DUST AND HYBRID EXPLOSIBILITY IN A 1 M(3) SPHERICAL CHAMBER

The dust explosibility characteristics of Lycopodium, Cornstarch, Pitt sburgh Bituminous Coal and Calcium Stearate were measured in a 1 m3 sp herical explosion chamber at ambient pressures, ambient temperatures a nd at three different turbulence levels. Explosibility parameters meas ured were the maximum pressure, maximum pressure rate of rise and the initial pressure rate of rise. Propane explosibility and Hybrid explos ibility (Cornstarch in the presence of propane) were also measured. Fo r the hybrid system, the lower limits of explosibility and the effect of low propane concentrations on the explosibility of optimum Cornstar ch concentrations were investigated. Finally, a relationship between m aximum pressure rate of rise and initial pressure rate of rise was sou ght in order to lay a foundation for explosion suppression and explosi on venting engineering methodologies.