Combustible dust explosions continue to present a significant threat toward industries processing, storing, or pneumatically conveying metal dust hazards. Through recent years, investigations have observed the influence of particle size, polydispersity, and chemical composition on dust explosion sensitivity and severity. However, studies characterizing the effect of particle shape (or morphology) on metal dust explosibility are limited and merit further consideration. In this work, high-purity aluminum dust samples of three unique particle morphologies were examined (spherical granular, irregular granular, and dry flake). To maintain consistency in results obtained, all samples were procured with similar particle size distribution and polydispersity, as verified by laser diffraction particle size analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) experiments were executed to confirm supplier claims on morphology and to quantify the effective surface area associated with each sample, respectively. Investigations performed in a Kühner MIKE3 minimum ignition energy apparatus and a Siwek 20 L sphere combustion chamber resulted in the direct characterization of explosion sensitivity and severity, respectively, as a function of suspended fuel concentration and variable particle morphology. Recommendations to standard risk/hazard analysis procedures and to existing design guidance for the mitigation of deflagrations that originate from ignition of distinctively processed metal dust fuels have been provided.

可燃粉尘爆炸继续对工业加工，存储或气动输送金属粉尘危害构成重大威胁。近年来，研究已经观察到粒径，多分散性和化学成分对粉尘爆炸敏感性和严重性的影响。然而，表征颗粒形状（或形态）对金属粉尘爆炸性影响的研究是有限的，值得进一步考虑。在这项工作中，检查了三种独特颗粒形态（球形颗粒，不规则颗粒和干薄片）的高纯度铝尘样品。为了保持所获得结果的一致性，所有样品均以相似的粒度分布和多分散性进行采购，这通过激光衍射粒度分析得到了验证。分别进行了扫描电子显微镜（SEM）成像和Brunauer-Emmett-Teller（BET）实验，以确认供应商对形态的要求并量化与每个样品相关的有效表面积。在KühnerMIKE3最小点火能量装置和Siwek 20 L球形燃烧室中进行的研究分别得出爆炸敏感性和严重性的直接特征，这些特征是悬浮燃料浓度和可变颗粒形态的函数。已经提供了有关标准风险/危害分析程序的建议以及减轻因特殊加工的金属粉尘燃料着火引起的爆燃的现有设计指南的建议。