Active protection of work area against explosion of dust\u2013gas mixture

Abstract

Potentially explosive atmosphere can occur not only in the production systems of the food, energy, chemical and petrochemical industries but also in the production processes of the mining industry. Gases, vapours, mists and dusts arise can escape in an uncontrolled way during production, processing, transportation and storage of flammable substances. In combination with oxygen, they create explosive atmospheres that, if ignited, lead to an explosion causing catastrophic damage to people's lives and property. To protect against the results of hazardous dust–gas mixtures explosions in a confined work space, where employees can stay, various control and protection mechanisms are used in the form of an active explosion-proof system. The article presents the results of tests on an active system for limiting the effects of ignition of gas and/or dust based on a highly efficient explosion suppression system—equipped with an ignition detection system, high-pressure fire extinguisher and a power supply and trigger system. Smokeless powder was used as the explosive charge and sodium bicarbonate as the suppressive material. Tests of the effectiveness of the active explosion suppression system were carried out on two devices: a small-size dry dust collector and a zone extinguishing system adapted for direct explosion suppression in closed working spaces. In both cases, the explosion suppression process took place through the action of extinguishing powder blown out of the fire extinguisher after membrane perforation by compressed combustion products.