Combustion, Flame Propagation, and Suppression of Wood Dust Explosions: Mechanisms, Parameters, and Fire-Safety Strategies

Wood dust poses fire and explosion hazards in wood-processing and biomass-handling facilities, but its behavior varies with material properties and operating conditions. This review develops a framework linking particle-scale conversion processes with industrial accident pathways and protection strategies. It distinguishes stand-alone smoldering and flaming fires, direct dust-cloud ignition, flash fires, confined deflagrations, and secondary explosions. Lignocellulosic pyrolysis, volatile combustion, and char oxidation are examined in relation to ignition delay, flame propagation, and pressure development. Ignition and explosion parameters, including minimum ignition energy, minimum ignition temperature, minimum explosible concentration, limiting oxygen concentration, maximum explosion pressure, and deflagration index, are evaluated alongside the effects of wood composition, particle-size distribution, moisture, turbulence, and confinement. For example, increasing the tested Pinus massoniana dust particle-size fraction from 0–63 to 250–500 μm reduced the maximum explosion pressure (Pmax) from 7.56 to 6.80 bar and the deflagration index (Kst) from 129 to 59.2 bar·m·s−1, illustrating the greater particle-size sensitivity of Kst in that study. Such results remain material- and test-dependent and do not establish universal wood-dust design values. Prevention and mitigation measures are assessed through risk-based selection of source control, inerting, venting, isolation, and suppression. Computational fluid dynamics applications are critically examined in terms of model assumptions, validation, and engineering applicability. Throughout the review, wood-dust-specific findings are distinguished from woody-biomass and other analog evidence. Major gaps remain in quantitative links between composition and explosion behavior, transitions between fire and explosion pathways, and industrial-scale validation of suppression and numerical models. Addressing these gaps would strengthen scenario-specific protection of dust collectors, conveying ducts, dryers, and silos.