Application of Dust Explosion Protection Systems.

Dust explosions have accounted for numerous deaths, disappearance of companies, and large financial losses, and yet they are one of the least recognized of industrial fire hazards. They can occur within any process where a combustible dust is handled, produced or stored, and can be triggered by any energy source, including static sparks, friction and incandescent material. The management of dust explosion risk includes the implementation of both preventive and protective measures. Whereas preventive measures may reduce explosion risks efficiently, they rarely are sufficient to eliminate explosions completely. Therefore, explosion protection measures often need to be considered as well. This paper presents dust explosion protection methods, including venting, flameless venting, suppression, and isolation, and describes their application limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]