• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.790-803
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• 2019

The dioctyl terephthalic acid (DOTP) process produces plastic plasticizers by esterification of terephthalic acid with powder in the form of octanol. In this study, the dust explosion characteristics of terephthalic acid directly injected into the manhole in the form of powder in the presence of flammable solvent or vapor in the reactor of this process were investigated. Dust particle size and particle size distribution dust characteristics were investigated, and pyrolysis characteristics of dust were investigated to estimate fire and explosion characteristics and ignition temperature. Also, the minimum ignition energy experiment was performed to evaluate the explosion sensitivity. As a result, the average particle size of terephthalic acid powder was $143.433{\mu}m$. From the thermal analysis carried out under these particle size and particle size distribution conditions, the ignition temperature of the dust was about $253^{\circ}C$. The lower explosive limit (LEL) of the terephthalic acid was determined to be $50g/m^3$. The minimum ignition energy (MIE) for explosion sensitivity is (10 < MIE < 300) mJ, and the estimated minimum ignition energy (Es) based on the ignition probability is 210 mJ. The maximum explosion pressure ($P_{max}$) and the maximum explosion pressure rise rate $({\frac{dP}{dt}})_{max}$ of terephthalic acid dust were 7.1 bar and 511 bar/s, respectively. The dust explosion index (Kst) was 139 mbar/s, corresponding to the dust explosion grade St 1.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2022

An experimental investigation was conducted on the influences of median size, dust concentration, dust condition (cloud and layer) for the fire and explosion hazard assessment of dusts with the same powder property. For this purpose, tests have been performed in accordance with 20 L explosion sphere, thermogravi- metric analyze, combustion rate tester (UN method). We investigated the explosion characteristics and flame propagation velocity (FPV) in dust cloud and the flame spread velocity(FSV) over dust layer on 8 dust samples with different particle sizes of 4 types of dusts (Sugar, Mg, Al, Zr). An explosion hazard increased with decreasing particle size in Mg and Al dust clouds, but sugar did not show the effect of explosion hazard due to particle size change in dust clouds. The flame propagation velocity (FPV) of suspended dusts increased significantly when the particle size decreased from micro to nano than the variation of particle size in micro range. The flame spread velocity (FSV) over dust layer showed a tendency to increase over the inclined dust layers (30° slope) rather than the horizontal dust layers (0° slope). The flame spread rate (FSV) over dust layers increased on the inclined dust layer (30° slope) rather than the horizontal dust layer (0° slope) and was higher upward flame than the downward flame in condition of inclined dust layers(30° slope).

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.80-88
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• 2023

Ensuring safety in the designing of manufacturing and handling facilities for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is difficult because there are no standards for the dust explosion characteristics of LDPE. In this study, a dust explosion test was performed on two dust samples collected from a bag filter (LDPE 1) during the LDPE manufacturing process and sedimentary dust (LDPE 2) leaked outside a facility such as a silo, and the LDPE 2 explosion test results were summarized. Particle size analysis showed that the volume-based particle diameter (median) was 95.04 ㎛ and the number density was 0-1 ㎛. The maximum explosion pressure (P_max) was 6.6 bar, and the maximum rate of explosion pressure rise was 366 [bar/s] at 1500 g/m³. Accordingly, the dust explosion index (K_st) was 99.4 bar·m/s, which was confirmed as ST-1 grade. Moreover, the minimum ignition energy and minimum ignition temperature was 10 mJ and 450 ℃, respectively. Currently, manufacturing and handling design is based on the characteristic values of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). However, as the test results show that LDPE 2 dust has a higher risk than HDPE (particle diameter 61.6 ㎛), caution is required when using the HDPE design criteria in the LDPE manufacturing process.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.367-373
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• 2016

Many of plastic powders handled in industry are combustible and have the hazard of dust fire and explosion accidents. However poor information about the safe handling has been presented in the production works. The aim of this research is investigated experimentally on explosive characteristics of various plastic powders used in industry and to provide additional data with safety informations. The explosibility parameters investigated using standard dust explosibility test equipment of Siwek 20-L explosion chamber. As the results, the dust explosion index ($K_{st}$) of ABS ($209.8{\mu}m$), PE ($81.8{\mu}m$), PBT ($21.3{\mu}m$), MBS ($26.7{\mu}m$) and PMMA ($14.3{\mu}m$) are 62.4, 59.4, 70.3, 303 and 203.6[$bar{\cdot}m/s$], respectively. And flame propagation velocity during plastic dust explosions for prediction of explosive damage was estimated using a flame propagation model based on the time to peak pressure and flame arrival time in dust explosion pressure assuming the constant burning velocity.

• International Journal of Safety
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 2012

Because of development of printing technology, toner cartridge particle becomes smaller and more dangerous. And sometimes we had incidents with dust explosion of toner cartridge particle at recycling facilities in Japan. Therefore we studied on hazard of toner particle relating with dust explosion. We found that toner particle is so dangerous compared with most organic solids, even though it does not belong to hazardous materials in the UN regulation and the Japanese Fire Service Law.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.21-26
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• 2014

In this study, the explosion characteristic of aluminium powders have been investigated as a function of particle size using by a 20 L dust explosion apparatus (K$\ddot{u}$hner). The tested aluminium particle sizes were the volume mean diameter of 16, 33 and $88{\mu}m$. The lower explosion limit increases gradually with the increasing of dust particle diameter, respectively 40, 60, $125g/m^3$ in mean diameter of 16, 33 and $88{\mu}m$. Also the increase in particle size for each aluminum dusts was found to cause an decrease in explosion pressure and Kst of dust explosion index, and a increase in the lower explosion concentration. Research results may have important implications for aluminum powders utilization and safety operation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.33-38
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• 2013

A study was carried out on the effect of particle size (mean diameter) on magnesium dust explosion. Experimental investigations were conducted in a 20-L explosion sphere, using 10 kJ chemical ignitors. Explosion tests were performed with three different dusts having mean diameter (38, 142, $567{\mu}m$) and the dust concentrations were up to $2250g/m^3$. The lower explosion limits(LEL) of magnesium dusts were about $30g/m^3$ at $38{\mu}m$ and $40g/m^3$ at $142{\mu}m$. LEL tended to increase with particle size and this means that the explosion probability of magnesium dust decreased with increase of particle size. The maximum explosion presssure ($P_m$) and $K_{st}$ (Explosion index) decreased with the increase of particle size. For magnesium powder of $567{\mu}m$, however, the explosive properties were not observed in the 5 kJ ignition energy.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.32-37
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• 2012

The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of explosion and flame velocity that can be utilized to factories where Mg-Al alloy metal powders are handled in the form of raw materials, products or by-product for similar dust explosion prevention and mitigation. Because the strength of the blast pressure is the result due to flame propagation, flame velocity in dust explosion can be utilized as a valuable information for damage prediction. An experimental investigation was carried out on the influences of content ratio of Mg-Al alloy (mean particle size distribution of 151 to 161 ${\mu}m$). And a model of flame propagation velocity based on the time to peak pressure and flame arrival time in dust explosion pressure, assuming the constant burning velocity, leads to a representation of flame velocity during dust explosion. As the results, the maximum flame velocity of Mg-Al(60:40 wt%), Mg-Al(50:50 wt%) and Mg-Al(40:60 wt%) was estimated 15.5, 18 and 15.2 m/s respectively, and also tend to change with content ratio of Mg-Al.

• 한국연소학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.42-45
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• 2006

A new and reusable energy source is water-treatment sludges. There is a significant need for understanding the characteristics of sludge combustion related to improving efficiency and ensuring the safety of this new energy source. Because sludges are composed of solids and gas mixture, the combustion of the mixture may become quite complex. Not only decomposition of conventional organic elements but also dust explosion may be important during the process of converting sludges into a new and safe form of energy. Sludge combustion mainly involves hydrogen, methane, hydro carbons, carbon, and organic particles. Dust explosion during the gasification stage may depend on the surrounding temperature and the composition of gases. The uncertainty in the explosive behavior of energetic source is noted in this work. We study the explosion characteristics of sludge combustion while the reusability of sewage sludges as a new form of energy is also investigated.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.55-60
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• 1998

In this study, we investigated the dust explosion characteristics by determining minimum ignition energy and explosion limit for this experiment, we used pine-tree dust which was used widely for the filler of thermosetting resin. The experiment was accomplished according to the variation of discharge gap, dust concentration, particle size and humidity. The result of this experiment are as follows; (1) The relation between the discharge gap and ignition energy was that ignition energy decreased according as the discharge gap became small, but increased when the discharge gap was below 4mm and suddenly became infinite when the discharge gap was below. So, we knew that this infinite value was limit discharge gap. (2) When the dust concentration increase and the particle size became microscopic it was easy to explore and in the same particle size, if the humidity increase the minimum ingnition energy decreased.