An optimal level of dust explosion risk management: Framework and application

The current research provides guidance on the prevention and mitigation of dust explosion using a Quantitative Risk Management Framework (QRMF). Using concepts drawn from previous studies, the framework consists of three main steps: (i) a new combined safety management protocol, (ii) the use of DESC (Dust Explosion Simulation Code) and FTA (Fault Tree Analysis) to assess explosion consequences and likelihood, respectively, and (iii) application of the hierarchy of controls (inherent, engineered and procedural safety). QRMF assessment of an industrial case study showed that the original process was at high risk. DESC simulations and Probit equations determined the destructive percentages. FTAs revealed high probabilities of explosion occurrence; in addition, detailed individual and societal risks calculations were made, before and after the framework was applied. Based on the hierarchy of controls technique, the framework showed significant risk reduction to the point where the residual risk was acceptable for the process.     

New approach to calculate the probability of ignition

The probabilistic approach to the evaluation of fire hazard and the effectiveness of fire-precaution measures enables a rational response to the randomness of fire outbreaks. This article employs the statistical analysis methods to elucidate the causes for the ignition of fire on a random sample of industrial buildings in the Republic of Slovenia. The analyses are based on the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), which is a well established and important statistical analysis technique in the fields of social science, biology, psychology and medicine, but hitherto rarely applied in safety research. The results of the study demonstrate that for the analyzed random sample of industrial buildings the frequency of fire outbreaks statistically significantly depends only on the presence and the probability of exposure to the heat sources (flames, sparks, and hot surfaces), but does not significantly depend on the available quantity of flammable materials within the industrial structure.     

Combustion characteristics of asphalt and sodium compounds

Risk evaluation of mixtures of asphalt and inorganic salts such as sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, sodium carbonate and sodium dihydrogenphosphate was conducted. The ignition and the combustion characteristics of mixtures of asphalt and oxidizing salts were obtained. Quasi-heat-accumulation experiments of asphalt–salt mixtures were conducted using about 1 kg samples. Six types of asphalt–salt mixtures were made and their ignition characteristics were examined in the quasi-heat-accumulation experiments. Then to clarify burning behavior of the asphalt–salt mixtures, experiments for understanding their combustion characteristics were conducted using a cone calorimeter.

The main results are as follows.

(1) In the quasi-heat-accumulation experiment, a region with high concentration of the salt mixture particles was made at the bottom of the sample vessel through the process of their sedimentation. An exothermic reaction started in this region. Just before the asphalt–salt mixture was ignited, a huge amount of white smoke was released. A kind of jet flame of a few meters in height was created.

(2) Based on the data of ignition temperature from the cone calorimeter experiments, ignition of asphalt was caused by a chemical reaction of asphalt with an oxidizing salt. The combustion of the asphalt–salt mixture contained the self-heating reaction.     

含水率及燃烧性能等级对中密度纤维板点燃行为及安全性能影响的研究

采用锥形量热仪,在不同辐射热流强度下,对三种燃烧性能等级(B级、C级和非阻燃)的中密度纤维板在不同相对湿度(0%、50%和98%)形成的含水率条件下进行了辐射引燃实验,测得点燃时间和热释放速率等参数。利用点燃理论中热厚型积分模型,推导了不同含水率不同燃烧性能等级(防火等级)纤维板的临界辐射热通量。通过对比发现,点燃时间随着板材含水率的增加而明显增大,而临界辐射热通量则几乎不受环境相对湿度(即含水率)的影响。添加阻燃剂可延长点燃时间,使板材临界辐射热通量增加,并能有效地降低纤维板材燃烧时的热释放速率。阻燃纤维板的临界辐射热通量要明显高于非阻燃纤维板,但是阻燃纤维板材之间相比,临界辐射热通量差别不大。因而,从本质安全的角度对材料的安全性进行评价,不能将临界辐射热通量作为单一的标准,必须综合多个参数进行全面评价。     

基于桶式环形加热的阻燃电缆细观竖直燃烧特性研究实验平台的设计

针对阻燃电缆等难燃材料,为研究其在外界热源条件下的火灾性能与蔓延燃烧特性,研制了基于环形加热的阻燃电缆细观燃烧特性诊断实验平台。该平台主要包括三个部分,即:半封闭环形桶式加热与燃烧腔室、样品竖直固定模块和数据采集系统。实验参数的标定及典型阻燃电缆受热与燃烧实验结果表明,常规条件下无法点燃的阻燃电缆,当置于实验平台的加热炉内被加热一段时间后,底部小火源可将其点燃并呈现猛烈的燃烧与蔓延过程。该加热模块能够详细、准确地研究各种阻燃电缆在环形加热条件下的膨胀、引燃及蔓延燃烧的细观特性,而不同的加热模式有助于深入研究阻燃材料在各种热环境下的火灾特性,为阻燃材料的引燃机理及火蔓延模型研究提供了必要的研究平台。     

棉布厚度对辐射式电暖器引燃能力影响研究

实验研究了棉布厚度对辐射式电暖器的引燃能力影响情况。实验用电暖器上加热管向外辐射热通量占电器功率之间的比例(辐射率η值)为65%。辐射式电暖器可以使棉布发生阴燃燃烧,当单面工作功率为400 W的电暖器紧贴棉布且全过程全覆盖的前提下棉布阴燃的临界厚度在0.18 mm～0.48 mm之间,当棉布厚度超过0.48 mm时将发生阴燃,但薄棉布通常难以直接发生有焰燃烧。对于用棉布开始阴燃时间表征的电暖器引燃能力,随着棉布厚度的增大,电暖器对棉布的引燃能力将减弱。     

Measurement of minimum ignition energies (MIEs) of dust clouds – History,present, future

Nearly 130 years ago Holtzwart and von Meyer (1891) demonstrated by experiments that explosible dust clouds could be ignited by inductive electric sparks. Then more than half a century passed before the publication of the important quantitative research of Boyle and Llewellyn (1950) and Line et al. (1959). They worked with capacitive electric sparks and found that the minimum capacitor energies ½CU² required for ignition of various dust clouds in air decreased substantially when a large series resistance, in the range 10⁴–10⁷ Ω, was introduced in the discharge circuit. When considering that the net energies of the sparks themselves were only of the order of 10% of the ½CU² discharged, the minimum net spark energies required for ignition with a large series resistance were only a few per cent of the net energies required without such a resistance.Line et al. observed that the essential effect of increasing the series resistance, and hence increasing the discharge time of the sparks, was to reduce the disturbance of the dust cloud by the blast wave from the spark. This phenomenon was explored further by Eckhoff (1970, 2017), and subsequently by some simple experiments by Eckhoff and Enstad (1976). Franke (1974, 1977) and Laar (1980) confirmed the additional finding of Line et al. (1959) that the minimum ½CU² for ignition is also substantially reduced by including a series inductance in the discharge circuit, rather than a series resistance. The basic reason is the same as with a large series resistance, viz. increased spark discharge time and hence decreased disturbance of the dust cloud by blast wave from the spark. For this reason inclusion of an appreciable series inductance in the spark discharge circuit is an essential element in current standard MIE test methods.In experiments with spark ignition of transient dust clouds produced by a blast of air in a closed vessel, it is necessary to synchronize the occurrence of the spark with the formation of the dust cloud. The precision required from this type of synchronization is typically of the order of 10 ms, which can be obtained even by mechanical arrangements, such as rapid change of spark gap length, or of the distance between two capacitor plates. The present paper reviews some methods that have been/are being used for achieving adequate synchronization of dust cloud appearance and spark discharge. Some current standard experimental methods for determining MIEs of dust clouds experimentally have also been reviewed. The same applies to some theories of electric-spark ignition of dust clouds.At the end of paper some suggestions for possible future modifications of current standard methods for measuring MIEs of explosible dust clouds are presented. With regard to justifying significant modifications of existing standard methods, the “bottom line” is, as quite often in many connections, that any modifications should be based on realistic cost/benefit evaluations.     

Minimum Ignition Temperature of layer and cloud dust mixtures

The prevention of dust explosions is still a challenge for the process industry. Ignition, in particular, is a phenomenon that is still not completely understood. As a consequence, safety conditions pertaining to ignition suppression are rarely identified to an adequate level. It is well known that, in general, the ignition attitude of a dust depends on several factors, such as the nature of the chemical, the particle size, moisture content, etc., but there is still a lack of knowledge on the effect of the single variables.This paper has the aim of providing data on the Minimum Ignition Temperatures of dust mixtures obtained from a mixing of a combustible dust (flour, lactose, sucrose, sulphur) and an inert dust (limestone, extinguishing powders) as well as from the mixing of two different combustible dusts. Various mixtures with different weight ratios have been tested in a Godbert Greenwald (GG) furnace and on a hot plate in order to measure the effect of mixture composition on the Minimum Ignition Temperature (MIT_L) of the layer and on the Minimum Ignition Temperature (MIT_C) of the cloud. In order to further verify the effects of inert dust particle size, inerts sieved to different size ranges have been tested separately. Generally, both MIT_L and MIT_C increase as the inert content is increased. MIT_C is poorly affected by inert particle size when limestone is used. The MIT_L of pure flour is higher than the MIT_L of mixtures containing up to 40% of 32–75 μm of limestone. This was probably due to the behaviour of pure flour during the test, which demonstrated strong tendency to produce char, cracks in the layer and detachment from the hot plate.     

Ignition hazard evaluation on A2L refrigerants in situations of service and maintenance

To restrict the progress of the global warming, A2L refrigerants such as 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (R1234yf), (Z/E)-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoroprop-1-ene (R1234ze), and difluoromethane (R32) have been expected of alternatives to the standard refrigerants currently in use. The ignition hazard of A2L refrigerants under plausible accident situations in service and maintenance was examined experimentally for two cases: leakage of an A2L refrigerant from a pinhole in a pipe or hose (Scenario 1), and leakage of an A2L refrigerant into an item of equipment used for service and maintenance, such as a collection device (Scenario 2). In Scenario 1, the location of the flammable zone and the possibility of a jet flame being formed instantaneously on contact with an ignition source were examined. Even when R1234yf leaked from a 4 mmϕ pinhole (corresponding to breakage of a pipe), the flammable zone extended only about 10 cm from the pinhole in the downstream region. In an ignition test with a continuous spark as the ignition source, a pale emission appeared only near the spark, and the flame did not propagate to the rest of the refrigerant jet. In Scenario 2, the accumulation and ignition behaviors of A2L refrigerants in a model collection device were examined experimentally. Ignition and flame propagation occurred in a test on a model collection device lacking slits, whereas when slits wider than 20 mm were present, ignition and flame propagation did not occur. Even if R1234yf leaked into the model collection device, provided that slits of an effective width were present, the R1234yf could diffuse through slits and barely accumulated, and no ignition or flame propagation occurred.     

不同物质组合摩擦火花引燃特性的研究

在本研究中,对碳钢、铍青铜和铜镍锰合金等三种金属与砂轮和45号钢轮摩擦时产生火花的能力和引燃能力作了对比实验。用于实验的可燃混合气为液化石油气/空气和氢/空气。实验表明,碳钢和砂轮摩擦产生的火花最强烈,但仍很难引燃液化石油气/空气混合气;铍青铜与砂轮摩擦时几乎看不到火花,铜镍锰合金在同样条件下产生火花的几率销大。在摩擦时间较长的条件下,两者均能引燃极易爆炸的氢/空气混合气,但爆炸却并不是在火花出现时立即发生的。可以推断:在上述条件下,摩擦造成的炽热表面是引燃的主要原因,而材料的引燃能力的强弱,不能只以是否产生火花为判断基准。