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The use of finite element field analysis in investigating industrial electrostatic hazards

The use of finite element field analysis in investigating industrial electrostatic hazards
The use of finite element field analysis in investigating industrial electrostatic hazards
Large vessels containing electrostatically charged flammable mists or dust clouds form part of many industrial processes. Consequently, high internal space potentials and electric fields are possible, promoting electrostatic discharges. The risk of ignition is often addressed by nitrogen inertion or by adding explosion protection systems. A preferred cost-effective alternative is to analyse the process with the aim of determining the maximum electric field that can be generated inside the vessel, for comparison with breakdown strength of air at which electrostatic discharges can occur. This field can seldom be measured directly. It can, however, be determined by performing simple measurements of the charge concentration and vessel dimensions to model the electrostatic conditions using a finite element, field analysis package. The package has been routinely used in hazard analyses by Wolfson Electrostatics, allowing the potential distributions and electric fields inside vessels to be displayed, using interactive graphics, as contour lines, vectors or graphs. Two hazard investigations in which the package was used are described in this paper.
1851-1854
IEEE
Jones, R.T.
ed4ffbaf-fea8-4f2d-bc26-ed708d734cab
Abu-Sharkh, S.M.
97666072-939a-4569-a7ff-76788db2da34
Jones, R.T.
ed4ffbaf-fea8-4f2d-bc26-ed708d734cab
Abu-Sharkh, S.M.
97666072-939a-4569-a7ff-76788db2da34

Jones, R.T. and Abu-Sharkh, S.M. (1996) The use of finite element field analysis in investigating industrial electrostatic hazards. In Industry Applications Conference, 1996. Thirty-First IAS Annual Meeting, IAS '96. Conference Record of the 1996 IEEE. IEEE. pp. 1851-1854 . (doi:10.1109/IAS.1996.559321).

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Large vessels containing electrostatically charged flammable mists or dust clouds form part of many industrial processes. Consequently, high internal space potentials and electric fields are possible, promoting electrostatic discharges. The risk of ignition is often addressed by nitrogen inertion or by adding explosion protection systems. A preferred cost-effective alternative is to analyse the process with the aim of determining the maximum electric field that can be generated inside the vessel, for comparison with breakdown strength of air at which electrostatic discharges can occur. This field can seldom be measured directly. It can, however, be determined by performing simple measurements of the charge concentration and vessel dimensions to model the electrostatic conditions using a finite element, field analysis package. The package has been routinely used in hazard analyses by Wolfson Electrostatics, allowing the potential distributions and electric fields inside vessels to be displayed, using interactive graphics, as contour lines, vectors or graphs. Two hazard investigations in which the package was used are described in this paper.

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More information

Published date: 1996
Venue - Dates: Industry Applications Conference, 1996. Thirty-First IAS Annual Meeting, IAS '96, San Diego, USA, 1996-10-06 - 1996-10-10

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 21258
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/21258
PURE UUID: 793c1cde-10b6-47db-bc07-bd567799f793

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Date deposited: 16 Nov 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:29

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Contributors

Author: R.T. Jones
Author: S.M. Abu-Sharkh

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