Aspects of laboratory tests for the determination of the minimum ignition energy of the fuel / dust mixture

Cătălin Mihai Popa,Silviu Marin Nan,Adrian Jurca,Florin Păun,Mihaela Părăian

doi:10.1051/matecconf/202134204004

Abstract

During the technological processes of processing, production, handling and storage of combustible dusts, complex explosive mixtures may occur, the characteristics of which, in most cases, cannot be assimilated with the existing data in the specialized literature. If these combustible dusts are mixed with air in appropriate proportions and are initiated by an efficient source of ignition, they can burn rapidly and with considerable explosive force. One of the most common sources of ignition of potentially explosive atmospheres generated by the dust / air mixture is static electricity, materialized by electrostatic discharges. In order to assess the risk of ignition of an explosive mixture of air / dust, it is necessary to know the sensitivity of the explosive atmosphere to ignition, ie the value of the minimum ignition energy of the explosive mixture, which is then compared with the energy resulting from an electrostatic discharge. The paper presents a comparative analysis regarding the methods of determining the minimum ignition energy for air / fuel dust mixtures, using different devices, on the same type of dust.

Highlights

The continuous evolution of human society in recent decades has led to an increase in the need for various products, the realization of which requires the widespread use of chemical compounds in the form of dusts and combustible powders
In order to assess the risk of ignition of an explosive air / dust mixture, it is necessary to know the minimum ignition energy of that fuel dust
Knowing the value of the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of the combustible dust that in mixture with the air can lead to the appearance of potentially explosive atmospheres, a series of protection / prevention measures can be adopted and implemented depending on the nature of the technological process carried out

Summary

Introduction

The continuous evolution of human society in recent decades has led to an increase in the need for various products, the realization of which requires the widespread use of chemical compounds in the form of dusts and combustible powders. In technological installations through which these combustible dusts and powders are produced, processed, handled and stored, complex explosive mixtures can frequently occur, which, in most cases, cannot be assimilated with the existing data in the literature specialty. If these combustible dusts are ignited, they can burn rapidly, and if mixed with air in appropriate proportions, they can lead to explosions with considerable force [1]. After the purchase of this equipment, several tests were performed to determine the minimum ignition energy of combustible dusts, the results being compared with those obtained from the application of the estimation method, finding that not all samples could be compared, as seen in the case presented in point 3 of this paper

Estimated method for determining the minimum ignition energy

Conclusions