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.     

A numerical model for the prediction of the minimum ignition temperature of dust clouds

This paper presents a numerical model for the prediction of the minimum ignition temperature (MIT) of dust clouds. First, a physical model is developed for the dust cloud ignition in the Godbert-Greenwald furnace. A numerical approach is then applied for the MIT prediction based on the physical model. The model considers heat transfer between the air and dust particles, the dust particle reaction kinetics, and the residence times of dust clouds in the furnace. In general, for the 13 dusts studied, the calculated MIT data are in agreement with the experimental values. There is also great accordance between the experimental and numerical MIT variation trends against particle size. Two different ignition modes are discovered. The first one consists in ignition near the furnace wall for bigger particles characterized by rather short residence times. In the second mode, the ignition starts from the center of the furnace by self-heating of the dust cloud for smaller particles with longer residence times. For magnesium, as dust concentration increases, the lowest ignition temperature of the dust cloud IT(conc) decreases first, then transits to increase at a certain point. The transition happens at different dust concentrations for different particle sizes. Moreover, the MIT of the magnesium dust cloud generally increases as particle size increases, but the increasing trend stagnates within a certain medium particle size range.     

Effect of particle size and dust layer size on ignition characteristics of PMMA dust layer on hot surface

Deposition of combustible dust on a hot surface is a hidden danger of fire. In this work, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) dust was selected to analyse the influence of dust layer diameter, dust particle size and dust layer thickness on the ignition characteristics of PMMA dust layer. Critical heating temperatures and ignition time had been measured. The STA-GC/MS-FTIR analysis was used to determine that the main products of PMMA pyrolysis were MMA, CO, CO₂, and C₂H₄, of which CO and C₂H₄ were transported to the ambient to cause gas phase combustion on the surface of the dust layer. For 10 mm thick dust layer, the critical heating temperatures of 5 μm PMMA, 100 nm PMMA, and 30 μm PMMA were 300 °C, 330 °C, and 320 °C. As the thickness of the dust layer increased, the gas transport path became longer, the critical heating temperature and ignition time increased. The characteristic particle size (D [3,2]) was utilized to represent the true particle size, and the ignition time increased with the increase of the characteristic particle size. The increase in the diameter of the dust layer had a slight effect on the temperature history and ignition time of the dust layer.     

速生杨木粉尘最小点火能的实验研究

为防止木材加工中木质粉尘燃爆事故的发生,以纤维板生产中常见的原材料速生杨木粉尘作为研究对象,在分析粉尘粒径分布、元素分析、工业分析及形貌特征的基础上,采用1.2 L哈特曼管对3种不同粒径（0~50,＞50~96,＞96~180 μm）速生杨木粉尘进行最小点火能实验,探究点火延迟时间、喷粉压力、质量浓度和粒径分布对速生杨木粉尘最小点火能的影响及变化规律。研究结果表明:在质量浓度为500 g/m3时,分别增加点火延迟时间和喷粉压力,最小点火能都先减小后增大;最佳点火延迟时间和最佳喷粉压力分别为120 ms和120 kPa;粒径对最佳点火延迟时间和最佳喷粉压力无显著影响。在点火延迟和喷粉压力分别为120 ms和120 kPa条件下,最小点火能随质量浓度的增加先减小后增大。粉尘粒径与最小点火能呈正相关性,3种样品的最小点火能分别为1~3,1~3和7~13 mJ,对应的敏感质量浓度分别为500 ,750和1 250 g/m3,属于特别着火敏感性粉尘。     

戊唑醇粉尘最小点火能试验研究

采用1.2 L哈特曼管爆炸装置分别对粒径小于54μm、74μm、150μm及大于150μm的戊唑醇粉尘进行测试。针对戊唑醇粉尘浓度及粒径范围对其最小点火能的影响,分别进行单因素试验,并对其危险性进行分级。结果表明,保持粒径小于150μm,环境温度为20℃,喷粉压力为0.7 MPa,在质量浓度100~1 300 g/m~3之间,戊唑醇粉尘的最佳敏感质量浓度ρ_m为983.71 g/m~3,此时的最小点火能为404.74 mJ。保持戊唑醇粉尘质量浓度为900 g/m~3,环境温度为20℃,喷粉压力为0.7 MPa不变,粒径小于54μm、74μm、150μm及大于150μm的戊唑醇粉尘的最小点火能分别为10 mJ、100 mJ、400 mJ和1 000 mJ以上。因此,判定戊唑醇粉尘最小点火能属于M2级,为特别着火敏感性。     

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。     

Effect of superfine KHCO3 and ABC powder on ignition sensitivity of PMMA dust layer

In order to evaluate the flame-retardant capacity of KHCO₃ and ABC on the ignition of PMMA dust layer accumulation on hot surfaces, the ignition time and critical heating temperature of PMMA/KHCO₃ and PMMA/ABC dust layer were experimentally investigated. The thermal stability of the mixed dust, the condensed phase products and gas phase products of the mixed dust combustion were analyzed to reveal the flame-retardant mechanism. The ignition time of 30 μm PMMA was obviously longer than that of 5 μm PMMA, and the critical heating temperature was close to that of 5 μm PMMA. KHCO₃ and ABC could greatly extend the ignition time of the PMMA dust layer and increase the critical heating temperature of the dust layer. ABC was more effective than KHCO₃. The decomposition of KHCO₃ and ABC absorbed the heat and inhibits the pyrolysis of PMMA. The HPO₃ and P₂O₅ generated by the decomposition of ABC would cover the surface of PMMA aggregates or particles and act as a physical barrier. The main light combustible gas produced by PMMA pyrolysis were CO and C₂H₄. The CO₂ generated during the decomposition of KHCO₃ could dilute the combustible gas in the ambient to inhibit the combustion of PMMA.     

混合金属粉尘爆炸最小点火能量影响因素研究*

为探究混合金属粉尘爆炸危险性及与单一粉体爆炸特性差异,确保车间安全生产,采用粉尘云点火能量测试系统对车间混合金属粉尘及铝粉最小点火能量在不同影响因素下的变化规律及2种粉尘火焰变化特征进行测试。研究结果表明:混合金属粉尘和铝粉最小点火能量在一定范围内（38~96 μm）与粒径呈正相关性,当混合金属粉尘粒径大于75 μm时,所需最小点火能量大于1 000 mJ,其爆炸敏感性迅速降低,此时铝粉仍有较强爆炸敏感性;2种粉尘最小点火能量随质量浓度增加呈先降低后升高的趋势,最小点火能分别为295,15 mJ,对应的敏感质量浓度为600,1 000 g/m3,混合金属粉尘在质量浓度为500~700 g/m3时具有较大爆炸危险性;同铝粉相比,混合金属粉尘点火能量更高、火焰燃烧时间更短、火焰高度更低、爆炸剧烈程度更弱。     

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。     

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.     

Explosibility of hydrogen–graphite dust hybrid mixtures

To evaluate the hazard of combined hydrogen/dust explosions under severe accident conditions in International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), standard method of 20-L-sphere was used to measure the explosion indices of 4-μm fine graphite dust in lean hydrogen/air mixtures. The mixtures were ignited by a weak electric spark. The tested fuel concentrations were 8–18 vol% H₂ and 25–250 g/m³ dust. If the hydrogen content is higher than 10 vol%, the dust constituent can be induced to explode by the hydrogen explosion initiated by a weak electric spark. Depending on the fuel component concentrations, the explosions proceed in either one or two stages. In two-stage explosions occurring at low hydrogen and dust concentrations, the mixture ignition initiates first a fast hydrogen explosion followed by a slower phase of the dust explosion. With increasing dust concentration, the dust explodes faster and can overlap the hydrogen-explosion stage. At higher hydrogen concentrations, the hybrid mixtures explode in one stage, with hydrogen and dust reacting at the same time scale. Maximum overpressures of hybrid explosions are higher than those observed with hydrogen alone; maximum rates of pressure rise are lower in two-phase explosions and, generally, higher in one-stage explosions, than those characteristic of the corresponding H₂/air mixtures.     

玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸危险性研究

为研究玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸危险性,采用哈特曼管式爆炸测试装置和20 L球爆炸测试装置对200目(<75μm)以下的玉米淀粉粉尘爆炸危险性进行评估,基于静电火花和粉尘质量浓度对粉尘爆炸的影响,对玉米淀粉的静电火花最小点火能量、爆炸下限质量浓度、最大爆炸压力和爆炸指数进行了研究,根据试验结果对玉米淀粉爆炸危险性进行分级。试验结果表明:温度在25℃,喷粉压力为0.80 MPa,粉尘质量浓度在250～750 g/m3范围内,粉尘的最小点火能量随着粉尘质量浓度增加而降低,其最小点火能量在40～80 mJ之间;在点火能量为10 kJ时,粉尘爆炸下限质量浓度在50～60 g/m3之间;在粉尘质量浓度为750 g/m3时,爆炸压力达到最大,为0.66 MPa;在粉尘质量浓度为500 g/m3时,爆炸指数达到最大,为17.21 MPa.m/s,其粉尘爆炸危险性分级为Ⅰ级。     

苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘爆炸特性研究

采用MIE-D1.2型最小点火能测试装置及20 L球型粉尘爆炸测试装置,对苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘的爆炸特性进行研究。结果表明,过74μm、58μm、47μm孔径筛的粉尘对静电火花敏感,其最小点火能表征值分别为610 mJ、361 mJ、201 mJ。随粉尘质量浓度增加,最小点火能呈现先减小后增加的规律。随粉尘粒径减小,最小点火能与粉尘质量浓度变化关系曲线向低粉尘质量浓度和低点火能量方向偏移,且对应的最敏感爆炸质量浓度从500 g/m~3降至200 g/m~3。随粉尘质量浓度增加,过147μm、74μm、47μm孔径筛的苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘爆炸压力及爆炸压力上升速率呈现先增加后减小趋势。在相同粉尘质量浓度下,中位径小于74μm的苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘,粉尘的爆炸压力增幅明显减小。苯乙烯丙烯酸共聚物/碳黑混合体系粉尘爆炸下限质量浓度为25 g/m~3,最大爆炸指数为14.636 MPa·m/s,爆炸危险等级划分为St1。     

Development of a method for predicting the ignition of explosive atmospheres by mechanical friction and impacts (MECHEX)

Mechanical friction and impacts is still today a main cause of ignition of explosive atmospheres (ATEX) in the industry and this trend seems to be stable in time. This situation certainly results from a significant gap of knowledge in the underlying mechanisms so that the parameters to play on are not precisely identified. In this programme of European dimensions, the process of degradation of the mechanical energy into heat during friction and impacts have been studied.

An extensive experimental programme is presented to this end. The mechanisms of dissipation of the mechanical energy into heat during friction has been studied with rubbing machines in which a slider equipped with temperature sensors rubs against a rotating wheel. For impacts, a new device has been developed using a special “air driven cannon” to propel a projectile accurately up to 50 m/s onto an inclined target. A very significant effort has been reserved to the investigation of the ignition mechanisms, not only for ATEX but also for dust accumulations.

Some “simple” modelling is proposed on purpose of practical applications. For frictional situations, a critical rubbing power is calculated without any limitations about any lower boundary concerning the rubbing velocity. For “impacts”, the relevant parameter for ignition is not the kinetic energy of the projectile but its velocity and the nature of the materials.     

The effect of admixed material on the minimum explosible concentration of oil shale

The minimum explosible concentration (MEC) in the air atmosphere at the boundary between an explosion and no explosion in a dust cloud, has been investigated for several particle sizes of oil shale and for mixtures of oil shale and inert powder of different particle size. Limestone, stone dust and coarse particle size of oil shale were used as inert materials. Measurements were made in a standard small vertical tube apparatus. The results obtained indicated that the minimum explosible concentration is dependent on the particle size, i.e., values of MEC decrease with a decrease in the size of the particles. Below 70 μm, values of MEC become almost constant. Admixture of limestone as low as 5% to oil shale is sufficient to reduce the MEC values significantly.     

Nex-Hys: minimum ignition temperature of hybrid mixtures

Although the minimum ignition temperature is an important safety characteristic and of practical relevance in industrial processes, actually only standard operation procedures are available for pure substances and single-phase values. Nevertheless, combinations of substances or mixtures are used in industrial processes and up to now it is not possible to provide a standardised minimum ignition temperature and in consequence to design a process safely with regard to the substances used.In order to get minimum ignition temperatures for frequently used hybrid mixtures, first, the minimum ignition temperatures and ignition frequencies were determined in the modified Godbert-Greenwald furnace for two single phase solids and a liquid substance. Second, minimum ignition temperatures and ignition frequencies were determined for several combinations as hybrid mixture of dust and liquid.In parallel to the determination of ignition temperatures a new camera and computer system to differentiate ignition from non-ignition is developed. First results are promising that such a system could be much less operator depended.By a high number of repetitions to classify regions of ignition the base is laid to decide about a new procedure for a hybrid standard and updating existing ones, too. This is one of the necessary aims to be reached in the Nex-Hys project.A noticeable decrease of minimum ignition temperatures below the MIT of the pure solids was observed for the one hybrid mixture tested, yet. Furthermore more widely dispersed area of ignition is shown. In accordance to previously findings, the results demonstrate a strong relationship between likelihood of explosion and amount of added solvent. In consequence the hybrid mixture is characterized by a lower minimum ignition temperature than the single dust.     

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。     

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。     

A few fundamental aspects about ignition and flame propagation in dust clouds

The history of the development of the process industry has been punctuated by a number of hazardous explosions, sometimes very severe. A few of them are still in the memory and certainly contributed to the birth of safety engineering. It has been known for more than one century than combustible dusts suspended in air are responsible for a part of those explosions but contrariwise to gas explosions, the available knowledge and practise seems still contain a significant part of empirism. The work summarised into this paper is an attempt to contribute to a better understanding of the explosion mechanisms of dust clouds. Hopefully, such additional information may help to refine the safety analysis exercise in the future. A specific effort has been devoted to combustion processes in the flame and the results indicate similarities with premixed gaseous flames. Several fundamental questions are addressed such as the incidence of thermal radiation, turbulence,… This information is important to treat ignition aspects. For spark type of ignition, it is shown that an absolute minimum ignition energy should exist for some dust clouds with a similar meaning than for premixed gaseous flames. For hot surface ignition, the standard ignition temperature (Godbert–Greenwald) seems to be reasonably correlated to the size and critical ignition temperature of the heating body. The possible implications of this new information within the scope of industrial safety are addressed in conclusion.