SILOS

Explosion Risks and Protection Strategies

Silos serve two primary functions: save ground space when storing a lot of product and protect the stored product from
environmental influences.

Many of the materials stored in silos include grain, coal, wood chips and agricultural goods - all of which are considered
combustible and therefore require preventative and mitigative explosion protection solutions.

Dust Hazards
and Ignition Risks
Silos are filled with product by truck, bucket elevator or
pneumatic conveyor, all of which have the likelihood of
producing a dust cloud during the filling process. If one
of the following ignition sources reach the dust cloud, a
devastating explosion may occur:

• Electrostatic “cone discharge” from charged bulk

product onto the stored product surface during filling
• Sparks and embers entering the silo during the filling
process
• Smouldering of stored product
If the resulting explosion pressure wave is higher than the
silo’s design pressure, catastrophic damage to both the
equipment and its surroundings may occur. Furthermore,
unprotected explosions may travel into interconnected pipes and vessels, creating additional damage - sometimes more
devastating than the initial deflagration itself.

The Solutions
Explosion prevention and good housekeeping efforts may
be employed to reduce these ignition risks found in silos.
Some of these preventative methods may include:
• Limit electrical diameter of silo by conductive inserts
• Spark or ember detection on dusty air inlet and spark
suppression or isolation before it enters the silo
• Carbon monoxide monitoring at the roof, and if
detected, inject inert gas

This document is not to be used for installation purposes and is subject to Fike’s full disclaimer at fike.com/disclaimer. Fike reserves the right to
change product designs or specifications without obligation and without further notice.
However, because the elimination of all potential ignition sources and airborne dust inside silos is impossible, explosion
mitigation systems are required for both protecting not only workers, equipment and business continuity, but also to
comply with NFPA/ATEX standards.

Explosion protection methods may include an active system, which uses sensors to detect explosion pressure waves,
flames or sparks, and then relays a signal to activate a device such as a suppression bottle or an explosion isolation valve;
or a passive system, which uses vents and explosion valves that activate from the pressure wave itself.

While passive solutions are more cost effective to install and maintain, active systems minimize the damage and loss
once an explosion occurs and may allow for faster post-event startup.

Regardless of the type of system, any explosion protection strategy must include devices to protect both the silo from
the initial deflagration as well as downstream and upstream equipment from secondary explosions.

PROTECTING THE VESSEL:

EXPLOSION VENTING
Explosion vent panels are one of the most economic
and convenient solutions to prevent explosions from
reaching their potential maximum pressures. When a
deflagration occurs, vent panels serve as the weak point
of the enclosure and provide an engineered pathway for
expanding pressures and flames to escape..

Vents are installed on silos’ roofs if enough safe space is

available or high on the cylindrical side wall. Vents are
always installed above the maximum product fill level and
should vent into a safe area.

Flameless venting may also be required in certain vented

applications. During a deflagration, the vent panel will
open, allowing dust to enter the flameless device and
dissipate the heat to prevent flame and pressure from escaping.

Additional vent accessories such as weather covers are available to allow installation in even the harshest conditions.
Hygienic explosion vents are also available for food storage silos where CIP cleaning is applied.

PROTECTING THE VESSEL: EXPLOSION SUPPRESSION

Similar to explosion venting, explosion suppression
systems are also designed to mitigate the initial
deflagration. When the incipient stages of a deflagration
are monitored by a pressure detector, the Fike HRD
bottle fully releases its contents of sodium bicarbonate
into the silo to suppress the deflagration - all within
hundreds of milliseconds of ignition.
Suppression systems may be recommended or required
in favor of venting solutions for the following reasons:
• Reduces the pressure of deflagration to protect
enclosure integrity
• Extinguishes the flame within the silo, reducing fire
damage potential

This document is not to be used for installation purposes and is subject to Fike’s full disclaimer at fike.com/disclaimer. Fike reserves the right to
change product designs or specifications without obligation and without further notice.
 • Eliminates the flame release and greatly reduces the
pressure path associated with explosion venting
• Largely eliminates the discharge of toxic or hazardous
materials outside of the dust collector enclosure
HRD suppression bottles are installed on the roof or top-
side wall and evenly distributed to ensure suppressant
powder reaches the entire silo volume and to balance
reaction forces during activation. Telescopic spreader
nozzles with abrasion-resistant process covers are used
to protect against erosion of product rubbing during silo
filling and emptying.

PROTECTING CONNECTED EQUIPMENT: EXPLOSION ISOLATION

Stopping an explosion from spreading upstream and downstream into connected pipes and equipment is as important as
containing the initial deflagration itself.

If flame is allowed to propagate to interconnected vessels, it can lead to pressure piling, where the pressure is built up
in the adjoining vessel prior to the flame arriving. The ensuing deflagration in this connected vessel then starts at an
increased pressure with correspondingly more serious consequences, both in terms of the rate of combustion and final
pressure.

The product inlet (pneumatic filling line and gravity filling line) are often protected with active mechanical barriers
(pinch valves or gate valves), as passive mechanical barriers are at risk of clogging due to the large amounts of product
conveyed into the silo. Chemical isolation may also be used if the silo volume does not exceed chemical barrier limits.
Furthermore, active mechanical barriers may also serve as spark suppressors/isolators.

If a de-dusting line is installed, it may be isolated with a variety of protection methods, including a diverter, float valve,
gate valve or chemical barrier. The Fike application’s team will ensure the most reliable isolation method is chosen for
the unique application.

The product outlet may not require protection if the rotary valve is third-party approved as an explosion isolation
device and activates quickly enough upon explosion detection. If the rotary valve isn’t capable of explosion isolation, a
chemical barrier may be recommended if enough space exists in the duct.

WHY FIKE?
Our engineers and explosion experts understand the specific challenges related to the explosion
protection of silos. The explosion risk for every individual application is assessed to determine the
optimum explosion protection system, ensuring that all technical, commercial, operational and
regulatory needs are met to design a safe solution tailored to your facility’s specific requirements.

For more information about protecting a silo or powder storage bin from an explosion, do not
hesitate to contact us.

This document is not to be used for installation purposes and is subject to Fike’s full disclaimer at fike.com/disclaimer. Fike reserves the right to
change product designs or specifications without obligation and without further notice.