An Introduction to Dust Explosions: Understanding the Myths and Realities of Dust Explosions for a Safer Workplace

Paul Amyotte

May 2013 · Butterworth-Heinemann

About this ebook

Preventable dust explosions continue to occur in industry in spite of significant research and practice efforts worldwide over many years. There is a need for effective understanding of the unique hazards posed by combustible dust. This book describes a number of dust explosion myths – which together cover the main source of dust explosion hazards – the reasons they exist and the corresponding scientific and engineering facts that mitigate these circumstances.

An Introduction to Dust Explosions describes the main erroneous beliefs about the origin and propagation of dust explosions. It offers fact-based explanations for their occurrence and the impact of such events and provides a critical guide to managing and mitigating dust explosion risks.

• Designed to prevent accidents, injury, loss of life and capital damage
• An easy-to-read, scientifically rigorous treatment of the facts and fictions of dust explosions for those who need to – or ought to – understand dust explosions, their occurrence and consequences
• Enables the management and mitigation of these critical industrial hazards

About the author

Paul Amyotte is a Distinguished Research Professor and Professor of Chemical Engineering at Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada). He is a chemical engineering graduate of the Royal Military College of Canada (Bachelor’s), Queen’s University (Master’s), the Technical University of Nova Scotia (PhD) and a registered professional engineer in Nova Scotia. Dr. Amyotte is a member and past president of Canadian Society of Chemical Engineering, a member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers, a Fellow of Chemical Institute of Canada, the Engineering Institute of Canada, Canadian Academy of Engineering, Engineers Canada, and the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Dr. Amyotte has an extensive record of authorship, with six books, several book chapters, and over 350 papers published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at national and international conferences. He has presented invited plenary lectures at symposia in Canada, France, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Taiwan, and the United States. He is the current editor of the Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries, and a past president of the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering, Engineers Nova Scotia, and Engineers Canada. He has also served as chair of the Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board, member of the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board, and co-chair of the Materials and Chemical Engineering Evaluation Group of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Dr. Amyotte has consulted on numerous industrial projects involving hazard analysis, incident investigation, and material explosibility. Dr. Amyotte is a recipient of distinct awards including Cybulski Medal from the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Trevor Kletz Merit Award from the Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center, and the Process Safety Management Award from the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering.