APPLICATIONS The effects of the war in Ukraine and the associated energy crisis continue to be felt across all industries in Europe. Companies that make and process foodstuffs and animal feed face major challenges. dusts through constant friction. Critical mixtures of dust and air frequently arise around machines like conveyor systems, mills, dust filters or cyclones, especially if they are operated pneumatically. Excess powder can escape from a bucket elevator and concentrate in the air. The movement means that the dust particles remain airborne much longer than usual. Alongside flames and glowing embers, dust explosions can also be triggered by hot surfaces, static electricity or sparks generated mechanically or electrically. These are too many risk factors that cannot be completely eliminated. Certified explosion protection in design is therefore essential for process managers looking to safeguard production. Active suppression systems Fast-acting suppression systems are designed to detect and suppress dust explosions at their earliest stages. Solutions such as the IPD system, developed by Bormann & Neupert by BS&B, use sensors to detect sudden pressure increases in critical areas, such as bucket elevators. In response, the system deploys a food-safe extinguishing agent within milliseconds to suppress the 30 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS March 2025 www.hpmag.co.uk Keeping production safe and food supply secure Industrial processes involving dry foodstuffs or animal feed can quickly create an explosive atmosphere due to airborne dust particles. Dust explosions pose significant risks to worker safety, equipment integrity, and production continuity. As the industry faces growing challenges in ensuring food security, robust explosion protection measures are essential to maintaining safe and uninterrupted operations. Maintaining food security has become a major issue in society. One of the keys to a secure and reliable supply of food is ensuring a continuous production process. But the processing or storing of powdered foodstuffs presents a major risk of unplanned production stops. Dust explosions are a pernicious threat with devastating potential due to the massive rise in pressure they create. Virtually all dry bulk products used in agriculture, such as flours made from grain, pulses and seeds, can form an explosive mixture in the right dust concentration. Other potentially explosive substances include starches, binders, sugars and sweeteners. Even non-powdered materials like feed pellets often create fine, flammable If a dust explosion occurs in the head of this bucket elevator, the IPD system from BS&B (left) suppresses it in a fraction of a second with a chemical extinguishing agent. The IPD system from BS&B also acts as a chemical isolation solution, preventing any potential dust explosion in the shafts of a bucket elevator from spreading.
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