User:Jef Snoeys/Flameless explosion venting

Flameless Explosion Venting new article content ...

1. Introduction

Many industries handle materials with the potential for a dust explosion and there are statutory requirements to take both preventative and protective measures to protect personnel and plant equipment. Explosion prevention techniques attempt to minimize or eliminate the occurrence of explosions, whereas explosion protection techniques control the effects of the explosion in such a way as to minimize or eliminate the damage that could occur due to an explosion. Explosion protection techniques include containment, venting, flameless venting, isolation and suppression. For many years the most common and popular method of protection has been explosion venting. In its simplest form, a vent is an aperture in the top or side of a vessel to provide a means of pressure relief during an explosion.

insert figure of a venting process

In order to protect people close to a vented vessel located indoors and to prevent external dust deposits from becoming involved in a secondary dust explosion, the vent discharge must be directed outside the building with suitable ducting.

insert figure of a ducted venting process

This ducting has a substantial effect on the pressure experienced inside the vessel during the venting process and this must be allowed for in the vent area calculation. In some cases, the increase in pressure can be so great that an alternative protection method is required.

insert graph showing effect of a duct

A new option – flameless venting – has recently been developed for dust explosions and is being actively marketed as an alternative to vent ducting. Another important application of this new technique is the retrofitting of existing installations.