Inerting as a way of preventing accidents in an explosive atmosphere with combustible dust.

To prevent fires and explosions in the workplace when working with combustible dust (for example, coal dust), emergency inerting systems are used. Their work is automatically initiated if the concentra- tions of methane, carbon monoxide or oxygen, or the permissible temperature in the internal space of plant and equipment are exceeded. An inert medium is obtained by continually supplying inert gas (carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc.) to replace oxygen from the high/ low pressure tank or from steel bottles. The article describes the specifics of inerting systems with vessels of various types, specifies the requirements for such systems, and the basic rules for their operation and control.

Author: A. Rott

Section: Equipment and technology

Keywords: emergency inerting system, coal, combustible dust, fire protection, explosion protection, carbon dioxide, nitrogen