Mechanisms, Severity and Ignitability Factors, Explosibility Testing Method, Explosion Severity Characteristics, and Damage Control for Dust Explosion: A Concise Review

Abstract

The explosion of dust particles poses significant risks to the health and safety of humans working in process industries such as mining, energy, and manufacturing. A dust explosion is the rapid deflagration of particles in a large volume of air or gaseous oxidants. Since industrial dust explosions can occur in any plant equipment or environment, it is crucial to identify, examine and highlight the highly probable sources and risk areas for dust cloud formation and ignition along with damage control measures. Therefore, the paper presents a concise review of the various combustion classifications of dust along with the mechanisms of dust explosion, ignitability factors, and severity characteristics, explosibility testing methods, and damage control measures. Dust is broadly classified according to its explosive value, which indicates that its moisture, particle size, dust concentration, oxidant concentration, and turbulence are crucial to a dust explosion. Furthermore, the dust explosion mechanism reveals that dust particles undergo explosion when confined and or mixed oxidants, ignition sources or heat as described in the “explosive pentagon” concept. To address the risks posed by dust explosions, reduce ignitions and the severity of these hazards, numerous testing methods have been proposed or developed. The most notable characteristics of explosion severity are the maximum explosion overpressure (Pmax), maximum rate of pressure rise (dp/dt) max, dust deflagration index (Kst), and minimum explosibility concentration (MEC). Likewise, the measures for containing, isolating, suppressing, and venting the effects of dust explosion were also highlighted in detail. In conclusion, the review highlighted the role of the particles and dust clouds and the need to identify and highlight the sources of dust explosion that pose risks to human health and safety in the industry.