EFFECTIVENESS OF DUST EXPLOSION SUPPRESSION BY CARBONATES AND PHOSPHATES

The mass concentrations of three inhibitors required to suppress dust explosion were measured in laboratory-scale systems for four different dusts. The additives studied were commercially available-phosphate, bicarbonate, and an inert powder. Two testing procedures were used: the LEL measuring method and the method of direct injection of the inhibitor into the vessel. The resulting effectiveness of the inhibitors appeared to be sensitive to the method of testing. The order of effectiveness for the LEL method was phosphate > bicarbonate > CaCO3. For the method of direct injection, it was bicarbonate > phosphate > CaCO3.