An Introduction to Dust Explosions Understanding the Myths and Realities of Dust Explosions for a Safer Workplace

1. INTRODUCTION: Dust Explosions - Myth or Reality?

2. MYTH NO. 1 (FUEL): Dust does not explode.

3. MYTH NO. 2 (FUEL): Dust explosions only happen in coal mines and grain elevators.

4. MYTH NO. 3 (FUEL): A lot of dust is needed to have an explosion.

5. MYTH NO. 4 (FUEL): Gas explosions are much worse than dust explosions.

6. MYTH NO. 5 (FUEL): It's up to the testing lab to specify which particle size to test.

7. MYTH NO. 6 (FUEL/IGNITION SOURCE): Any amount of suppressant is better than none.

8. MYTH NO. 7 (IGNITION SOURCE): Dusts only ignite with a high-energy ignition source.

9. MYTH NO. 8 (IGNITION SOURCE): Only dust clouds - not dust layers - will ignite.

10. MYTH NO. 9 (OXIDANT): Oxygen removal must be complete to be effective.

11. MYTH NO. 10 (OXIDANT): Taking away the oxygen makes things safe.

12. MYTH NO. 11 (MIXING): There's no problem if dust is not visible in the air.

13. MYTH NO. 12 (MIXING): Once airborne, a dust will quickly settle out of suspension.

14. MYTH NO. 13 (MIXING): Mixing is mixing; there are no degrees.

15. MYTH NO. 14 (CONFINEMENT): Venting is the only/best solution to the dust explosion problem.

16. MYTH NO. 15 (CONFINEMENT): Total confinement is required to have an explosion.

17. MYTH NO. 16 (CONFINEMENT): Confinement means four walls, a roof and a floor.

18. MYTH NO. 17 (PENTAGON): The vocabulary of dust explosions is difficult to understand

19. MYTH NO. 18 (PENTAGON): Dust explosion parameters are fundamental material properties.

20. MYTH NO. 19 (PENTAGON): It makes sense to combine explosion parameters in a single index.

21. MYTH NO. 20 (PENTAGON): It won't happen to me.

22. CONCLUSION: Dust Explosion Realities

INDEX