Explosion control of spray dryers

For the safe running of spray drying with combustible materials in industrial plants, the behavior of reactants, intermediates and final products in the spray drying operation must be known. It is shown how the determination of hazard factors for spray drying can be facilitated by safety tests and the assessment of the properties of the products, and how criteria serving as a basis for decisions for the application of possible safety measures can be provided. The demonstrated protection concepts are based on carefully performed event analyses and in recent years above all on the free exchange of findings and experience gained in industrial operations between chemical companies. It is intended to provide support for practitioners in plants and the responsible departments in the assessment of explosion hazards and the selection of protective measures. The specified limit values are based on laboratory investigations emulating industrial conditions or have been estimated based on many years of experience. The concepts summarize the basic requirements, which have to be met for the safe handling of spray drying operations. However, in every plant the local conditions must be used to assess whether and in what manner further technical and/or organizational measures must be implemented. In cases of doubt, the advice of experts must be sought.