Safe Application of Triboelectric Dust Detectors

An independent study has concluded that polymer jacketed, or coated, sensor probes utilized by triboelectric/inductance dust monitors (variously marketed as: AC triboelectric; tribokinetic; electrodynamic; induction-sensing) could be hazardous when combustible dust particles are present. For this reason, Auburn intrinsically safe, DC, triboelectric dust monitors do not utilize polymer jacketed sensor probes in potentially hazardous applications. Click here for the full story  (PDF)  

It may not be commonly known that dust fires and explosions are not only limited to dust particles generally classified as “combustible” (i.e. food, coal, sawdust, etc.). In fact, “The most prevalent accident occurring in the industry during the past 50 years has been metal fires,”.(JOM, May, 2000)  

For ultimate safety, only DC, intrinsically safe triboelectric systems should be considered.