimum explosion concentration (MEC) of dust samples with different particle sizes were obtained. Using experimental data, a two-dimensional matrix analysis method was applied to classify the dust explosion severity based on P_max and K_st. Then, a three-dimensional matrix was used to categorize the dust explosion sensitivity based on three factors: MIE, MIT, and MEC. Finally, a two-dimensional matrix model of dust explosion risk assessment was established considering the severity and sensitivity. The model was used to evaluate the explosion risk of polyethylene dust samples with different particle sizes. It was found that the risk level of dust explosion increased with decreasing particle size, which was consistent with the actual results. The risk assessment method can provide a scientific basis for dust explosion prevention in the production of polyethylene.     

硬脂酸粉着火敏感性影响因素及惰化研究*

为预防和减轻硬脂酸粉加工、储存和运输过程中的燃爆危害,采用Godbert-Greenwald恒温炉分别研究质量浓度、分散压力、惰性粉体质量分数对硬脂酸粉尘云最低着火温度的影响规律。研究结果表明:硬脂酸粉尘云的最低着火温度随质量浓度和分散压力的增加先减小后增大,当质量浓度和分散压力分别为485.4 g/m3,15 kPa时,硬脂酸粉尘云最低着火温度达到最小;添加少量惰性粉体增大了硬脂酸粉尘云分散性,对硬脂酸粉尘云最低着火温度的降低起到促进作用;随惰性粉体质量分数的增加,硬脂酸粉尘云最低着火温度先迅速增大后增速变缓;SiO2通过物理作用抑制硬脂酸粉尘云燃烧,Al(OH)3除物理作用外还通过化学分解参与自由基碰撞,可有效提升硬脂酸粉尘云的最低着火温度。     

湍流对粉尘云电火花点火过程的影响

随着现代工业的发展，粉尘爆炸事故发生的频率也逐年增加，因此，对粉尘云点火敏感程度进行测量和计算就变得十分重要。粉尘云最小点火能是粉尘爆炸重要的特性参数之一，是采取粉尘爆炸防护的基础。最小点火能在测量的过程中受到多个敏感条件的影响，其中湍流则是最复杂的影响因素之一。文中对实验过程中粉尘云的湍流进行了定义，并分析了湍流对粉尘云最小点火能影响的内在原因；同时对通过数值模拟计算粉尘云最小点火能过程中的湍流计算给出了数学模型。从实验和数学模型两个方向对湍流进行了全面描述，对粉尘云电火花点火过程中湍流影响的分析结论，可有效的指导实验。     

超细聚苯乙烯微球粉体的燃爆特性研究

为研究超细聚苯乙烯微球粉体的燃爆特性,通过粉尘层最低着火温度测试装置、MIE-D1.2最小点火能测试装置、20 L球形爆炸测试装置,对其最低着火温度、最大爆炸压力、最小点火能量(MIE)等爆炸特性参数进行测定,探讨了加热温度、点火延滞时间、粉尘质量浓度、粉尘粒径对粉体燃爆特性的影响。结果表明:超细聚苯乙烯微球粉尘层在350℃左右时会发生无焰燃烧,且加热温度越高,粉体粒径越小,粉尘层发生着火时所需的时间越短;当粉体质量浓度为250 g/m3时,最大爆炸压力达到0.65 MPa,质量浓度为500 g/m3时,最大爆炸压力的上升速率达90 MPa/s以上;随点火延滞时间增加,最小点火能表现出先缓慢减小再急剧增大的规律;随粉尘质量浓度增加,最小点火能逐渐降低,当粉尘质量浓度超过500g/m3后逐渐趋于稳定。     

粉尘云最小点火温度测试实验系统设计

通过对Godbert -Greenwald恒温炉分析与改造 ,设计了粉尘云最小点火温度实验装置 ,并建立了相应的测试系统。调试结果表明 ,该实验系统扬尘均匀性、温控精度及结果可重复性能良好     

4种典型易燃烟煤的着火特性分析*

为了研究典型易燃烟煤的着火特性，预防和控制煤尘爆炸，采用粉尘云最低着火温度实验装置和同步热分析仪，分别研究崔木长焰煤、东荣二矿气煤、察哈素不粘煤和丁集焦煤4种烟煤在不同条件下的煤尘云最低着火温度和煤尘热解过程。研究结果表明:当煤尘云浓度从0.90 kg/m3上升到5.99 kg/m3时，4种煤尘的最低着火温度先降后升，在1.50 kg/m3煤尘云浓度时，4种煤尘的最低着火温度均达到最小，分别为450，580，610，620 ℃。随着升温速率的升高，煤的着火温度、峰值温度、燃尽温度和煤样最大放热量整体呈上升趋势，失重率整体呈下降趋势，在5~20 ℃/min的升温速率范围内，崔木长焰煤、东荣二矿气煤、察哈素不粘煤和丁集焦煤热解过程中的最小着火温度分别为354.17，404.37，443.18，484.13 ℃。4种烟煤的最低着火温度和热解过程中的最小着火温度有相对应关系，研究结论可为以上4个煤矿的具体煤样研究和数据分析提供参考依据。     

The effects of phosphorus-free inhibitors on the ignition of lycopodium dust

The minimum ignition temperature of dust suspension (MIT) and the hot surface ignition temperature of the dust layer (LIT) are essential safety parameters for the process industry. However, the knowledge of the ignition behavior when solid mixtures of flammable fuels and phosphorous-free inhibitors are considered is still scarce and further experimental and theoretical analyses are requested. In this work, the ignition temperature of phosphorous-free inhibitors (coal fly ash and calcium carbonate) mixed with lycopodium dust have been studied in terms of LIT analysis (hot plate thickness: 5 mm, 12.5 mm and 15 mm), and by the Godbert-Greenwald test for the MIT. Both coal fly ash and calcium carbonate have been tested at different concentrations and particle sizes.Results show that the effects of the inhibitor can be counter-productive when layer ignition temperature is considered even if the minimum ignition temperature of the dust suspension shows a positive effect from the safety point of view. This behavior has been analyzed in the terms of thermal conductivity and diffusivity of the mixture, by using Maxwell's equation for two-phase solid mixtures. Standard empirical correlations for the ignition temperature of solid mixtures have been also tested, showing their weakness in reproducing mixture behavior.     

Ignitability characteristics of aluminium and magnesium dusts that are generated during the shredding of post-consumer wastes

The authors investigated the ignitability of aluminium and magnesium dusts that are generated during the shredding of post-consumer waste. The relations between particle size and the minimum explosive concentration, the minimum ignition energy, the ignition temperature of the dust clouds, etc. the relation between of oxygen concentration and dust explosion, the effect of inert substances on dust explosion, etc. were studied experimentally.

The minimum explosive concentration increased exponentially with particle size. The minimum explosive concentrations of the sample dusts were about 170 g/m³ (aluminium: 0–8 μm) and 90 g/m³ (magnesium: 0–20 μm). The minimum ignition energy tended to increase with particle size. It was about 6 mJ for the aluminium samples and 4 mJ for the magnesium samples. The ignition temperature of dust clouds was about 750 °C for aluminium and about 520 °C for magnesium. The lowest concentrations of oxygen to produce a dust explosion were about 10% for aluminium and about 8% for magnesium. A large mixing ratio (more than about 50%) of calcium oxide or calcium carbonate was necessary to decrease the explosibility of magnesium dust. The experimental data obtained in the present investigation will be useful for evaluating the explosibility of aluminium and magnesium dusts generated in metal recycling operations and thus for enhancing the safety of recycling plants.     

Numerical study on premixing characteristics and explosion process of starch in a vertical pipe under turbulent flow

Fire and explosion accidents are frequently caused by combustible dust, which has led to increased interest in this area of research. Although scholars have performed some research in this field, they often ignored interesting phenomena in their experiments. In this paper, we established a 2D numerical method to thoroughly investigate the particle motion and distribution before ignition. The optimal time for the corn starch dust cloud to ignite was determined in a semi-closed tube, and the characteristics of the flame propagation and temperature field were investigated after ignition inside and outside the tube. From the simulation, certain unexpected phenomena that occurred in the experiment were explained, and some suggestions were proposed for future experiments. The results from the simulation showed that 60–70 ms was the best time for the dust cloud to ignite. The local high-temperature flame clusters were caused by the agglomeration of high-temperature particles, and there were no flames near the wall of the tube due to particles gathering and attaching to the wall. Vortices formed around the nozzle, where the particle concentration was low and the flame spread slowly. During the explosion venting, particles flew out of the tube before the flame. The venting flame exhibited a “mushroom cloud” shape due to interactions with the vortex, and the flame maintained this shape as it was driven upward by the vortex.     

粉尘云浓度对HDPE粉尘云最低着火温度的影响

为准确评价高密度聚乙烯（HDPE）粉尘爆炸敏感性和开展有效的粉尘防爆工作,采用Godbert-Greenwald恒温炉标准实验装置研究了典型HDPE粉尘云最低着火温度的分布特性,着重探讨了粉尘云浓度对不同喷尘压力条件下HDPE粉尘云最低着火温度的影响规律。研究表明:测试条件下HDPE粉尘云最低着火温度的变化处于360~445 ℃范围,随粉尘云浓度的增加呈现先降低后升高的总体趋势,粉尘云浓度为1.111 kg/m3时出现拐点,且粉尘云最低着火温度随喷尘压力的增加而降低。     

Smoldering combustion of dust layer on hot surface

The critical temperature as well as the critical flux for ignition of a dust layer of cornflour and a mixture of wheatflour and cornflour (80% wheatflour+20% cornflour) on a hot plate have been determined. The moulded sample was cylindrical in shape and of different heights and diameters. The particle size of dusts ranged between 63 μm to 150 μm. The temperature–time histories for self-heating without ignition and with ignition are offered, showing the critical boundaries between them. Also the times to ignition for each dust, showing the effect of sample size on their values, are determined. Certain experimental correlations which relate to times to ignition, as well as the critical temperature for ignition and thermal and geometrical dimensions of sample are presented.     

Minimum ignition energy of LDPE dust/ethylene hybrid mixture

An experimental device for evaluating the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of LDPE dust/ethylene hybrid mixture was built with the innovative mixing mode. The MIE of the hybrid mixture that contained ethylene below its lower explosive limit (LEL) was studied. The result indicated that adding a small amount of ethylene significantly reduced the MIE of the original dust cloud. All the MIEs with five different particle sizes were found to show similar trends of exponential attenuation with the increase of ethylene concentration; such attenuating effect grew as the dust particle size rose. When ethylene concentration increased and approached to its LEL, the reaction mechanism dominated by combustible dust turned into one dominated by combustible gas. The MIE decreased first and then increased with the dust mass and increased with the dust particle size. A multifactor mathematical correlation model of the MIE with the dust particle size and ethylene concentration was developed.