An Introduction to dust explosions : understanding the myths and realities of dust explosions for a safer workplace / Paul Amyotte.

"IChemE Advancing Chemical Engineering Worldwide"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. INTRODUCTION: Dust Explosions - Myth or Reality? 2. MYTH NO. 1 (FUEL): Dust does not explode. 3. MYTH NO. 2 (FUEL): Dust explosions only happen in coal mines and grain elevators. 4. MYTH NO. 3 (FUEL): A lot of dust is needed to have an explosion. 5. MYTH NO. 4 (FUEL): Gas explosions are much worse than dust explosions. 6. MYTH NO. 5 (FUEL): It's up to the testing lab to specify which particle size to test. 7. MYTH NO. 6 (FUEL/IGNITION SOURCE): Any amount of suppressant is better than none. 8. MYTH NO. 7 (IGNITION SOURCE): Dusts only ignite with a high-energy ignition source. 9. MYTH NO. 8 (IGNITION SOURCE): Only dust clouds - not dust layers - will ignite. 10. MYTH NO. 9 (OXIDANT): Oxygen removal must be complete to be effective. 11. MYTH NO. 10 (OXIDANT): Taking away the oxygen makes things safe. 12. MYTH NO. 11 (MIXING): There's no problem if dust is not visible in the air. 13. MYTH NO. 12 (MIXING): Once airborne, a dust will quickly settle out of suspension. 14. MYTH NO. 13 (MIXING): Mixing is mixing; there are no degrees. 15. MYTH NO. 14 (CONFINEMENT): Venting is the only/best solution to the dust explosion problem. 16. MYTH NO. 15 (CONFINEMENT): Total confinement is required to have an explosion. 17. MYTH NO. 16 (CONFINEMENT): Confinement means four walls, a roof and a floor. 18. MYTH NO. 17 (PENTAGON): The vocabulary of dust explosions is difficult to understand 19. MYTH NO. 18 (PENTAGON): Dust explosion parameters are fundamental material properties. 20. MYTH NO. 19 (PENTAGON): It makes sense to combine explosion parameters in a single index. 21. MYTH NO. 20 (PENTAGON): It won't happen to me. 22. CONCLUSION: Dust Explosion Realities INDEX