ABSTRACT
The parameters describing the characteristics of dust and gas explosions as determined by experiment are related to the equipment, test method, and definition of criteria. None of the ignition and explosion parameters such as ignition temperature, minimum explosive concentration, minimum ignition energy, explosion pressure, and rate of pressure development are fundamental properties of matter, but vary with ambient conditions, the test configurations, and the criteria established by the experimenter. The ignition temperature of a dust cloud and of a dust layer is determined in the Godbert-Greenwald furnace. The minimum electrical energy for ignition of a dust cloud is obtained by passing a spark of known energy from a capacitance discharge through a dispersed cloud in the Hartmann tube. The maximum explosion pressure, rate of pressure rise, and optimum explosive concentration for dust clouds are determined by dispersing and igniting a known concentration in the closed Hartmann tube.
