What are the main causes of activated carbon catching fire

What are the main causes of activated carbon catching fire?

‌The primary causes of activated carbon ignition can be summarized into five key factors, which often act synergistically:‌

‌Heat Accumulation and Poor Heat Dissipation‌
During the adsorption process, activated carbon releases heat through physical adsorption and chemical oxidation reactions. If the exhaust gas composition is complex (e.g., containing acetone or ethyl acetate), or if the activated carbon is not replaced for an extended period, ash accumulation reduces heat dissipation efficiency, leading to localized high-temperature points. The risk of heat buildup significantly increases during high summer temperatures or reduced exhaust gas flow.

‌Combustible Substances Mixing with Oxygen‌
Air mixed into the exhaust gas combines with flammable organic substances adsorbed on the activated carbon surface, potentially forming explosive mixtures. The porous structure of activated carbon accelerates this contact.

‌Static Electricity or Friction Sparks‌
Static electricity generated by exhaust gas flow or particle friction, or sparks from collisions with metal components, can serve as ignition sources.

‌Chemical Reaction Catalysis‌
The activated carbon surface may catalyze violent reactions between incompatible substances (e.g., acidic or alkaline exhaust gases), releasing additional heat. Oxidation reactions of complex organic compounds on activated carbon can also exacerbate heat generation.

‌Inadequate Management and Maintenance‌
Failure to replace activated carbon promptly leads to ash accumulation and deteriorated heat dissipation, while the lack of temperature monitoring systems makes it difficult to detect abnormal temperature rises.

ST-63 fully automatic activated carbon ignition point tester is suitable for measuring the ignition point of activated carbon. It is designed and manufactured in accordance with the standard GB/T7702.9 "Test Methods for Coal Granular Activated Carbon - Determination of ignition point" and GBT 20450-2006. The fully automatic activated carbon ignition point tester software comes with a database function, and the temperature points corresponding to each time point are automatically recorded during the experimental process. Users can analyze the ignition point characteristics of the current experimental activated carbon after the experiment.

Working principle: automatically controls and describes the determination of the reference ignition point of granular activated carbon in flowing air. automatically and accurately obtains the ignition point, visually displays the time temperature curve and results of the heating process, and prints the curve and experimental results .software of this instrument saves all experimental data.