In order to evaluate the effect of inert powder on the ignition sensitivity of sucrose dust, this study investigated the effects of NaHCO₃, NaCl, NH₄H₂PO₄ and Al(OH)₃ on the minimum ignition energy (MIE) of sucrose dust. The results showed that all four different inert powders inhibited the MIE of sucrose dust, and all of them showed a trend that the smaller the particle size of the inert powders, the better the inhibition effect. The inhibition effect was ranked as NaHCO₃ > NH₄H₂PO₄ > NaCl > Al(OH)₃. NaHCO₃ and NH₄H₂PO₄ had both physical and chemical inhibition effects, which were better compared to NaCl and Al(OH)₃, which had only physical inhibition effects. Analysis of the flame images showed that the inert powder slowed down the combustion of the sucrose dust flame and reduced the flame height. No flame appeared in the region of higher inert powder concentration.

In order to investigate the explosion mechanism of sucrose in the air atmosphere, the explosion intensity under different ignition delay times (IDT), powder input pressures (PIP), and concentrations were studied using a 20L-sphere. The sucrose particles were analyzed in a synchronized thermal analyzer (STA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results are as follows: 1. The DSC curve has two endothermic peaks and one exothermic peak, respectively at T = 180.5 ℃, 510.2 ℃ and 582.6 ℃. 2. The explosion intensity varies with the experiment conditions. The maximum explosion pressure (P_max) appears when IDT = 90 ms, PIP = 1.5 MPa and concentration = 625 g/m³. 3. The explosive mechanism is a homogeneous combustion mechanism based on particle surface pyrolysis and volatilization. Because of the decomposition, H₂, CO, furfural, and other flammable gas-phase products are released, then surface burn appears, which leads to the crystal rupture on account of thermal imbalance, resulting in multiple flame points and a chain explosion. As the temperature of the 20L-sphere rises, more explosive products are released, which causes a rapidly expanding explosion and eventually forms the explosion. This paper can be used as a reference for the prevention of explosion accidents in sucrose production processing.