Explosion and combustion processes associated with the fogging of stored potatoes

Summary An appraisal was undertaken of the key factors involved in explosion and combustion processes mainly associated with the fogging of chlorpropham formulations into potato stores. The key factors considered are source of ignition, solvents, explosive limits of solvents, the presence and atmospheric concentrations of particulate clouds and the role of particulate material in dust explosions. Also the sequence of events that takes place in a dust explosion, including critical concentrations of dust required to initiate the reactions involved and the particular relevance of the above events to the behaviour of chlorpropham fogs both at the time of application and when distributed throughout a store. The relevance of fine dust already present in the store to the initiation of explosions, particularly secondary explosions, which are considered to be a major cause of concern due to their severity, is also emphasised.