Electrostatic Ignitions of Fires and Explosions [Hardcover]

Tom Pratt, a long-time process safety practitioner and lecturer in electrostatic safety, wrote this book to educate industry in the basics of electrostatics. It offers a selected collection of information designed to give readers the tools they need to examine the hazard potential of common industrial processes. Among the topics addressed are separation and accumulation of charge, discharge, minimum ignition energies, discharge energies, electrification in industrial processes, design and operating criteria, measurements, quantification of electrostatic scenarios. A selection of case histories helps illustrate sources of electrostatic ignition of combustibles, and strategies for preventing such incidents.Chapter 1. Basic Concepts.

1.1. The Electrostatic Charge.

1.1.1. Electrons, Protons, and Ions.

1.1.2. Charge Distribution: Point, Space, and Surface Charges.

1.2. The Electric Field.

1.2.1. Mapping Electric Fields.

1.2.2. Dielectrics.

1.2.3. Dielectric Breakdown.

1.3. Ground Potential.

1.3.1. Grounding.

1.3.2. Bonding.

1.4. Requirements for a Fire or an Explosion.

1.4.1. Ignitable Mixture.

1.4.2. Separation.

1.4.3. Accumulation.

1.4.4. Discharge.

Chapter 2. Separation and Accumulation of Charge.

2.1. Mechanisms of Charge Generation.

2.2. Charge Alignment.

2.3. Contact and Frictional Charging.

2.3.1. Surface Charging.

2.3.2. Powder Charging.

2.4. Double Layer Charging.

2.5. Charging of Drops, Mists, and Aerosols.

2.6. Two Phase Flow.

2.7. Charge Separation at Phase BoundarlÃ-