Powder Thermal Stability Determination

The self heating of powders is one of the more common causes of fires and explosions in powder processing operations. A range of temperature-ramped screening and isothermal test equipment is available to closely simulate plant conditions so that safe processing temperatures can be accurately determined. If the heat developed by a reaction of the substance with air (exothermic decomposition) is not lost rapidly enough to the surroundings, self heating leading to self ignition can occur.

5mm Layer Apparatus (data acquisition system not shown)

5mm Layer Ignition Temperature For the specification of electrical equipment in hazardous areas. Equipment is manufactured to IEC and EN standards. This equipment has been further developed with a small hotplate unit and remote temperature control and data acquisition instrumentation.

Aerated Cell To study how thermal stability is affected by air flow through bulk powder (e.g. in fluid bed dryers). (John Abbot, Prevention of Fires & Explosions in Dryers 2nd ed., IChemE). Comes complete with oven, temperature controller equipment, data acquisition hardware and software, selection of thermocouples, set of vessels, mounting stand and comprehensive manual. Oven fitted with air pre-heating coil and side mounted air flow meter.   Diffusion Cell To study powder decomposition under bulk powder conditions where there is no forced aeration of the powder (e.g. hoppers, silos or bulk powder dryers). (John Abbott, Prevention of Fires & Explosions in Dryers 2nd ed., IChemE). Comes complete with oven, temperature controller equipment, data acquisition hardware and software, selection of thermocouples, set of vessels, mounting stand and comprehensive manual.

Internal view of oven - Aerated Cell and mount. Shows sample vessel and mounting stand together with air pre-heating pipe work. For the Diffusion Cell test, the vessel lid is detached from the main vessel body to allow natural air diffusion.

Air Over Layer To simulate conditions where powder layers occur inside dryers (e.g. tray dryers or wall of spray dryers etc) (John Abbot, Prevention of Fires & Explosions in Dryers 2nd ed., IChemE)

Basket Test For the accurate study of the effect of scale on powder thermal instability. (PC Bowes, Self Heating : Evaluating and Controlling the Hazards, 1984, FRS) Can also be used for regulatory testing studies in accordance with UN test requirements and also for packaging group classification, notification and other regulatory requirements.