SEDL / STP / STP958-EB / STP28176S

Coal Dust Explosions in the Cement Industry

Alameddin, AN
Mining engineer, Safety and Health Technology Center, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Denver, CO

Luzik, SJ
Supervisory chemical engineer, Bruceton Safety Technology Center, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Pittsburgh, PA

Pages: 17    Published: Jan 1987

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Abstract

The number of coal fired industrial systems and utility power plants is rapidly increasing because of the high cost and uncertain availability of fuel oil and natural gas. For many cement producers in the United States, the conversion from fuel oil and natural gas to pulverized coal has been difficult, frustrating, and in a few cases, very costly. This study deals mainly with coal safety requirements in the cement industry which accounts for a very small percentage of coal usage in pulverized coal firing systems. It also deals with the safety requirements associated with coal grinding, drying, blending, transporting, and storing. Case histories investigated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will be discussed, and recommendations will be made for future fire and explosion prevention.