Skip to main content
RISE logo

Combustible dust

Dust explosions may have a devastating effect with lethal outcomes or cause damage to personnel and property. Often these accidents occur at sites with no former dust explosions which may lead to a false sense of security.

Combustible gases and fluids have known explosion properties which are stated in their material safety data sheets, but for dust and powder it is not as simple and many are unaware that most organic materials, e.g. wood, sugar, paint pigment and plastics but also some inorganic materials, such as various metal dusts, are able to create an explosive atmosphere.

To define and characterize the explosive properties of a material RISE has studied self-heating within the work in the competence platform Fuel Storage Safety. The possibility to combine laboratory testing with research and modelling competence makes dust explosions an area of growth.

Necessary conditions for a fire to occur.

For a dust explosion to occur several conditions need to be fulfilled:

Compared to the traditional fire triangle two additional dimensions are added to demonstrate the requirements for a dust explosion. To form an explosive atmosphere the dust needs to consist of a large enough fraction of fine particles which are mixed in the air and for a pressure rise to occur the explosion needs to be in a confined space.

Necessary conditions for a dust explosion to occur.

Source of ignition:
The dust needs energy to ignite. The energy can origin from a small source of static electricity or larger source, such as a naked flame, electrical malfunction, or by self-heating if the dust is resting on a hot surface.

Fuel:
The particle size distribution is important, smaller particles are more easily ignited and will be better dispersed in air. The concentration is also important and needs to be within a given range in order to create an explosive dispersion.

Oxidant:
To support and maintain the combustion an oxidant is required. Usually oxygen in air is enough to create an explosive atmosphere.

Mixture:
The dust needs to be airborne. Inside various process equipment the particles are frequently dispersed into the air. Furthermore, also dust which is not usually airborne can be lifted due to a primary explosion or other circumstances.

Containment:
If the explosion occurs in a confined area the pressure rise may develop in a very fast manner, which can cause severe damage to personnel and property.

Sample characterization and testing:

The particle size distribution and the moisture content are of eminent importance for the dusts’ explosive character. Generally smaller particles of dust generate a stronger reaction, since finer particles have a larger specific area (i.e. area per mass) and combustion is more easily spread between smaller particles.

Specific surface area is easily visualized by dividing a cube with the faces
1 x 1 x 1 cm.

Specific surface area (area per mass) increases with decreasing particle size.

In the first figure, the oxygen reaches 6 sides which corresponds a surface area of 6 cm2, in the second case the same figure has 48 faces and a surface area of 12 cm2 while the third figure consists of 384 faces and a surface area of 24 cm2.

Similarly, the shape also affects the rate of combustion. An irregular or flakey particle has a larger surface area than a spherical, for example. The two sides that first meet during combustion determine the thinnest part of the particle.

Specific surface area (area per mass) depends on the shape of the particle. The particle shaped as a flake, to the left, has a larger surface area than the spherical one.

The moisture content of the dust is also an important parameter and a dry dust is more reactive than a moist one. Multiple studies confirm a clear relationship between the dusts’ reactivity and its particle size and moisture content. Currently there is much available data on different materials explosive characteristics, but finding a comparable match could be difficult since the results are so widely dependent on moisture content and particle size - and this particular data is often left out.

According to the EU regulations testing is performed on particles with a diameter <500 μm. Moisture content shall be declared but no recommended range is specified. The American standards are more conservative and recommends a maximum moisture content of 5 % and a maximum particle size of <75 μm. Testing may be performed on as received samples to match dust which is normally found in the process, however there is a risk of accumulated fine dust even at industries generally handling coarser materials.

Testing:

RISE has six pieces of equipment which can be used to determine nine different explosive parameters. This includes a 20 L sphere where the most common test indicates the maximum pressure achieved from an explosion in a contained space and how fast it develops (pmax, dp/dtmax and Kst). Two apparatus defines at which temperature a dust layer and a dust cloud will ignite (minimum ignition temperature) along with two Hartmann tubes, one to perform screening tests and one for defining the minimum ignition energy required to ignite a dust cloud.

Application

Similar to flammable gases, dust has an explosive range with an upper and lower limit. The crucial difference is that these limits are difficult to use in practice due to the mobility of the dust. Dust concentrations can change rapidly due to deposition and entrainment caused by swirling. As a rule of thumb, when a 25 W light bulb at a distance of 2 meters is obscured by a dust cloud, the lower explosive limit has been surpassed. Another general rule is that it is time to clean when footprints are visible on the floor; a 1 mm dust layer is sufficient to create a hazard if the dust swirls up and forms an explosive mixture.

The parameters achieved through testing can be used to dimension vent sizing, to specify maximum surface temperature that may be achieved on equipment to be installed and much more. Information which is vital for many industries to comply with the user directive 1999/92/EC, linked to ATEX.

Simulation and modelling

RISE is focusing on improving process safety by performing research projects using advanced numerical tools. One example is a collaboration between RISE and Chalmers University of Technology where an open source numerical tool, based on OpenFOAM toolbox, is developed which can be used to simulate dust explosions. Data from one of the equipment, the 20 L sphere, can be used for validating the numerical model. This project will give an open source numerical tool with detailed documentation for predicting dust explosion hazards and giving recommendations for plant designs regarding dust explosion risks.

More information

RISE offers testing of nine different explosive parameters which can be used to determine the explosive characteristics of dust, RISE also provides sample preparation and chemical analysis of both organic and inorganic materials. More information can be found under the service ”Combustible dust analysis”.

Cecilia Lövström

Contact person

Cecilia Lövström

TIC-ingenjör

+46 10 516 58 88

Read more about Cecilia

Contact Cecilia
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

* Mandatory By submitting the form, RISE will process your personal data.

Angela Sabbagh

Contact person

Angela Sabbagh

TIC-ingenjör

+46 10 722 33 42

Read more about Angela

Contact Angela
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

* Mandatory By submitting the form, RISE will process your personal data.

Contact

Cannot find what you are looking for or are you curious about how we can help?

Send message
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

* Mandatory By submitting the form, RISE will process your personal data.