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Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

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  • Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

    Yes thats right, no joke! I was doing a general clean of my Rocky, and decided that since i dont have a dustbuster anymore, that id give the pressurised can of air a shot. So i started spraying it into the hopper, it seemed to be clearing out grinds very well.

    THEN... all of a sudden... (this so could be a script for a horror movie :P)... BANG! A loud explosion noise and a big ball of flame to the right of the Rocky! :O ???

    Has anyone had this happen to them??? The thing is... i have absolutely no idea what exploded, no idea what caught on fire or produced the flame... and the funny thing is my grinder works perfectly still??

    HUH?

  • #2
    Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

    Volatile oils

    KK

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    • #3
      Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

      Originally posted by 445E5A5859445C0F45370 link=1284959444/0#0 date=1284959444
      Yes thats right, no joke! I was doing a general clean of my Rocky, and decided that since i dont have a dustbuster anymore, that id give the pressurised can of air a shot. So i started spraying it into the hopper, it seemed to be clearing out grinds very well.

      THEN... all of a sudden... (this so could be a script for a horror movie :P)... BANG! A loud explosion noise and a big ball of flame to the right of the Rocky! :O ???

      Has anyone had this happen to them??? The thing is... i have absolutely no idea what exploded, no idea what caught on fire or produced the flame... and the funny thing is my grinder works perfectly still??

      HUH?
      Let me guess you HAD the power to the grinder ON ?

      Toss a hand full of flower or Carbon dust , Toner dust or another fine powder of teh right form into the air and have someone strike an ark or allow the fine dust to bridge an electrical cct..

      BANG your in trouble... BIG Time... If you live  

      Yes... Vacc cleaners have all sorts of internal filters to manage this very problem, but even they explode under the right conditions / dust.  Vacc cleaners used for photo copiers and toner dust are special and a normal vacc cleaner should never be used.

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      • #4
        Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

        Yeah i did have the power on... yeah, someone suggested that very small particles can ignite spontaneously, due to friction when they collide in the air...
        Im guessing that was the doing of the pressurised can of air, but for coffee particles to VIOLENTLY explode like that in a ball of fire? Thats epic... then again a pressurised can of air is called pressurised for a reason... so it must have REALLY thrown em together to party! lol

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        • #5
          Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

          Originally posted by 7A606466677A62317B090 link=1284959444/3#3 date=1284964504
          Yeah i did have the power on... yeah, someone suggested that very small particles can ignite spontaneously, due to friction when they collide in the air...
          Im guessing that was the doing of the pressurised can of air, but for coffee particles to VIOLENTLY explode like that in a ball of fire? Thats epic... then again a pressurised can of air is called pressurised for a reason... so it must have REALLY thrown em together to party! lol
          Has NOTHING to do with the particulates being tossed together..  Still rolling on floor thinking about that one..  

          Do not guess and or assume; that is what kills people....

          Pure physics and what is needed to allow combustion to take place. Nothing more or less.   Fire Triangle.

          The dust particles etc make up the fuel and assist with the ignition source.

          Many solids like wheat dust, wood dust and even metals in their dust form have high surface area. With a high surface area and surrounded by oxygen (as in the air), combustion can take place at a very rapid rate. This rapid rate of combustion can lead to an explosion. In fact, Dust explosions are hazards in many industries.

          And continue to kill people and cause damage across the world. Dust management and fume extraction is big business.  

          Nothing to do with particulates hitting one and other at the start... But they do once it goes BANG.  

          Further reading here:

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dust_explosion

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          • #6
            Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

            what was the propellant?

            lol

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            • #7
              Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

              Originally posted by 7B777E73737A160 link=1284959444/5#5 date=1284968312
              what was the propellant?

              lol  
              Use cans of compressed air all the time on medical stuff when cleaning..

              Rule number one - ALWAYS disconnect power  

              Rule number two - Dont totaly exhaust or turn can upside down - Read the how to use insert  

              Some propellent in cans of AIR can be a pain - but usually not an issue unless you have carbon dust and or other components that will then allow static or other electrical items to cause a source of ignition.

              Next time you go to change a toner cartridge on a laser printer. Take the time to read the warnings    

              PS. Do not shake and dust it into a bin with a lung lolly in ya mouth  ;D

              The blakened and burnt face and the look of horror is worth every bit of the pain that the said fool suffers.   They then want to take it up with WHS...  Oh and try smoking over a bank of batteries   ;D Another very dangerous behaviour that many people tend to do when servicing a car.

              PS. Petrol does not burn either... It is the mix of fumes and air that make it an combustible item. The fact that it instantly wants to return to its native state and hence becomes gaseous with ease is the important factor.  Ask and person who plays with flammable materials i.e. lighter fluid and other materials that one uses when performing and doing tricks with fire.

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              • #8
                Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

                Originally posted by 6A454C4E59664A454A4C4E464E455F2B0 link=1284959444/4#4 date=1284968030
                Many solids like wheat dust, wood dust and even metals in their dust form have high surface area. With a high surface area and surrounded by oxygen (as in the air), combustion can take place at a very rapid rate. This rapid rate of combustion can lead to an explosion. In fact, Dust explosions are hazards in many industries.
                Had a grain fire/explosion scare at the local silo the other day, even flour will go up given the right circumstances.
                http://www.plainsproducer.com.au/Public/Template2/ThreadView.aspx?tid=38966

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                • #9
                  Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

                  Originally posted by 625E574F5A3B0 link=1284959444/7#7 date=1284973529
                  Originally posted by 6A454C4E59664A454A4C4E464E455F2B0 link=1284959444/4#4 date=1284968030
                  Many solids like wheat dust, wood dust and even metals in their dust form have high surface area. With a high surface area and surrounded by oxygen (as in the air), combustion can take place at a very rapid rate. This rapid rate of combustion can lead to an explosion. In fact, Dust explosions are hazards in many industries.
                  Had a grain fire/explosion scare at the local silo the other day, even flour will go up given the right circumstances.
                  http://www.plainsproducer.com.au/Public/Template2/ThreadView.aspx?tid=38966
                  What only a 500M zone  

                  BOT  

                  What is one of the biggest fears for coal miners -  Coal dust and thus water and other methods are used to keep it under control.

                  What is coal made from and then lets stretch it it and just say from a basic cellulose material - including carbon

                  What are coffee beans and what do we do to them ROAST to a golden brown.  What are they in effect = A cellulose material including carbon

                  Thus a fine powder of coffee (or a moist bit of chaff - including carbon - conductive) would be conductive and across A and Neutral @ 240V in the right concentration and an Ark could be generated, which would then move to a bigger bang with the right level of fuel and air.

                  Lesson.  Turn things off when cleaning  8-)

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                  • #10
                    Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

                    Ah yes yes i understand... haha

                    So using the can of pressurised air was fine, but having the grinder switched on at the power point was a bad idea :O . Thanks AM

                    P.S. Although i still have emotional resistance about going near the grinder with the can :S lol. Call it post-traumatic stress

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                    • #11
                      Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

                      Originally posted by 4A505456574A52014B390 link=1284959444/0#0 date=1284959444
                      BANG! A loud explosion noise and a big ball of flame to the right of the Rocky!
                      Some people have all the fun.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

                        We did an experiment at school (back in the day) where you get an old milo/milk tin; punch a hole small enough to pass a length of air tubing (for aerating fish tanks) snugly through; put a small amount of flour in the bottom of the tin; put a lit tea light in the bottom; put the tin lid on and tap it to seal properly and, before the tea light goes out, blow in the air tubing.

                        This results in the flour becoming air borne, rapid combustion of the particles and the tin lid blowing off.... usually to the ceiling!

                        You did the same with pure O2!

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                        • #13
                          Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

                          LOL it was pretty epic . Id do it again on purpose but I dont wanna hurt anyone/anything *cuddles grinder*

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                          • #14
                            Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

                            Okay, SO... lol I just had another explosive experience XD... Same thing happened! Ok, so the power was completely off, i sprayed into the hopper, all seemed well. I waited a bit, and turned on the grinder to grind up what was left in there, and a SPLIT second after I turned it on, BOOM! Same thing! Except the combustion occurred inside the grinder where the burrs are. Im really not sure how this occurred considering there was a fair gap between the spraying and the turning on of the grinder (any thoughts for a confused fellow human? ).

                            I think the lesson here for me personally is... Dont even BOTHER with the can of pressurised air! Not worth it really, all it does is spread the grinds around the place anyways.
                            Go on, laugh at me AM. I know you wanna/already are XD

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                            • #15
                              Re: Coffee grinder EXPLOSION! :O

                              Originally posted by 544E4A4849544C1F55270 link=1284959444/13#13 date=1285232525
                              Dont even BOTHER with the can of pressurised air!
                              Well, certainly looks like ya got the message.

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