Experimental investigation on the self-ignition behavior of dangerous dust accumulations

National Institute for Research and Development for Mine Safety and Protection to Explosion INSEMEX Petrosani, 32-34 G-ral Vasile Milea Street, Petrosani, Romania

^* Corresponding author: irina.nalboc@insemex.ro

Abstract

A process known as spontaneous combustion is brought on by the gradual oxidation of flammable organic particles and takes place when air passes over a mass of dust. Combustible powders react with air oxygen in a process known as oxidation, which produces carbon dioxide, carbon oxide, water, and other gases whose contents depend on the temperature at which the oxidation occurs. Combustible dusts can self-ignite depending on their chemical makeup, the characteristics of their constituent components, the particle size and mass geometry, and last but not least, the ambient temperature. Self-ignition is a complicated process that occurs in three subsequent or concurrent stages of development, namely self-heating, humidity evaporation, and self-ignition. Self-ignition is a complicated process that occurs in three separate or concurrent stages of development, namely self-heating, humidity evaporation and self-ignition, all of which interact with one another. Even at normal temperatures, the molecules on the surface of combustible dust particles are prone to exothermic interactions with oxygen in the air conveyed in the free volume between particles, which is the cause of self-heating (or possibly self-ignition). The temperature of the reactive-air dust system will then rise as a result of any heat emitted, hastening the reactivity of other dust molecules with oxygen. By using drying tests at constant temperatures, this work aims to demonstrate the self-ignition behavior of flammable dusts by volume.