Biomass Electrical Earthing

[Badged01]

I like number 12 from the delivery check-list .....

"Is your pellet store free of electrical sockets, electrical fittings, lights and switches? (This is to prevent the risk of a dust explosion)"

Clearly not an ATEX environment so hopefully the owner doesn't have a burning candle in the pellet store instead so he can see whats being delivered .....

 

[snowhead]

I like number 12 from the delivery check-list .....

"Is your pellet store free of electrical sockets, electrical fittings, lights and switches? (This is to prevent the risk of a dust explosion)"

Clearly not an ATEX environment so hopefully the owner doesn't have a burning candle in the pellet store instead so he can see whats being delivered .....

No 8;

Is the intake pipe metal and earthed? - No + NO

 

[Knobhead]

ATEX Zone 21 should fit the bill. If there’s no provision for dust handling/suppression maybe even Zone 20 around any vent area.

The biggest problem seems to be some people’s inability to understand the dangers of static discharge.

 

[Badged01]

I would have gone for a zone 21, although I don't know all the facts about the environment or even manuf inst for the equipment in the environment.

Although it does seem odd that the "checklist" mentions the possibility of a "dust explosion" with their pellet delivery but doesn't define much other than no electrical switches, sockets etc. Presumably its not their problem as they are just delivering the pellets and want the money ........ unless I guess something goes 'pop' and their operator gets hurt!

 

[Knobhead]

I suppose they’re taking the stance of a responsible seller. It’s not going to cost anything to publish their requirements. The interesting bit would be if they refused to deliver to an unloading point that is unsafe as this one clearly is. Blowing up employees isn’t looked on favourably.

I don’t know what experience you’ve had of blown discharge points. A powder in transit at fairly high speed is hellishly abrasive even though it appears to be a soft material. I can’t see the plastic pipe lasting long. If it does wear through then dust is going to go in to the atmosphere, again a danger. Maybe that will prompt some action by the OP.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I learnt how to make explosions out of self raising flour when I was a kid, watching Fred Dineage on HOW!

 

[Knobhead]

Fred was great! I can't see them transmitting programs like that now.

Dad used to dread brother and I watching HOW. I wonder why?

 

[Guest111]

I learnt how to make explosions out of self raising flour when I was a kid, watching Fred Dineage on HOW!

wonder if that's why they call it self raising flour?lol

 

[Guest111]

Hi all, I have a question and despite my 15+ years as an electrician its a relatively basic one.:blush5:

When earthing what is the situation with the following:

I have a Biomass Boiler installed with the pellet feed pipes made of plastic pipes (possibly a bit weak for the pellets to be blown in but its the plumbers/fitters idea so go figure) and a metal connection point fitted to the plastic pipe and mounted in a brick wall.
I have been told it needs earthing but i cant for the life of me figure out why.

its an extreanous metal part agreed but its isolated from all parts by the plastic pipe and the wall its mounted into.
if im to connect an earth to this as asked why do we not for example bond all radiators that are inside the house and fitted to poly pipe? those are also extreaneous i would have thought?

im guessing im being thick but any help you guys can give me would be much appreciated.

As others have said,bonding is not done solely for the reasons you think.Static not only causes explosions it also gives you a nasty belt too,did you never get a shock getting out of the car or off a nylon carpet? Most fine dusts or powders will quite happily generate a good amount of static when passing through a plastic pipe,look on yt for videos of the aftermath.

Inferno: Dust Explosion at Imperial Sugar - YouTube


[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVZzdtnZaJk
[/URL]