Title: Development of dust ignition protected electrically powered forklift truck for combustible dust environment

Authors: Rajendra Kumar Vishwakarma; Arvind Kumar Singh; Bhagirath Ahirwal; Arvind Kumar; Navin Kumar; Jitendra Kumar Singh

Addresses: CSIR – Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad, 826015, Jharkhand State, India ' CSIR – Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad, 826015, Jharkhand State, India ' CSIR – Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad, 826015, Jharkhand State, India ' CSIR – Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad, 826015, Jharkhand State, India ' CSIR – Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad, 826015, Jharkhand State, India ' CSIR – Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Barwa Road, Dhanbad, 826015, Jharkhand State, India

Abstract: Industries dealing with explosive gases and combustible dusts in processing or production are always at higher risk of gas or dust explosion. Purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), Panipat, India has similar risk of dust explosion hazard, since PTA is a combustible substance in the form of dust or layer. To load, unload and transport the PTA bags in the plant, special forklift trucks are required. A prototype forklift truck for combustible dust atmosphere was developed in collaboration with M/s Action Construction Equipment Ltd. (ACE), Palwal, India. The electrical components with dust ignition protected design have been manufactured by ACE in consultation with CSIR-CIMFR, Dhanbad, India. All other possible sources of ignition are identified and suitable components/parts of forklift are used for hazardous atmosphere. This paper presents the design requirements of a dust ignition protected and battery operated forklift truck for safe use in zone 22 combustible dust atmosphere of the plant. [Received: December 24, 2016; Accepted: December 6, 2017]

Keywords: combustible dust; dust ignition protection; electric forklift truck; purified terephthalic acid; PTA; zone 22.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2019.096509

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2019 Vol.20 No.1, pp.113 - 126

Received: 24 Dec 2016
Accepted: 06 Dec 2017
Published online: 05 Dec 2018 *

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