To investigate the parameters of sucrose dust explosion, the minimum ignition energy (MIE) and minimum ignition temperature (MIT) were evaluated. The experiments tested the MIE of sucrose dust under different conditions of dust quantity, ignition delay time (IDT), and powder injection pressure (PIP). The experiments tested the MIT of different particle sizes. The results demonstrate that the MIE of sucrose powder under three conditions was an open-up quadratic polynomial. When the dust quantity, the IDT, and PIP were 0.5 g (417 g/m³), 90 ms, and 150 kPa, respectively, the MIE was 58.9 mJ, 62.6 mJ, and 52.4 mJ. The MIT was positively correlated with the particle size of sucrose dust, and the MIT was 340 °C. At the molecular level, the “O–H” bonds of the sucrose molecule hydroxyl groups were broken by the discharge of electrodes or high temperature to generate H₂. The combustion of H₂ caused the explosion to spread to the surrounding sucrose dust and made the deposited dust rise, forming an interlocking explosion. The explosion would not stop until the dust concentration dropped below the lowest explosion limit. The results of this study can provide guidance for sucrose enterprises to prevent dust explosion accidents.

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.