Dust explosion hazard in the textile industry

The textile industry is not considered among those at high dust explosion risk, as official statistics (CSB 2010, Abbasi and Abbasi 2007, Yuan et al. 2015) account for a low incidence of episodes. Despite these data, there is also evidence that dust explosions may affect the textile industry with severe consequences. The Harbin linen explosion in China ( Hailin, 1988, Bowen 1988, Eckhoff 2003) is probably recognized as having been the most severe episode. Marmo et al. (2010), Piccinini (2008), Salatino et al. (2012) and the U.S. Fire Administration (1995) have discussed dust explosion episodes involving the textile compartment, with nylon flock and wool dust explosions. Amyotte summarized the state-of-the-art knowledge about flocculent materials (which mainly originate from the textile industry), explosion hazards, and the related studies in chapter thirteen of his well- known book (Amyotte 2013). The textile industry has two particular features regarding the dust explosion risk: a. The dust produced as a by-product of the textile process often belongs to the non-traditional dust category, as a result of the type of materials being handled, which are characterized by a marked flocculent attitude. Amyotte and his co-workers discussed flocculent dust behavior and the related risks in detail (Amyotte et al. 2011, 2012a, 2012b); b. The textile industry often needs control of the ambient moisture, which is generally accomplished using ventilation and environment humidification; the latter naturally implies a reduction in the risk of explosions. These particular features suggest that the risk of dust explosions in the textile industry deserves a dedicated discussion. The number of flocculent dust studies is somewhat limited. The role played by the particle size and aspect ratio (namely the diameter-to-length ratio) in explosibility proneness is still unclear. Worsfold et al. (2012) reported the importance of enlarging the knowledge on the hazards related to unconventional dust since most studies have focused on traditional dust. This work investigates the explosion hazards related to dust generated in the textile industry. Moreover, it presents some experimental results obtained by the authors, and detailed in Marmo et al. (2016, 2018), and illustrates the perspective of the study to increase the safety culture of these particular materials.