Multiscale Modeling for Process Safety Applications

3.9. Dust Explosion

Dust explosions, initiated by rapid combustion of flammable particulates, pose serious explosion hazard in process industry. While to basics are reasonably understood, fires and explosions from solid particulates and liquid particulates continue to contribute toward considerable material damage and loss of life (Lemkowitz and Pasman, 2014). Next to vapor cloud and boiling liquid expanding vapor explosions, dust explosions can be attributed to cause for several injuries, fatalities, and significant financial loss (Abbasi and Abbasi, 2007; Eckhoff, 2003). Given the right conditions, most unoxidized material can burn. While there does not seem to be any unanimous opinion (Abbasi and Abbasi, 2007; Mannan and Lees, 2005; NFPA ...