Fire and Explosion Hazard Aspects for Bucket Elevators

National Research and Development Institute for Mining Safety and Explosion Protection – INSEMEX, G-ral Vasile Milea Street, no. 32-34, Postal code: 332047, Petrosani, Hunedoara County, Romania

^* Corresponding author: mihai.popa@insemex.ro

Abstract

Technological installations for the vertical transport of cereal products, are affected by the presence of combustible dusts that can be mixed with air, in suspension, or in the form of dust layers of different thicknesses. The presence of these combustible dusts is a constant danger of fires or even explosions.

In combustible dusts are swirled in the air in concentrations in their explosive range and there is also an ignition source, the dusts can burn quickly and even give rise to explosions, in which case the force and pressure developed is considerable.

Since, in most cases, following a fire and especially a combustible dust explosion, the damage caused is quantified by immeasurable material damage and even by recording human losses, special attention must be paid to how they are identified and implemented protection and prevention measures to prevent fires and combustible dust explosions.

In this paper, the principles and main factors that must be considered when quantifying the risk of fire and/or explosion for a bucket elevator used for the vertical transport of cereal products are highlighted. A number of recommendations for the safe use of these lifts are also presented.