
An Introduction to Dust Explosions
Understanding the Myths and Realities of Dust Explosions for a Safer Workplace
Description
Key Features
- Designed to prevent accidents, injury, loss of life and capital damage
- An easy-to-read, scientifically rigorous treatment of the facts and fictions of dust explosions for those who need to – or ought to – understand dust explosions, their occurrence and consequences
- Enables the management and mitigation of these critical industrial hazards
Readership
Table of Contents
Dedication
Preface
Author
Chapter 1. Introduction: Dust Explosions—Myth or Reality?
1.1 Explosion Pentagon
1.2 Dust Explosion Myths
1.3 Why this Book?
1.4 What do You Think?
References
Chapter 2. Myth No. 1 (Fuel): Dust Does Not Explode
2.1 Dust Definition
2.2 Determination of Dust Explosibility
2.3 An Explosible Non-Explosible Dust
2.4 Reality
2.5 What do You Think?
References
Chapter 3. Myth No. 2 (Fuel): Dust Explosions Happen Only in Coal Mines and Grain Elevators
3.1 Cyclical Interest in an Ever-Present Problem
3.2 Magnitude of the Problem
3.3 Reality
3.4 What do You Think?
References
Chapter 4. Myth No. 3 (Fuel): A Lot of Dust Is Needed to Have an Explosion
4.1 Guidance from Physics and Chemistry
4.2 Practical Guidance
4.3 Housekeeping
4.4 Reality
4.5 What do You Think?
References
Chapter 5. Myth No. 4 (Fuel): Gas Explosions Are Much Worse Than Dust Explosions
5.1 Hazard and Risk
5.2 Example: Likelihood of Occurrence and Prevention
5.3 Example: Severity of Consequences and Mitigation
5.4 Hybrid Mixtures
5.5 Reality
5.6 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 6. Myth No. 5 (Fuel): It’s Up to the Testing Lab to Specify Which Particle Size to Test
6.1 Role of Particle Size Distribution
6.2 Particle Size Effects on Explosibility Parameters
6.3 A Cooperative Endeavor
6.4 Reality
6.5 What do You Think?
References
Chapter 7. Myth No. 6 (Fuel/Ignition Source): Any Amount of Suppressant Is Better Than None
7.1 Inerting and Suppression
7.2 Minimum Inerting Concentration
7.3 Suppressant Enhanced Explosion Parameter
7.4 Thermal Inhibitors
7.5 Reality
7.6 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 8. Myth No. 7 (Ignition Source): Dusts Ignite Only with a High-Energy Ignition Source
8.1 Industrial Ignition Sources
8.2 Standardized Dust Explosibility Testing
8.3 Dust Cloud Ignition by Low-Energy Sources
8.4 Reality
8.5 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 9. Myth No. 8 (Ignition Source): Only Dust Clouds—Not Dust Layers—Will Ignite
9.1 Dust Layer Ignition
9.2 Dust Layer Fires
9.3 Reality
9.4 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 10. Myth No. 9 (Oxidant): Oxygen Removal Must Be Complete to Be Effective
10.1 Limiting Oxygen Concentration
10.2 Candidate Inert Gases
10.3 Reality
10.4 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 11. Myth No. 10 (Oxidant): Taking Away the Oxygen Makes Things Safe
11.1 Nothing is Safe
11.2 Introduction of New Hazards
11.3 Management of Change
11.4 Reality
11.5 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 12. Myth No. 11 (Mixing): There’s No Problem If Dust Is Not Visible in the Air
12.1 Primary and Secondary Dust Explosions
12.2 Domino Effects
12.3 Reality
12.4 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 13. Myth No. 12 (Mixing): Once Airborne, a Dust Will Quickly Settle out of Suspension
13.1 Dustiness
13.2 Preferential Lifting
13.3 Nano-Materials
13.4 Flocculent Materials
13.5 Reality
13.6 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 14. Myth No. 13 (Mixing): Mixing Is Mixing; There Are No Degrees
14.1 Turbulence
14.2 Influence of Turbulence
14.3 Concentration Gradients
14.4 Reality
14.5 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 15. Myth No. 14 (Confinement): Venting Is the Only/Best Solution to the Dust Explosion Problem
15.1 Inherently Safer Design
15.2 Hierarchy of Controls
15.3 Dust Explosion Prevention and Mitigation Measures
15.4 Reality
15.5 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 16. Myth No. 15 (Confinement): Total Confinement Is Required to Have an Explosion
16.1 Degree of Confinement
16.2 Explosion Relief Venting
16.3 Reality
16.4 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 17. Myth No. 16 (Confinement): Confinement Means Four Walls, a Roof, and a Floor
17.1 Congestion and Obstacle-Generated Turbulence
17.2 Temporary Enclosures
17.3 Reality
17.4 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 18. Myth No. 17 (Pentagon): The Vocabulary of Dust Explosions Is Difficult to Understand
18.1 Dust Explosion Terminology
18.2 Gas Explosion Analogies
18.3 Right to Know
18.4 Reality
18.5 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 19. Myth No. 18 (Pentagon): Dust Explosion Parameters Are Fundamental Material Properties
19.1 A Quiescent Dust Cloud—The (Nearly) Impossible Dream
19.2 The Mystical KSt Parameter
19.3 Standardized Dust Explosibility Testing (Revisited)
19.4 Reality
19.5 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 20. Myth No. 19 (Pentagon): It Makes Sense to Combine Explosion Parameters in a Single Index
20.1 USBM Indices
20.2 Assessment and Management of Dust Explosion Risks
20.3 Material Safety Data Sheets
20.4 Reality
20.5 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 21. Myth No. 20 (Pentagon): It Won’t Happen to Me
21.1 Safety Culture
21.2 Safety Management Systems
21.3 Westray Coal Mine Explosion
21.4 Reality
21.5 What do you Think?
References
Chapter 22. Conclusion: Dust Explosion Realities
22.1 Myths and Corresponding Realities
22.2 What do you Think?
References
Index
Product details
- No. of pages: 280
- Language: English
- Copyright: © Butterworth-Heinemann 2013
- Published: May 14, 2013
- Imprint: Butterworth-Heinemann
- eBook ISBN: 9780123972637
- Paperback ISBN: 9780123970077
About the Author
Paul Amyotte

Affiliations and Expertise
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