Chapter 12 - Myth No. 11 (Mixing): There’s No Problem If Dust Is Not Visible in the Air

Abstract

Chapter 12 deals with the myth that there’s no problem if dust is not visible in the air. The reality is that absence of airborne dust in work areas does not indicate the absence of a dust explosion hazard. Because explosible dust clouds are optically thick, dust explosions occur as primary events inside process units (i.e., where people are not normally present). Secondary explosions caused by initially layered dust in work areas can, however, cause significant loss.