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General Discussion To Gateway To Airguns => Back Room => : Bogey August 24, 2009, 01:00:43 PM

: Coal Dust Explosion
: Bogey August 24, 2009, 01:00:43 PM
Had something happen earlier this evening that I had never had happen before.   Started up the charcoal grill and had emptied out a bag of charcoal except for a few briquetes and had set the bag aside.   The charcoal was lite and going pretty good when I picked up the bag to shake the last few bricks out onto the fire.  When I turned up the bag the usuall charcoal dust fell into the flames.    As soon as that happened there was a pretty good WHUMP sound as the dust exploded in the bag.  Nothing  destroyed but I will not be doing that again.
: RE: Coal Dust Explosion
: HNT5 August 24, 2009, 01:17:47 PM
That would freak almost anyone out. Something you just aren't expecting. Check out this video, same principle, just on a larger scale
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/80623061

Nathan
: RE: Coal Dust Explosion
: Bogey August 24, 2009, 01:41:16 PM
Nathan, thanks for the link to that coal mine explosion.  Impressive.   Thankfully the event in my grill was on a much smaller scale.  But it did get my attention.  I have heard how different forms are explosive, kind of interesting to actually have it happen in front of you.
: RE: Coal Dust Explosion
: MartinDWhite August 25, 2009, 12:51:49 AM
Sawdust will explode too. The finer the bigger the bang.
: RE: Coal Dust Explosion
: Tn.Reb August 25, 2009, 04:51:36 AM
Flour dust is explosive too.
: RE: Coal Dust Explosion
: bodiej August 26, 2009, 08:17:24 AM
also  -  non-dairy creamer :)
: RE: Coal Dust Explosion
: TexasShooter72 August 26, 2009, 10:34:38 AM
Wow, I've had similar happen but I pour my coals into a cylinder and start em' with paper.  After filling up that cylinder I'd realized I had another bag of coals with only a few remaining and when I emptied the other bag into he top of the cylinder this whooosh of power came back at me.  Must've been the coal dust I take it?  Kinda clears up a mystery for me!  I never figured out what happened that day until now.

Thanks for the tip!
: Re: Coal Dust Explosion
: BJames August 28, 2009, 01:08:15 AM
The dust has much more surface area than a large chunk of solid material.  Each piece of dust reaches it's flash point easier, and BOOM!