Explosion protection for the ENGINEERING industry

Preventing Explosions in the Engineering Industry

Probably the biggest risk of explosion and fire in the engineering industry is metal dust, especially where aluminum and its alloys are processed. When processing metal workpieces, dust is released, thus becomes very explosive when mixed with an oxidizing agent. Typical examples include aluminum, magnesium, titanium, or zinc, and their alloys.

During industrial production, small particles are dispersed into the air from the bulk material. As the air moves, the particles swirl and easily reach explosive concentrations. A dangerous explosion occurs when the combustible dust comes into contact with an initiation source. Especially in an enclosed space, the risk of explosion increases.

In most cases, it is a mechanical surface treatment, whether grinding, blasting, or cutting are the most explosion-prone areas of production. In the automotive industry, risk occurs in the production of aluminum wheels, alloy components, or during the production of brakes. In the engineering industry, for example, with the production of aluminum window profiles. CNC machines are prone to devastating fires, which can occur processing workpieces from alloys of metallic materials.

Engineered turnkey solutions:

RISKS OF EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY

Metal powders have many specific characteristics that distinguish them from other organic powders, such as starch, flour, or sugar. Every dust changes its explosion parameters depending on the grain size. In the case of metal dust, this aspect is extremely significant. While for organic powders the difference in parameters between coarse and extremely fine dust is in the range of tens of percent, for aluminum dust it is in the number of hundreds of percent. So the rule is that the finer the metal dust, the more destructive the explosion.

COMBINATION OF ELEMENTS LEADING TO IGNITION AND EXPLOSION

Ignition and subsequent explosion occur if the following conditions are met at the same time in the same space:

substances characterized by exothermic reactions
sufficient amount of oxygen (or oxidizing agent in general)
ignition source (initiation source)

RISKS OF CHAIN EXPLOSIONS

In industrial processing technology, which can normally consist of a spray dryer, a vibrating trough, a cyclone, etc., a chain reaction of explosions can be triggered under certain circumstances, because the individual technologies are interconnected by a pneumatic transport system. Underestimating the risk of separating the explosion with proper protection can have far-reaching consequences and even lead to the loss of human lives and the destruction of equipment and entire buildings.

Preventing Explosions in the ENGINEERING Industry

Currently, technology allows for the identification of all impending risks in advance. The ATEX 153 directive mandates the implementation of suitable preventive measures to safeguard human lives and production technology from the destructive impacts of an explosion.

BENEFITS OF EXPLOSION PROTECTION

protection of property and expensive technologies
reducing the risk of damage and loss in production
eliminating long downtimes, retaining existing customers, and maintaining economic stability

Managing Explosion Risks in Industrial Production Processes

Tiny bits of material float into the air during factory work. These bits can build up in the air to dangerous levels. When these floating bits are the type that can burn and they meet something hot or sparking, they can explode, especially in closed spaces.

Working with metal by grinding, blasting or cutting is often very risky for explosions. In car factories, this danger exists when making wheels from aluminium, parts from metal mixtures, or brake parts. The same risks exist in factories making aluminium window frames.

Computer-controlled cutting machines (CNC) can catch fire very easily, particularly when cutting pieces made from different metals mixed together.

rsbp explosion protection installation at factory