Effect of Particle Size on the Explosive Characteristics of Grain (Wheat) Starch in a Closed Cylindrical Vessel

Abstract

Wheat starch dust explosion poses a serious threat to food processing and handling industries. This study attempts to show the influence of particle size on some explosive characteristics of wheat starch dust. The maximum pressure, maximum rate of pressure rises, and severity factor index were determined in relation to four different particle sizes of wheat starch dust of 38 µm, 45 µm, 53 µm and 71 µm using the 1.2 L Hartmann explosion tube. The result of proximate and elemental analysis conducted showed the sample has a moisture content of 2.1 %, volatile content of 93.3 % and a calorific value of 15,777.2 J/g. The carbon content of the sample was 40 % and the hydrogen content 6.9 %. The result of the explosive parameter tests showed that the maximum explosion pressure of the wheat starch dust sample increased with decreasing particle size with the highest recorded value of 735 kPa for the particle size of 38 µm.