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Innovative explosion protection for metal processing companies

Fire and explosion properties of metal dusts: protection measures and the characteristics of application

Metal dusts, which occur in industry, carry in themselves a high risk potential with regard to flammability and explosion properties. Depending on the procedure this can on the one hand, be splinters from a turning shop in the case of shape cutting chipping technology of aluminium components, or welding fume from laser or plasma welding processes with particles well below 1 µm diameter.

Both materials can trigger critical situations.

Traditional specifications such as the maximum time-based increase in pressure and the maximum explosion pressure do not, in the case of metal dusts, always reveal anything about the effects of an explosion. In fact, combustion temperatures and calorific combustion energies must also be taken into consideration. Light metals can assume very varying high technical explosion characteristics, depending on the particle size and degree of oxidation.

These physical principles also apply to suppression systems. The DIN EN 14373 standard is currently being revised, in order to offer better protection with regard to this scenario. Until now, almost all suppression systems have been unsuitable for metal dust explosions.

Based on these findings, the standards for testing protection systems were matched with the special characteristics of metal dusts. In particular, in the case of flameless pressure relief equipment, the test standard DIN EN 16009 prescribes tests with existing dusts under real, practical conditions of use.

As inventor of the flameless explosion pressure relief REMBE® engineers have gone on to develop the Q-Rohr®-3 in accordance with the new requirements described, so that the specifications of DIN EN 16009 are complied with in different test scenarios. The scope of application of the well-known and proven

Q-Rohr®-3 was thereby expanded to include metal dusts. REMBE® is globally the only manufacturer that offers a protection system for metal dust explosions.

The Q-Rohr®-3 is used, in particular, for the flameless pressure relief of machines in interior spaces at risk of dust explosions. In this protection system, the need for cost-intensive blow-off channels for conduction of the explosions outward is negated. Due to the patented system of flame entrapment and dust retention, the Q-Rohr®-3 enables a process-optimised setup of all the equipment in the immediate vicinity of people and machines.

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  • REMBE® GmbH Safety + Control

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