Development of methods for assessing the safety of dust removal facilities in environments with a danger of explosive atmosphere

Abstract

Due to the tightening of air pollution laws and employee safety regulations, manufacturers are being forced to pay more and more attention to removing dust particles from the air released by their installations. This requires them to install large complex dust collection systems in all their facilities. Dust collection systems include collection points where air and entrained dust are drawn into a system of pipes that carry dust and air, fans that feed the movement of air, and dust collectors that separate dust from air. Dust collectors are mostly dry type. Dry-type dust collectors are divided into cyclones and bag-type dust collectors. As dust can create an explosive atmosphere, it is necessary to assess the risk of explosions and to establish appropriate measures to prevent the explosion or, as the case may be, to limit the effects of explosions. The paper presents aspects related to the evaluation of the risk of explosions at dust removal installations with emphasis on the risk of initiating the explosive dust / air atmosphere through electrostatic discharges.