EXPLOSION PROTECTION APPLICATION PROFILE

BUCKET ELEVATORS
Typical T ypi cal IIndustries n du s t r i es S er ved Served
Agricultural Chemical Chemical Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical Panel Powerextile Composite Wood T Food Petrochemical Wood Processing Paint/Coatings

INTRODUCTION
Bucket elevators are among the most common conveyors used for making vertical lifts of bulk materials. The materials being conveyed can vary over a wide range of sizes, from powders to pellets. Most of these bulk materials inherently produce dusty conditions within the bucket elevators, creating explosion hazards. In the grain storage and handling industry, the bucket elevator is considered to be the most dangerous piece of equipment in the process. Good housekeeping and explosion prevention strategies have reduced the average number of explosions per year, but do nothing to mitigate the destructive effects of explosions that do occur. The purpose of this application guide is to provide a better understanding of the possible explosion hazards and protection solutions for bucket elevators. This document is intended to be a guideline and is not applicable to all situations. If you have any questions, please contact the Fike Explosion Protection group or our sales outlet in your area.

Figure 1: Bucket Elevator with explosion vents.

The Problem: Deflagration (Explosion)

Dust is generated at explosive concentrations during product feed and discharge due to the conveyance mechanics and material characteristics. As the buckets are loaded, move through the elevator, and unload, they disperse dust throughout the elevator. All that is needed for an explosion to occur is an ignition source. Ignition sources may include; heat generated fire, welding, and sparks. Upon ignition, it can propagate throughout the elevator and to any areas connected to the elevator, causing secondary explosions.

The Solution: Explosion Venting / Isolation / Suppression

Preventative strategies such as bearing temperature and belt alignment monitoring, metal detectors, or spark extinguishing systems are often employed. However, these methods only reduce the frequency of explosions1. Fikes explosion protection solutions decrease the severity of the explosion to safe levels, preventing catastrophic destruction and loss of life. The correct explosion protection strategy for any application depends on the explosion protection objectives of the responsible engineer, as well as regulatory, system and economic considerations. For simplicity, we have listed the most commonly applied protection strategies in three levels, from minimum (level 1) to maximum protection, for your consideration.

Explosion Venting
Explosion venting is the most widely accepted and utilized explosion protection strategy. The most comprehensive guidance for venting of bucket elevators is outlined in the 1999 edition of NFPA 61, Standard for the Prevention of Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Products Facilities. This recently revised standard specifies vents to be located at intervals no greater than 20 ft. along the casing. Vents are to be installed on each side of the casing with a minimum area per vent equal to 2/3 the casing cross section. The head must also be vented with an area of 5 ft2 for every 100 ft3 of head volume. Refer to NFPA 61, Factory Mutual 7-76, NFPA 68 and NFPA 654 for further design guidance. Features & Benefits: Fike vents have the highest venting efficiency compared to other venting devices. Certified burst pressures (Pstat) to guarantee reliability. Full opening, non-fragmenting design prevents the need for restraints or barriers. No moving parts eliminate routine maintenance. Low cost and long service life. Design assistance provided by Fike to determine size, selection, and placement.

Explosion Vent located on top surface or side

Explosion Vent located on each side of casing or face

Factory Mutual Data Sheets 7-76, September 1998

Figure 2: Bucket Elevator with explosion venting.

Explosion Venting with Explosion Isolation (level 2)

The addition of Explosion Isolation will prevent flame propogation from the bucket elevator head or boot sections through the feed and discharge spouts. Factory Mutual 7-76 requires explosion isolation, where the elevator head or boot feeds into equipment or areas which have an explosion hazard. NFPA 654, states that isolation devices shall be provided to prevent deflagration propagation between pieces of equipment connected by ductwork. Features & Benefits: Prevents pressure piling and secondary explosions with interconnected equipment. Integrates with the process controls to enable remote and automated operation, process shut down and annunciation devices.
DETECTION

ISOLATION

EXPLOSION VENTS

CONTROL PANEL
Figure 3: Bucket Elevator with explosion venting and chemical isolation.

Explosion Suppression (level 3)

DETECTION

Explosion suppression is most widely used for bucket elevators located indoors. It provides additional ISOLATION protection benefits when compared to venting, or venting with isolation. For specific explosion suppression hardware requirements refer to NFPA69. Features & Benefits: Extinguishes the flame within the bucket elevator, preventing fire damage. Compliance with NFPA regulation barring the venting of explosions indoors. Explosion vents must be discharged to a safe location. Indoor applications are difficult to vent.even with discharge ducts. Retains toxic or valuable materials within the process equipment. Fike systems use gas cartridge actuators instead of explosive initiators.
SUPPRESSION

CONTROL PANEL

Figure 4: Bucket Elevator with explosion suppression and chemical isolation.

FIKES TOTAL CONCEPT APPROACH TO EXPLOSION PROTECTION

Fikes approach provides you with the protection options you need, based upon your specific process requirements, and your protection objectives. Leading the industry in technology, we are continuously pursuing optimization of our protection strategies, and developing new ones to meet our customers needs. You can be sure of system reliability, compatibility, and effective explosion protection because Fike is the only single-source manufacturer in the world that can offer this comprehensive range of products and services. Explosion Testing - A wide range of bench-scale, and industrial-scale tests to determine explosibility characteristics of process media, and to validate protection strategies Explosion Venting Relieves explosion overpressure conditions within process equipment, before destructive levels of pressure can be reached Explosion Isolation Mechanical or chemical barriers to prevent the spread of explosions through interconnecting pipes or ducts Explosion Suppression Detects and extinguishes the explosion in its very early stages, before destructive levels of pressure can be reached Field Service & Customer Training Isolation and Suppression systems are active strategies that require periodic maintenance and inspection. Fike has the service capability to perform these functions for you, or a training option to qualify and certify your employees Engineering Workshops And Seminars An ongoing program to educate engineers, designers, and others in industry who are involved in, or concerned with industrial process safety.

Other Fike products and services of possible interest:

Rupture Disc A pressure relief device, typically applied to a closed chemical process, will open at a predetermined pressure and temperature to prevent the bursting or explosion of the process Fire Detection and Suppression Systems Automatic systems to detect and extinguish fires in controlled environments, or special hazard areas, such as control rooms, auxiliary power station, chemical storage, etc. Typical agents used: CO2 HFC-227ea Water Mist Detailed information for all these solutions, and locations of our global sales and support organization, are available through our web site at www.fike.com. For your convenience you may call us directly at (816) 229-3405, or e-mail your requests to fmpsales@fike.com.

704 South 10th Street q Blue Springs, Missouri 64015-4263 U.S.A. Phone (816) 229-3405 q Telefax (816) 229-0314 q e-mail fmpsales@fike.com q www.fike.com
FORM No. AD1008 1001 Copyright 2001 by Fike Corporation. All rights reserved PRINTED IN U.S.A.