Open AccessElectrostatic Hazards in Powder Handling Operations
Author(s) -
Martin Glor
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.387
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.1997.210
Subject(s) - electrical conductor , materials science , ignition system , metal powder , powder coating , electricity , process engineering , composite material , forensic engineering , metal , electrical engineering , metallurgy , engineering , aerospace engineering , coating
Charge build-up is observed in most powder handling operations as soon as the powder is highly insulating or the equipment is made from highly insulating material. The ignition probability by discharges due to static electricity can drastically be reduce in practice, if only conductive material is used for all parts of the equipment and installations and if all these parts are safely earthed. The question remains, however, whether the charge retained on a highly insulating product in powder form will be able to ignite this powder, even if the powder is handled and processed in conductive and earthed equipment. Based on extensive research performed during the last decade in this field, ignition of highly insulating powder must be expected under certain circumstances (formation of so-called cone discharges), even if the powder is handled or processed in metallic and earthed equipment.