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Bulk Material
Handling Systems

Dust Explosion
Prevention

Dust Control

Mobile Units

Heat Exchange
with Olds Elevators

Gentle Handling
Dust-Free Elevation

Dense Abrasives

Volumetric
Feeders

Pneumatics versus
Olds Elevators

Dust Explosion Risk Reduction

Dust explosions can occur during elevation of certain bulk materials, particularly in bucket elevators. There are 3 required elements for an explosion to occur:

1. Fuel
2. Oxygen
3. Ignition

In the form of the dust from the material being conveyed
Present if sufficient air is in the elevator
Sparks from a broken bucket or an overheated bearing

Dust Explosion Prevention, Dust Explosion Risk Reduction

Bucket elevators routinely operate in conditions where Nos. 1 and 2 are constantly present. Only the condition of the bearings, buckets, belts or chains determine if and when No. 3 will be introduced.

OLDS ELEVATORS™ operate in a “flooded” mode where the rotating casing and screw are filled with the material being conveyed. There is insufficient oxygen in the system to support combustion in the unlikely event that a spark should occur.

Refer to technical publication “Developments in Bulk Material Elevation Technology” by Wypych, Olds and McIntosh, September 2007.

Volatile Substance;
Inspections at Plant

Sugar dust is so combustible that static electricity, sparks from metal tools or a cigarette can ignite explosions.

More than 300 dust explosions have killed more than 120 workers in grain silos, sugar plants and food processing plants over the past three decades. Most are preventable by removing fine-grain dust as it builds up, experts say.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board concluded in a special report in 2006 that OSHA had no comprehensive regulation to prevent these explosions and their program “inadequately addresses dust explosion hazards.”

The board recommended OSHA issue a comprehensive industrial standard for combustible dust.

OSHA did not issue a comprehensive industrial standard for combustible dust, as the board recommended. It did institute a national program under which sites would be inspected for various issues including combustible dust to make sure they complied with federal regulations, OSHA spokesman Mike Wald said.

The Port Wentworth site had not been inspected as part of that new program, Wald said. He said the last OSHA inspection of the facility was in June 2000, in response to an unspecified complaint, with no violations found.

In October 2007, state officials cited the plant for two violations - one involving an opening in a packing room area that could allow pests in, and another for not properly protecting buckets used for packing molasses in a warehouse.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said it was sending an investigative team to the plant.

Sugar Refinery Blast

Scroll down to read MSNBC story:

Engineering and Support

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OLDS ELEVATOR™ LLC
12 B Park Ave.
Hudson, NH 03051

Call 603.882.8899
Fax 603.882.8855

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OLDS ELEVATOR™
Advantages
1. Olds Elevator Innovative
Material Elevation

No Segregation
No Breakage
No DustMore…

Dissatisfied by conventional methods with bucket elevators, screw elevators, pneumatic conveyors and inclined belt conveyors? OLDS ELEVATOR™ has
developed a radical concept that overcomes all the obstacles of elevating while providing engineering design, elevator manufacturing, installation and service.
MA, Massachusetts, NH, New Hampshire, CT, Connecticut, RI, Rhode Island, VT, Vermont, ME, Maine, New England and all of the United States and Canada

Dust Explosion Risk Reduction

Volatile Substance;Inspections at Plant

Sugar Refinery Blast

Volatile Substance;
Inspections at Plant