Choosing explosion prevention and isolation equipment for your dust collection system — Part I
Combustible dust hazards and explosion safety have become increasingly urgent concerns in bulk solids processing and handling plants. In this two-part article, a dust collection expert expands on Powder and Bulk Engineering's recent coverage of these issues by providing information on how to prevent explosions in dust collection systems and how to isolate the connected bulk solids process from a dust collector explosion. Part II will appear in November.
About 40 percent of combustible dust explosions reported in the US over the last 25 years have involved dust collectors, according to the US Chemical Safety Board. This, and the scrutiny focused on explosion safety since the 2008 dust explosion and fire at the Imperial Sugar Company plant in Georgia, have helped make dust collection systems the focus of inspections now required by OSHA's National Emphasis Program on safely handling combustible dusts. Since this program was implemented in 2008, state and federal OSHA agencies have conducted more than 600 combustible dust inspections and issued more than 2,000 citations. In April this year, OSHA announced plans to develop combustible dust regulations.