Incendivity of electrostatic discharges in dust clouds: the minimum ignition energy problem

In industrial sectors that use, process, transport or store, substances such as combustible dusts could exist some workplaces with explosion hazard due to the possibility of dust/air explosive formation and ignition, both inside the installations and in the surrounding atmosphere. Methods and means of protection aim to prevent the development of explosive atmospheres, followed by preventing the occurrence of ignition sources and then limiting the effects of explosions. To assess the risk of ignition of the explosive atmosphere, there must be known first of all, the explosive atmosphere’s sensitivity to ignition by electrostatic discharge, respectively, the minimum ignition energy of the explosive mixture, afterwards being required an analysis on the possibilities of formation and discharge of electrostatic charge. For the most common combustible dusts, the minimum ignition energy is given, but for new types of flammable substances this parameter defining the sensitivity to ignition of the mixture by electrostatic discharges must be determined. The paper presents the results of research carried out in order to develop the methods and standards for determining the minimum ignition energy of the combustible dust / air mixture and of the methods for the assessment of the risk of ignition of the dust/air explosive atmosphere by electrostatic discharge.

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

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/202134204004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 342 ◽

pp. 04004

Author(s):

Cătălin Mihai Popa ◽

Silviu Marin Nan ◽

Mihaela Părăian ◽

Adrian Jurca ◽

Florin Păun

Keyword(s):

Laboratory Tests ◽

Electrostatic Discharge ◽

Explosive Mixture ◽

Ignition Energy ◽

Minimum Ignition Energy ◽

Electrostatic Discharges ◽

Explosive Force ◽

And Storage ◽

Existing Data

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.

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