Effect of metal mesh on the flame propagation characteristics of wheat starch dust

A self-designed vertical dust combustion pipeline platform was used to study the explosion of wheat starch dust along with the different characteristic parameters of metal meshes and to highlight the influence of the metal mesh on the flame propagation of wheat starch dust. The temperature and pressure of flames were measured using a micro-thermocouple and pressure sensors, and spontaneous images of flames under different working conditions were captured by a high-speed photography system. It was observed that the metal meshes damaged the structural characteristics of flame propagation and the flame front surfaces, which led to the distortion and prevention of flame spread. This blocking effect increased with an increase in the number of metal meshes and layers. When the metal mesh had a smaller aperture, there was an increased suppression of the flame propagation. The presence of metal meshes in flame propagation also quenched a large portion of the flame, with the decrease in flame temperature being large and inversely proportional to the number of meshes and layers. The metal mesh also moderately inhibited the propagation of the combustion pressure wave. The inhibitory effect on pressure wave propagation was more evident and the combustion pressure decreased with an increase in the number of metal meshes and layers.