EXPLOSION PROTECTION

APPLICATION PROFILE

BUCKET ELEVATORS
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Chemical Chemical
Pharmaceutical Food
Petrochemical
IIndustries
n du s t r i es
SServed
er ved Pharmaceutical
Composite Wood Panel Power
Textile Wood Processing
Paint/Coatings

INTRODUCTION

Bucket elevators are among the most common

conveyors used for making vertical lifts of bulk
materials. The materials being conveyed can
vary over a wide range of sizes, from powders
to pellets. Most of these bulk materials inher-
ently produce dusty conditions within the bucket
elevators, creating explosion hazards.

In the grain storage and handling industry, the

bucket elevator is considered to be the most
dangerous piece of equipment in the process.
Good housekeeping and explosion prevention
strategies have reduced the average number of
explosions per year, but do nothing to mitigate
the destructive effects of explosions that do
occur.

The purpose of this application guide is to

provide a better understanding of the possible
explosion hazards and protection solutions for
bucket elevators. This document is intended to
be a guideline and is not applicable to all
situations. If you have any questions, please
contact the Fike Explosion Protection group or
our sales outlet in your area.

Figure 1: Bucket Elevator with explosion vents.

The Problem: Deflagration (Explosion)
Dust is generated at explosive concentrations during product feed and discharge due to the conveyance mechanics
and material characteristics. As the buckets are loaded, move through the elevator, and unload, they disperse dust
throughout the elevator. All that is needed for an explosion to occur is an ignition source. Ignition sources may
include; heat generated fire, welding, and sparks. Upon ignition, it can propagate throughout the elevator and to any
areas connected to the elevator, causing secondary explosions.

The Solution: Explosion Venting / Isolation / Suppression

Preventative strategies such as bearing temperature and belt alignment monitoring, metal detectors, or spark
extinguishing systems are often employed. However, these methods only reduce the frequency of explosions1.
Fike’s explosion protection solutions decrease the severity of the explosion to safe levels, preventing catastrophic
destruction and loss of life. The correct explosion protection strategy for any application depends on the explo-
sion protection objectives of the responsible engineer, as well as regulatory, system and economic considerations.
For simplicity, we have listed the most commonly applied protection strategies in three levels, from minimum
(level 1) to maximum protection, for your consideration.

Explosion Venting Explosion Vent located

on top surface or side
Explosion venting is the most widely accepted and utilized
explosion protection strategy. The most comprehensive
guidance for venting of bucket elevators is outlined in the
1999 edition of NFPA 61, Standard for the Prevention of
Fires and Dust Explosions in Agricultural and Food Products
Facilities. This recently revised standard specifies vents to
be located at intervals no greater than 20 ft. along the casing.
Vents are to be installed on each side of the casing with a
minimum area per vent equal to 2/3 the casing cross section. Explosion Vent located
The head must also be vented with an area of 5 ft2 for every on each side of casing
100 ft3 of head volume. Refer to NFPA 61, Factory Mutual or face
7-76, NFPA 68 and NFPA 654 for further design guidance.

Features & Benefits:

• Fike vents have the highest venting efficiency com-
pared to other venting devices.
• Certified burst pressures (Pstat) to guarantee reliability.
• Full opening, non-fragmenting design prevents the need
for restraints or barriers.
• No moving parts eliminate routine maintenance.
• Low cost and long service life.
• Design assistance provided by Fike to determine size,
selection, and placement.

1
Factory Mutual Data Sheets 7-76, September 1998 Figure 2: Bucket Elevator with explosion venting.
Explosion Venting with Explosion Isolation (level 2)
DETECTION
The addition of Explosion Isolation will prevent flame
propogation from the bucket elevator head or boot
sections through the feed and discharge spouts.
Factory Mutual 7-76 requires explosion isolation, ISOLATION
“where the elevator head or boot feeds into equipment
or areas which have an explosion hazard.” NFPA 654,
states that isolation devices shall be provided to
prevent deflagration propagation between pieces of
equipment connected by ductwork.
EXPLOSION VENTS

Features & Benefits:

• Prevents pressure piling and secondary
explosions with interconnected equipment.
• Integrates with the process controls to enable
remote and automated operation, process shut
CONTROL PANEL
down and annunciation devices.
Figure 3: Bucket Elevator with explosion venting
and chemical isolation.

DETECTION
Explosion Suppression (level 3)

Explosion suppression is most widely used for bucket

elevators located indoors. It provides additional ISOLATION
protection benefits when compared to venting, or
venting with isolation. For specific explosion suppression
hardware requirements refer to NFPA69.

Features & Benefits:

SUPPRESSION
• Extinguishes the flame within the bucket
elevator, preventing fire damage.
• Compliance with NFPA regulation barring the
venting of explosions indoors. Explosion vents
must be discharged to a safe location. Indoor
applications are difficult to vent….even with
discharge ducts.
• Retains toxic or valuable materials within the
process equipment. CONTROL PANEL
• Fike systems use gas cartridge actuators
instead of explosive initiators.

Figure 4: Bucket Elevator with explosion suppression

and chemical isolation.
FIKE’S “TOTAL CONCEPT” APPROACH TO EXPLOSION PROTECTION

Fike’s approach provides you with the protection options you need, based upon your specific process
requirements, and your protection objectives. Leading the industry in technology, we are continuously
pursuing optimization of our protection strategies, and developing new ones to meet our customer’s needs.
You can be sure of system reliability, compatibility, and effective explosion protection because Fike is the
only “single-source” manufacturer in the world that can offer this comprehensive range of products and
services.

Explosion Testing - A wide range of bench-scale, and industrial-scale tests to determine explosibility
characteristics of process media, and to validate protection strategies
Explosion Venting – Relieves explosion overpressure conditions within process equipment, before destruc-
tive levels of pressure can be reached
Explosion Isolation – Mechanical or chemical barriers to prevent the spread of explosions through inter-
connecting pipes or ducts
Explosion Suppression – Detects and extinguishes the explosion in its very early stages, before destructive
levels of pressure can be reached
Field Service & Customer Training – Isolation and Suppression systems are active strategies that require
periodic maintenance and inspection. Fike has the service capability to perform these functions for you, or a
training option to qualify and certify your employees
Engineering Workshops And Seminars – An ongoing program to educate engineers, designers, and others
in industry who are involved in, or concerned with industrial process safety.

Other Fike products and services of possible interest:

Rupture Disc – A pressure relief device, typically applied to a closed chemical process, will open at a
predetermined pressure and temperature to prevent the bursting or explosion of the process
Fire Detection and Suppression Systems – Automatic systems to detect and extinguish fires in controlled
environments, or special hazard areas, such as control rooms, auxiliary power station, chemical storage, etc.
Typical agents used:
• CO2
• HFC-227ea
• Water Mist
Detailed information for all these solutions, and locations of our global sales and support organization,
are available through our web site at www.fike.com. For your convenience you may call us directly at
(816) 229-3405, or e-mail your requests to fmpsales@fike.com.

704 South 10th Street ● Blue Springs, Missouri 64015-4263 U.S.A.

Phone (816) 229-3405 ● Telefax (816) 229-0314 ● e-mail fmpsales@fike.com ● www.fike.com

FORM No. AD1008 1001 Copyright © 2001 by Fike Corporation. All rights reserved PRINTED IN U.S.A.