Dust explosions–Cases, causes, consequences, and control
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present the state-of-the-art of dust explosion state of the art, and present the ways available to prevent dust explosion, and on cushioning the impact of a dust explosion by venting when the accident does take place.
About: This article is published in Journal of Hazardous Materials.The article was published on 2007-02-09. It has received 406 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Dust explosion & Boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reviewed past progress in the development of methods and models for process safety and risk management and highlighted the present research trends; also it outlines the opinions of the authors regarding the future research direction in the field.
361 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the options, prospects, and challenges associated with hydrogen production are discussed, and a review of the potential and challenges of hydrogen production is presented. But the production of hydrogen by most existing technologies entails substantial use of fossil fuels and CO 2 emissions; indeed as much as 2.5 to 5 tonnes of carbon is released as CO 2 per tonne of hydrogen currently produced by conventional means.
Abstract: The increasingly manifest impacts of global warming have made it a global priority to phase out the use of petrol and diesel as transportation fuels in favour of hydrogen. But the production of hydrogen by most existing technologies entails substantial use of fossil fuels and CO 2 emissions; indeed as much as 2.5–5 tonnes of carbon is released as CO 2 per tonne of hydrogen currently produced by conventional means. Hence the production of hydrogen can be ‘carbon-free’ only if it is generated by employing genuinely carbon-free renewable energy sources. The present review deals with the options, prospects, and challenges associated with this very high-priority area of global concern.
352 citations
TL;DR: Torrefaction is an emerging thermal biomass pretreatment method that has an ability to reduce the major limitations of biomass such as heterogeneity, lower bulk density, lower energy density, hygroscopic behavior, and fibrous nature as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Biomass is a versatile energy resource that could be used as a sustainable energy resource in solid, liquid and gaseous form of energy sources. Torrefaction is an emerging thermal biomass pretreatment method that has an ability to reduce the major limitations of biomass such as heterogeneity, lower bulk density, lower energy density, hygroscopic behavior, and fibrous nature. Torrefaction, aiming to produce high quality solid biomass products, is carried out at 200-300 °C in an inert environment at an atmospheric pressure. The removal of volatiles through different decomposition reactions is the basic principle behind the torrefaction process. Torrefaction upgrades biomass quality and alters the combustion behavior, which can be efficiently used in the co-firing power plant. This paper presents a comprehensive review on torrefaction of biomass and their characteristics. Despite of the number of advantages, torrefaction is motivated mainly for thermochemical conversion process because of its ability to increase hydrophobicity, grindability and energy density of biomass. In addition to this, torrefied biomass could be used to replace coal in the metallurgical process, and promoted as an alternative of charcoal.
215 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an overview of hydropower systems and examine in detail whether the prevalent belief in the great environment-friendliness of SHS is really justified.
Abstract: There is a great resurgence of interest all over the world in the development of ‘small’ hydropower systems (SHS). The surge is essentially propelled by the belief that SHS, which include mini, micro, and picahydel systems, are a source of clean energy with little or no adverse impacts on the environment. This paper presents an overview of SHS and then examines in detail whether the prevalent belief in the great environment-friendliness of SHS is really justified. It is brought out that widespread use of SHS is likely to cause, per kilowatt of power generated, no less significantly adverse environmental impacts than large hydropower systems and some other conventional sources of energy. While supporting the ongoing global efforts to maximize the use of SHS, the authors advocate much greater circumspection than is being exercised at present vis-a-vis SHS. The authors believe that if the likely pitfalls are foreseen before SHS are put to widespread use, and remedial measures taken accordingly, it may save the world from considerable disillusionment and environmental damage.
204 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an inventory of major process industry accidents involving "domino effect", which includes, among other relevant information, the sequence of accidents that had occurred in each domino episode.
Abstract: The paper presents an inventory, perhaps the most comprehensive till date, of the major process-industry accidents involving 'domino effect'. The inventory includes, among other relevant information, the sequence of accidents that had occurred in each domino episode. The information has been analyzed to identify several patterns which may be useful in further work on understanding domino effect and reducing the probability of its occurrence in future. A concept of 'local domino effect' has been introduced. Language: en
196 citations
References
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Book•
01 Jan 1961
TL;DR: The second edition of this book has been in short supply for some time and the authors have decided in favor of a reprint of the book rather than an extensive revision at this time.
Abstract: For some time copies of the second edition of this book have been in short supply. In order to meet, the demand for additional copies the authors have decided in favor of a reprint of the book rather than an extensive revision at this time. The justification for this lies in the character of the book. It was conceived as an exposition of basic concepts of gaseous combustion phenomena. Since the publication of the second edition in 1961 the literature on the subject has grown in volume very greatly. However, virtually no new concepts in gaseous combustion have evolved. For this reason we feel that the book, in its present form, continues to serve well the purpose for which it was intended, namely, to provide a systematic presentation of the fundamentals of combustion for scientists and engineers. In addition, we feel that the present edition has not yet outlived its usefulness as a source of data. Furthermore, the utility of certain concepts is only now beginning to be appreciated. This applies in particular to the concept of flame stretch which permits a unified approach to seemingly widely different sets of phenomena, including ignition, flame extinction, stabilization, quenching, flammability limits, and maximum heat release rates.
1,857 citations
Book•
01 Jun 1991
TL;DR: In this article, a comprehensive account of the existing practical and theoretical knowledge of the origin, development, prevention and mitigation of dust explosions in the process industries is presented, along with an up-to-date evaluation of prevalent activities, testing methods, design measures and safe operating techniques.
Abstract: This work is a comprehensive account of the existing practical and theoretical knowledge of the origin, development, prevention and mitigation of dust explosions in the process industries. It offers an up-to-date evaluation of prevalent activities, testing methods, design measures and safe operating techniques in a detailed and comprehensive critique of all the significant phases relating to the hazard and control of a dust explosion. This should be a useful reference work for design, production, maintenance and safety engineers in the process industries, safety consultants and students.
586 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide information on the explosibility and ignitability properties of dust clouds that can be used to improve safety in industries that generate, process, use, or transport combustible dusts.
Abstract: This paper is an overview of and introduction to the subject of dust explosions. The purpose is to provide information on the explosibility and ignitability properties of dust clouds that can be used to improve safety in industries that generate, process, use, or transport combustible dusts. The requirements for a dust explosion are: a combustible dust, dispersed in air, a concentration above the flammable limit, the presence of a sufficiently energetic ignition source, and some confinement. An explosion of a fuel in air involves the rapid oxidation of combustible material, leading to a rapid increase in temperature and pressure. The violence of an explosion is related to the rate of energy release due to chemical reactions relative to the degree of confinement and heat losses. The combustion properties of a dust depend on its chemical and physical characteristics, especially its particle size distribution. In this paper, the explosion characteristics of combustible dusts will be compared and contrasted with those of flammable gases, using methane as an example. These characteristics include minimum explosible concentration, maximum explosion pressure, maximum rate of pressure rise, limiting oxygen concentration, ignition temperature, and amount of inert dust necessary to prevent flame propagation. The parameters considered include the effects of dust volatility, dust particle size, turbulence, initial pressure, initial temperature, and oxygen concentration. Both carbonaceous and metal dusts will be used as examples. The goal of this research is to better understand the fundamental aspects of dust explosions.
306 citations
TL;DR: An overview of the mechanism, the causes, the consequences, and the preventive strategies associated with BLEVEs is presented.
273 citations
254 citations