Inhibition of Four Inert Powders on the Minimum Ignition Energy of Sucrose Dust

Abstract

In order to evaluate the effect of inert powder on the ignition sensitivity of sucrose dust, this study investigated the effects of NaHCO3, NaCl, NH4H2PO4 and Al(OH)3 on the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of sucrose dust. The results showed that all four different inert powders inhibited the MIE of sucrose dust, and all of them showed a trend that the smaller the particle size of the inert powders, the better the inhibition effect. The inhibition effect was ranked as NaHCO3 > NH4H2PO4 > NaCl > Al(OH)3. NaHCO3 and NH4H2PO4 had both physical and chemical inhibition effects, which were better compared to NaCl and Al(OH)3, which had only physical inhibition effects. Analysis of the flame images showed that the inert powder slowed down the combustion of the sucrose dust flame and reduced the flame height. No flame appeared in the region of higher inert powder concentration.