An experimental campaign was conducted to measure the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of dust mixtures made of a combustible and inert dust. Three combustible dusts - flour, grain dust and lycopodium, and three inert dusts - CaCO3, limestone and silica sand were tested.
All the combustible dusts were studied in the same manner. Mixtures of each of
the inert dusts were prepared having different weight ratios, ranging from 100% to 0% of inert. At each ratio, the MIE was measured using a modified Hartmann tube. The explored energy values ranged from 4 to 4165 mJ. Three energy levels were measured, here called E1, E2 and E3 according to Cavallero and Marmo.
The effect of the inert dust diameter and chemical properties were also studied.
dust explosion, minimum inerting concentration, MIE