Page 381 - Dust Explosions in the Process Industries
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350 Dust Explosions in the Process Industries
On the other hand, it is well known that a strong correlation exists between laminar
quenching distances and minimum ignition energies for gases.
The original motivation for Schuber’s work was the uncertainty related to the ability
of rotary locks to prevent transmission of dust explosions. He investigated results from
experiments in the apparatus shown in Figure 4.58, where a rotary lock was mounted
between two vessels in which dust clouds could be generated simultaneously.
Figure 4.58 Arrangement for investigating the ability of rotary locks to prevent transmission of the
explosions (From Schuber, 1988).
The dust cloud on one side was then ignited, and it was observed whether transmis-
sion of flame occurred to the extent that the dust cloud on the other side was also ignited.
Figure 4.59 shows the essential parameters of the rotary lock.
explosion
f gapwidthw,
gap length 4j=
thickness of
the rotor vanes
no explosion
Figure 4.59 Cap width and gap length related to explosion transmission through rotary locks (From
Schuber, 1988).
