Rapid characterization of combustible particle breakage via dry dispersion laser diffraction

Dust explosion hazards can be analyzed by various explosion parameters, which are known to depend on the particle size distribution of combustible dust. Literature has evidenced the dispersion system in laboratory apparatus (e.g., 20-L chamber) breaks the original dust into smaller sizes. Such unexpected particle breakage can lead to misleading explosion results which may exaggerate the actual hazards. This study develops a novel solution to identify combustible particle breakage by exploiting dry dispersion laser diffraction technology. Nine samples were dispersed under different levels of energy in a particle size analyzer. Serious particle breakage is confirmed if the tested particle size decreases significantly with increasing dispersion pressure. Eight particle size parameters were plotted to derive quantitative pressure titration curves. A larger average slope in percentage decreases of D₁₀, D₅₀, and D_3,2 represents a higher particle breakage tendency. The characterization results are well correlated to previous breakage classification in the 20-L chamber.