Page 150 - Dust Explosions in the Process Industries

Dust Explosions: An Overview 123

Dust is not explosible,
i.e. there is no dust

informationabout
specific plant and
explosion hazard.

determine ignitability

Figure 1.139 A general approach to practical dust explosion protection (Modified, extended ver-
sion ofscheme suggested by Field, 7 982a).

Table 1.11 indicates that the use of pressure-resistant equipment is generally compar-
atively expensive. However, the cost of pressure shock-resistantequipment is significantly
lower. The relative costs in Table 1.11of inerting, venting, and automatic suppression are
fairly equal, perhaps with a slight increase in the order mentioned. However, technology
has changed somewhat since 1978, and the more liberal vent area requirements justified
by more recent research (see Chapter 6) suggest that venting may be somewhat cheaper
than indicated by Table 1.11. Table 1.11 should rather serve as an illustration of the use-
fulness of systematic cost comparison, than as a final, generally valid ranking of costs.