LPGVent Sizing of explosion relief vent areas

GUIDELINES ON THE APPLICATION OF DIRECTIVE 94/9/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF 23 MARCH 1994 ON THE APPROXIMATION OF THE LAWS OF THE MEMBER STATES CONCERNING EQUIPMENT AND PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS INTENDED FOR USE IN POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES

Venting devices are commonly used to try to reduce the damage caused by any dust explosion that may occur in silo systems. In North America and Europe the sizing of these vent areas is governed by standards NFPA 68 and EN 14491, respectively, both of which have recently come into force. The aim of the present work was to compare these standards in terms of the cost of protecting against dust explosions. Vent areas calculated according to NFPA 68 were smaller than those calculated in line with EN14491, except when the silos had a length/diameter ratio of 1, when the opposite was true. The difference increases for high length/diameter ratios, especially when the reduced explosion pressure is low. The optimum design for attaining minimum protection costs according to the two standards was slightly different. As a practical example, the cost of protecting a real silo using venting panels was calculated using both standards.

Presentation By Martin Gossenwinkel INBUREX at Barcelona ATEX A FACT seminar

On 1 July 2003, in Spain, the Real Decreto 681 / 2003 became enforceable and binding on all new industrial establishments with a risk of explosive atmospheres. As from 30 June 2006 it also became enforceable for all industrial establishments with a risk of explosive atmospheres. As a result of this new legislation all these establishments are now bound to draw up an explosion protection document. By Xavier de Gea LPG

A self-combustion characterisation index based in thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry techniques.