Tilbury explosion

PSQ

Member
Arable Farmer
First ADM's Erith OSR processing plant goes 'bang', now this...

As things currently stand from January onwards we will have WTO tariffs on imported barley and wheat, but not maize, and it's maize imports that will stop domestic prices rising.
 

bitwrx

Member
Its usually a result of dust deposits plus a mechanical failure that makes the spark. Its almost a daily occurrence in the USA, but thankfully rare in other parts of the world.
Was chatting to a mate the other day. He had a DSEAR assessment done by a specialist for the AD plant on the farm he manages. While he was at it, he got the grain store done as well. As a result he's now having the blowdown system in the grain plant decommissioned, and has installed a chuffing great hoover. No more leaf blowers in the silos either.
 

Brisel

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Midlands
Imports ? Exports ? good for us producers or not ?

I don't know what goes out of Tilbury but there's plenty coming in too. Bear in mind we're looking at the smallest wheat harvest in decades we will be a net importer this winter. That doesn't mean that feed wheat isn't going from East Anglia and milling wheat, feed ingredients e.g. maize coming in. Allied Mills, Rank Hovis & ADM all have facilities there.

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D14

Member
Was chatting to a mate the other day. He had a DSEAR assessment done by a specialist for the AD plant on the farm he manages. While he was at it, he got the grain store done as well. As a result he's now having the blowdown system in the grain plant decommissioned, and has installed a chuffing great hoover. No more leaf blowers in the silos either.

What was his blowdown system exactly? and whats the issue with leaf blowers?
 

PostHarvest

Member
Location
Warwick
I don't see a problem with leaf blowers other than they don't remove the dust, mostly they just move it around. The problem in commercial silos is that a mechanical failure in a machine, typically a bucket elevator can trigger a small explosion that ruptures the casing if it isn't properly vented to the outside. If the casing splits, the primary explosion can stir up dust in the passageways and set off a bigger secondary explosion. I've advised several commercial silos in the Middle East on explosion prevention which obviously they see as a major hazard in their climate.
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
I don't see a problem with leaf blowers other than they don't remove the dust, mostly they just move it around. The problem in commercial silos is that a mechanical failure in a machine, typically a bucket elevator can trigger a small explosion that ruptures the casing if it isn't properly vented to the outside. If the casing splits, the primary explosion can stir up dust in the passageways and set off a bigger secondary explosion. I've advised several commercial silos in the Middle East on explosion prevention which obviously they see as a major hazard in their climate.

Would that sort of place be ATEX zoned, and what would the zone be?
 

PSQ

Member
Arable Farmer
I don't see a problem with leaf blowers other than they don't remove the dust, mostly they just move it around. The problem in commercial silos is that a mechanical failure in a machine, typically a bucket elevator can trigger a small explosion that ruptures the casing if it isn't properly vented to the outside. If the casing splits, the primary explosion can stir up dust in the passageways and set off a bigger secondary explosion. I've advised several commercial silos in the Middle East on explosion prevention which obviously they see as a major hazard in their climate.
The problem with leaf blowers is that they create a homogenous mix of flammable dust and air, all that is missing is a spark.

Not Tilburry, but footage of primary and secondary explosions at a silo in the US:

 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
Probably should have said, I don;t see there is a problem with leaf blowers in most farm situations. Large commercial silos have enclosed headhouses and galleries which are prime sites for secondary explosions. Most farm sites are open so there is no enclosure. There may be a fire, but less likely to be an explosion

Are farm setting inside ATEX / DSEAR rules? Presumably analysis would come to same conclusions as commercial silo if similar?
 

bitwrx

Member
What was his blowdown system exactly? and whats the issue with leaf blowers?
Just take-off points around the building to connect a compressed air lance.

In general, the risk he was advised to be worried about is as other people have said. Grain dust cloud, plus spark = boom. No compressed air or leaf blowers = no dust cloud, or so the theory goes. All about eliminating the hazard. Whether there's much to worry about in a typical farm store is another matter, but incidents in bigger stores around the world, such as at Tilbury, suggest it's not a negligible risk.

Easiest thing for a manager on a large estate is just to say "no blowing in the grain store". Simple.
 

Rookie

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Lincs / Notts
Will all the grain in these silos that have been affected by the explosion be classed as contaminated waste and be took out of the food chain ?
I supposed it could be used for fuel in a power station and be burnt to get rid of it.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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