KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Mitigation of Metal Dust Deflagrations via Thermal Analysis and Active Explosion Suppression

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Reding_ku_0099M_16895_DATA_1.pdf (12.16Mb)
    Issue Date
    2019-12-31
    Author
    Reding, Nicholas
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    136 pages
    Type
    Thesis
    Degree Level
    M.E.
    Discipline
    Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Explosions induced by ignition of combustible metal powders continue to present a significant threat to metal handling and refining industries. Addition of non-combustible inert material to combustible dust mixtures, either through pre-mixing or high-rate injection as the incipient flame front begins to develop, is common practice for preventative inhibition or explosion protection via active suppression, respectively. Metal dusts demonstrate an extremely reactive explosion risk due to amplified heat of combustion, burning temperature, flame speed, explosibility parameters (KSt and Pmax), and ignition sensitivity. Upon ignition in a contained enclosure volume and propagation to interconnected vessels, metal dusts exhibit augmented explosion severity relative to organic fuels. Inhibition efficiency of suppressant agents utilized for active mitigation is shown to be reliant on fuel explosibility, discrete burning mechanism, and combustion temperature range, and thus may be increasingly variable depending on the fuel in question. For this reason, mitigation of metal powder deflagrations at moderate total suppressed pressures (relative to the overall strength of the enclosure) and at low agent concentrations remains challenging. The aim of this study is to propose a method for the characterization of the inhibition efficiency of five suppressant agents (sodium bicarbonate [SBC], potassium bicarbonate [PK], monoammonium phosphate [MAP], diammonium phosphate [DAP], and sodium chloride-based [Met-L-X]) when mixed with both organic (cornstarch) and metallic (zinc and iron) fuels, utilizing simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) techniques. In addition, this work validates lab-scale conclusions through metal dust suppression testing in Fike Corporation’s 1 m3 sphere combustion chamber and evaluates the efficacy of suppression agents with anticipated performance for the mitigation of iron and aluminum powder deflagrations.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/30473
    Collections
    • Engineering Dissertations and Theses [1055]
    • Theses [3828]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps