[2025 Standards] GB 46031-2025 \"Technical Specifications for Explosion Protection in Process Systems with Flammable Dusts\" has been released

This standard covers the following eight main chapters: Scope, Normative References, Terms and Definitions, General Requirements, Basic Requirements for Explosion Protection, General Process Equipment and Components, Grinding Systems, and Mechanical Conveying and Drying Systems. These chapters are detailed and cover all aspects of the technical specifications for explosion protection in combustible dust process systems. For example, the “Scope” section specifies the applicability of this document, ensuring that the standard is relevant and targeted ； “The “Normative reference documents” section lists the relevant documents cited in this document, providing strong support for the formulation of the standard. At the same time, sections such as \"General Requirements\" and \"Basic Requirements for Explosion Protection\" detail the overall requirements and specific technical specifications for explosion protection in processes involving combustible dusts, providing clear guidance for enterprises in terms of safe production and management. In addition, sections such as \"Requirements for General Process Equipment and Components\", as well as \"Requirements for Grinding Systems\", \"Requirements for Mechanical Conveying Systems\", and \"Requirements for Drying Systems\", further detail the explosion-proof technical requirements for each system, ensuring that the standards cover all key aspects of combustible dust process systems.

Provisions: It specifies the general requirements for explosion protection in processes involving combustible dusts, the requirements for common process equipment and components, the requirements for typical process systems (mechanical conveying systems, crushing systems, drying systems, etc.), and the verification methods； Applicable to process systems and process equipment involved in the production, processing, and handling of combustible dusts ； It is not applicable to explosives, fireworks, or other substances that can explode on their own without the need for an oxidizing gas.

• The applicable scope is clearly defined as process systems involving \"combustible dusts that require an oxidizing gas such as air to explode.\" For such dust explosions, the three essential elements of \"dust cloud + oxygen + ignition source\" are required, and the protection logic is consistent in such cases. • Substances such as gunpowder and explosives are excluded, as their mechanism of explosion is based on internal chemical reactions (no oxidizer is required), and their protective measures differ significantly from those for dust explosions; therefore, they are not included in the scope of these regulations. • It covers the entire process of production, processing, and treatment, aiming to ensure explosion-proof safety throughout the entire chain from raw materials to finished products.

Terms and definitions: 1. Process equipment – The main production equipment used to carry out the process, including process equipment, electrical equipment, and explosion protection equipment, etc. 👉 Clarify the broad scope of \"process equipment\", avoiding a focus solely on mechanical processing equipment; emphasize that electrical equipment (such as explosion-proof motors) and protective equipment (such as explosion suppression devices) are also part of the process system and must meet explosion-proof requirements as well.

1. Dust containment equipment: Process equipment used for handling, processing, transporting, or storing materials, whose enclosures prevent flammable dust from leaking into the surrounding environment. Typical examples include silos, dust collectors, and bucket elevators. 👉The key is \"leak prevention\"; such equipment represents a high risk of dust accumulation and explosions (dust clouds can easily form in silos, for example). Therefore, subsequent explosion control measures (such as pressure relief and inerting) are primarily aimed at equipment that holds dust.

1. Combustible dust process systems: Process systems that produce, process, handle, store, or use combustible dusts, or those in which combustible dusts are generated during operations; typical examples include grinding systems and mechanical conveying systems. 👉 Emphasis is placed on \"systematicity\", as dust explosions can spread between equipment (for example, an explosion in a crushing system can spread to the conveying system through pipes); therefore, protective measures need to be designed as part of an overall system, rather than for individual devices alone.

1. Mixture: A heterogeneous mixture formed by combining combustible dusts, combustible gases, or combustible vapors with air or other process-related gaseous oxidants, in which the concentration of combustible gases is ≥10% of the lower flammability limit (LFL) and the concentration of combustible dusts is ≥10% of the minimum explosive concentration (MEC); examples include mixtures of alcohol and corn starch with air. 👉 The explosion risk of mixtures is much higher than that of pure dusts (gases can reduce the ignition energy of dust), requiring stricter safeguards (such as prohibiting the use of non-explosion-proof equipment in environments with mixtures).

1. Material sealing: An explosion isolation method that prevents explosions from spreading through the discharge ports by maintaining a certain level of material at the bottom of the silo or dust collector hopper. 👉 By using the material itself as a “barrier,” the explosion pressure finds it difficult to penetrate dense columns of material; this makes it suitable for locations such as discharge openings that need to be opened frequently (it is easier to maintain than mechanical valves).

Requirements for new construction, renovation, expansion, and existing systems: Combustible dust process systems that are newly constructed, renovated, or expanded must meet the requirements of this document； Existing combustible dust process systems should develop plans and schedules to improve their explosion-proof design, so as to ultimately meet the requirements of this document. 👉 Establish a transition period for existing systems to prevent businesses from shutting down due to the implementation of standards, while promoting gradual upgrades to balance security and production.