Alternative ignition source for testing dust explosion characteristics in closed vessel

To investigate the dust explosion characteristics for lycopodium and niacin at various concentrations the experimental study was performed in 20-litre spherical chamber made of stainless steel. The initial conditions of tested dusts were 1 bar and 200C. By means of pressure measuring system with two piezoelectric PCB transducers, the pressure-time curves that developed following the ignition were recorded. Instead of two chemical ignitors each of 5 kJ we developed our own new high-voltage spark generator. The idea of applied circuit in HV-spark generator is described in ASTM E-2019 and EN 13821. High-voltage pulse generated in the secondary coil of high-voltage transformer creates the spark breakdown of the gap between electrodes installed in the center of 20-litre sphere.