Dust explosions are a major risk in various industrial processes, including those involving organic materials such as wood dust. This master thesis deals with the analysis of dust explosions in two different chestnut dust samples, the normal chestnut dust (NKP) and the extracted chestnut dust (IKP). The main objective of this research is to assess the explosive properties of these two dust samples and gain insight into their reactivity, focussing on the consequences.
The research will investigate several key factors that contribute to dust explosions. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to gain insight into the shape of the sample and the particle size distribution to obtain information on the size and number of particles in the sample. The moisture content of the sample was determined by thermal analysis and the minimum ignition energy was determined using a Hartmann tube. In the final part, the minimum explosion concentration (MEC) was determined using an explosion chamber. The chamber was also used to determine the maximum explosion pressure and the maximum rate of pressure rise, which can be used to estimate the consequences of an explosion. The results show significant differences between the samples, especially in particle size distribution and moisture content, which have a direct influence on the explosive properties and consequences of the explosion. All analysed parameters indicate that IKP is more dangerous than NKP in terms of the probability of occurrence and consequences of a dust explosion. The conclusions of the study can contribute to improving industrial safety by highlighting the importance of understanding the characteristics of different dust samples and consequently adapting strategies to prevent and mitigate dust explosions.
The study sheds light on the risk of chestnut dust explosions and provides a basis for improving safety measures in industries that use chestnut dust as a raw material. The study emphasises the need for customised safety protocols to reduce the risk of dust explosions in different industrial environments.
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