Study of Explosion Characteristics and Mechanism of Sucrose Dust

Abstract

In order to investigate the explosion mechanism of sucrose in the air atmosphere, the explosion intensity under different ignition delay times (IDT), powder input pressures (PIP), and concentrations were studied using a 20L-sphere. The sucrose particles were analyzed in a synchronized thermal analyzer (STA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results are as follows: 1. The DSC curve has two endothermic peaks and one exothermic peak, respectively at T = 180.5 ℃, 510.2 ℃ and 582.6 ℃. 2. The explosion intensity varies with the experiment conditions. The maximum explosion pressure (Pmax) appears when IDT = 90 ms, PIP = 1.5 MPa and concentration = 625 g/m3. 3. The explosive mechanism is a homogeneous combustion mechanism based on particle surface pyrolysis and volatilization. Because of the decomposition, H2, CO, furfural, and other flammable gas-phase products are released, then surface burn appears, which leads to the crystal rupture on account of thermal imbalance, resulting in multiple flame points and a chain explosion. As the temperature of the 20L-sphere rises, more explosive products are released, which causes a rapidly expanding explosion and eventually forms the explosion. This paper can be used as a reference for the prevention of explosion accidents in sucrose production processing.