Up-to-date and thorough coverage of the causes, repercussions, and prevention of dust explosions and fires by one of the most well-respected environmental scientists and worker safety litigation specialists in the world This handy volume is a ready go to reference for the chemical engineer, plant manager, process engineer, or chemist working in industrial settings where dust explosions could be a concern, such as the process industries, coal industry, metal industry, and others. Though dust explosions have been around since the Earth first formed, and they have been studied and written about since the 1500s, they are still an ongoing concern and occur almost daily somewhere in the world, from bakeries to fertilizer plants. Dust explosions can have devastating consequences, and, recently, there have been new industrial standards and guidelines that reflect safer, more reasonable methods for dealing with materials to prevent dust explosions and resultant fires. This book not only presents these new developments for engineers and managers, it offers in-depth coverage of the subject, starting with a complete overview of dust how it forms, when it is in danger of exploding, and how this risk can be mitigated as well as a general overview of explosions and the environments that foster them. Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Handbook covers individual industries, such as metal and coal; offers an appendix that outlines best practices for preventing dust explosions and fire and how these risks can be systematically mitigated by these implementations; and incorporates a handy glossary of terms for easy access, not only for the veteran engineer or chemist, but for the student or new hire. This ready reference is one of the most useful texts that an engineer or chemist could have at their side. With so many accidents still occurring in industry today, this must-have volume pinpoints the most common, sure-fire ways for engineers, scientists, and chemists working with these hazardous materials to go about their daily business safely, efficiently, and profitably, with no extraneous tables or theoretical treatises.

Up-to-date and thorough coverage of the causes, repercussions, and prevention of dust explosions and fires by one of the most well-respected environmental scientists and worker safety litigation specialists in the worldThis handy volume is a ready "go to" reference for the chemical engineer, plant manager, process engineer, or chemist working in industrial settings where dust explosions could be a concern, such as the process industries, coal industry, metal industry, and others. Though dust explosions have been around since the Earth first formed, and they have been studied and written about since the 1500s, they are still an ongoing concern and occur almost daily somewhere in the world, from bakeries to fertilizer plants.Dust explosions can have devastating consequences, and, recently, there have been new industrial standards and guidelines that reflect safer, more reasonable methods for dealing with materials to prevent dust explosions and resultant fires. This book not only presents these new developments for engineers and managers, it offers in-depth coverage of the subject, starting with a complete overview of dust--how it forms, when it is in danger of exploding, and how this risk can be mitigated--as well as a general overview of explosions and the environments that foster them.Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Handbook covers individual industries, such as metal and coal; offers an appendix that outlines best practices for preventing dust explosions and fire and how these risks can be systematically mitigated by these implementations; and incorporates a handy glossary of terms for easy access, not only for the veteran engineer or chemist, but for the student or new hire.This ready reference is one of the most useful texts that an engineer or chemist could have at their side. With so many accidents still occurring in industry today, this must-have volume pinpoints the most common, sure-fire ways for engineers, scientists, and chemists working with these hazardous materials to go about their daily business safely, efficiently, and profitably, with no extraneous tables or theoretical treatises.

About the Author xiPreface xiii1 Combustible Dusts 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Metrics 31.3 Size and Shape 61.4 Size Distribution 91.5 Why Some Dusts are Combustible 141.6 Common Causes of Dust Explosions and Risk Mitigation 161.7 Closing Remarks and Definitions 212 The Basics of Dust Explosions 292.1 Conditions for Dust Fires and Explosions 292.2 Primary and Secondary Dust Explosions 392.3 Explosions within Process Equipment 402.4 Other Examples of Catastrophic Incidents 522.5 Ignition Sensitivity 54Recommended References 613 Factors Influencing Dust Explosibility 653.1 Introduction 653.2 Particle Size and Dust Concentration 663.3 Particle Volatility 663.4 Heats of Combustion 683.5 Explosive Concentrations and Ignition Energy 703.6 Classification of Dusts 733.7 Oxidant Concentration 753.8 Turbulence 763.9 Maximum Rate of Pressure Rise 773.10 Presence of Volatile and Flammable Gases 783.11 Limiting Oxygen Concentration 823.12 Important Definitions and Concepts 84Recommended References 914 Explosion Prevention in Grain Dust Elevators 934.1 Introduction 934.2 Causes 954.3 Properties of Grain Dusts 984.4 Case Studies 1024.5 Best Industry Practices 1074.6 Osha Grain Handling Standard Audit Questionnaire 1205 Coal Dust Explosibility and Coal Mining Operations 1315.1 Introduction 1315.2 Coal as a Fuel 1325.3 Heat and Energy 1345.4 Coal Dust Suspension, Confinement, Resuspension and Explosions 1355.5 Processing Equipment Explosion Hazards 1375.6 Coal Mining Operations and Safety 147Recommended References 2036 Preventing Fires and Explosions Involving Metals 2076.1 Introduction 2076.2 Combustibility Properties of Metals 2086.3 Explosion Temperatures 2156.4 Dry Powder (Class D Fires) 2166.5 Case Studies 2266.6 Good Industry Practices for Prevention and Risk Mitigation 2466.7 Risk Screening Guidelines and Resources 265Recommended References 2727 Phlegmatization, Diluent Dusts, and the Use of Inert Gases 2757.1 Introduction 2757.2 Phlegmatization 2767.3 Addition of Diluents 2797.4 Application of Inert Gases 2797.5 Case Study 2898 Augmenting Risk Mitigation with Leak Detection and Repair 3058.1 Introduction 3058.2 Why Ldar Programs are Needed 3068.3 Sources of Fugitive Air Discharges 3078.4 Good Industry Practices 308Appendix A: General Guidelines on Safe Work Practice 319Glossary of Terms 349Index 357