Large loaders are commonly used when handling solid biomass fuels. A preventable accident took place in 2010, where the malfunction of a front-end wheel loader led to a dust explosion which killed the driver and destroyed the building. The case offers an opportunity to examine the hazards of solid biomass, the accident investigation and any learning that subsequently took place. The paper argues that learning opportunities were missed repeatedly. Significant root causes were not identified; principles of inherent safety in design were ignored; the hazardous area classification was based on flawed reasoning; the ATEX assessment was inadequate as it dealt only with electrical installations, ignoring work operations; and powered industrial trucks had not been recognized as a source of ignition. Perhaps most importantly, guidelines for hazardous area classification for combustible dust are insufficiently developed and give ample room for potentially erroneous subjective individual judgment. It is a contributing factor that combustible dust, although with great hazard potential, is not classified as a dangerous substance. Accidents therefore fall outside the scope of systems designed to disseminate lessons learned and prevent future accidents. More attention to safety is needed for the renewable energy and environmentally friendly biomass pellet industry also to become sustainable from a worker safety perspective.
For many years there has been debate about the most eficient way of turbocharging diesel engines, particularly medium and slow speed ones. There are advocates of pulse charging, pulse converting and constant pressure exhaust systems; these techniques counterbalance the variations of transmission eficiency with turbine eficiency. A major dificulty in assessing the methods has been locating the regions of energy loss in the manifold. This paper describes a wave action method of evaluating the transmission of energyfrom the cylinder through the exhaust valve, via the pipes and junctions t o the turbocharger turbine itself: The losses associated with pulse converted manifolds are compared with idealized manifolds without losses in the manifold junctions. 4 aA A A , c* C" f D F G h0 m P 4 R S t T U U Wis K s X
In connection with the charging and sealing of plutonium alloy into fuel capsules for LklMPRE (Los Alamos Molten Plutonium Reactor Experiment), production equipment and e procedure have been developed that have general application. Radioactive or other noxious materials are loaded into cylladrical containers without contaminating the outside of the containers, an i nek atmosphere is provided, and the containera are welded shut. The equipment coneista of a welding fixture, atmosphere controls, and a power supply. The procedure depends on careful bsndllng and the convenience of the equipment.
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