Flammability of dust in suspension
Dust explosion risks - Characterization

Airborne dust is flammable and liable to produce dust explosions, if flame propagation occurs in the dust when combustion of the dust has been initiated locally.

In a closed enclosure filled with suspended dust, the propagation of combustion in the dust is accompanied by a pressure effect, which constitutes a dust explosion.

As a result, flammable dusts have characteristics similar to those of flammable gases. . We can distinguish :

• sensitivity to ignition sources: minimum ignition energy (MIE) and minimum ignition temperature (MIT);

• flammability limit concentrations: minimum flammable concentration (MFC), maximum flammable concentration (MFC) and minimum oxygen concentration for combustion (MOC);

• explosion...