Page 124 - Dust Explosions in the Process Industries

Dust Explosions: An Overview 97

Figure 1.112 Coal dust explosion in 18.5 m3 vessel vented through a duct with a 90" bend at the
end (Courtesy of Health and Safety Executive, United Kingdom). For a much clearer picture, see Color
Plate 2.

value, which is numerically identical to the maximum rate of pressure rise in the standard
1 m3 IS0 test, was used as a measure of the inherent explosibility of the dusts. The K,,
values ranged from 144 bmds for the coal to 630 bmds for the aluminum.

1.4.6.6
The Quenching Tube

This promising new concept was developed by Alfert and Fuhre (1989) in cooperation
with Rembe GmbH, Federal Republic of Germany (see also Anonymous, 1989). The main
principle is illustrated in Figure 1.1 13.
If a dust explosion occurs in the enclosure to be vented, the bursting panel, which con-
stitutes an integral part of the quenching tube assembly, bursts, and the explosion is vented

$-

BURSTING PANEL

EXPLOSION

WENCHING TUBE

Figure 1.1 13 A quenching tube for dust and
flame-free venting of dust explosions