Modeling of dust air flames

•Theoretical modeling of a laminar premixed combustible dust–air flame is presented.•Both fuel limiting and oxygen limiting conditions are considered.•Controlling parameters for laminar burning velocity are discussed.

This study analyzes a premixed dust–air flame, under conditions where a homogeneous gas-phase reaction front can exist. Discussion on four possible flame types is provided. A solution is obtained for the burning velocity of a flammable dust–air flame in both fuel and oxygen limiting cases. A sensitivity analysis is used to analyze the features controlling the dust burning. It is shown that vaporization is significant for fuel limiting conditions; however, does not play a major role in oxygen limiting cases. The calculated burning velocity shows good agreement with available experimental data for coal–dust–air flames.