LAUSR

Abstract Energy released in explosion of aluminum dust at a given concentration in air depends on pre-ignition turbulence. The combined effects of turbulence and concentration on aluminum dust/air explosion in a 20 L spherical vessel were examined by numerical calculation in this study. It is found that role of pre-ignition turbulence in the aluminum dust/air explosion is related to the nominal concentrations. At lower nominal concentrations, the turbulence is a dominant factor affecting an aluminum dust/air explosion over uniformity of aluminum dust suspended in air. However, at higher nominal concentrations, the uniformity of aluminum dust suspended in air is a dominant factor affecting an aluminum dust/air explosion over turbulence.