Abstract: In order to understand the explosion characteristics of sulfur dust, orthogonal experiments and single factor experiments were performed by using a 20 L spherical explosive device. Effects of the three factors including the dust mass concentration, ignition energy and particle size on the maximum explosion pressure (p_max)and maximum rate of explosion pressure rise((dp/dt)_max)of sulfur dust were studied. The software SPSS was used to conduct range analysis of experimental data and construct a regression model. The results show that p_max and (dp/dt)_max are positively correlated with the dust mass concentration and ignition energy, and negatively correlated with the particle size when the other conditions are constant, that for the three factors, the effect of dust mass concentration is stronger than that of ignition energy, and the effect of ignition energy is stronger than that of particle size, that the sulfur droplets formed in the process of the combustion of sulfur particles cannot burn completely in the 20 L spherical tank, and the effects of the particle size on p_max and (dp/dt)_max are also weakened. A higher ignition energy can counteract the adverse effect of sulfur droplets.

Key words: sulfur dust, dust mass concentration, ignition energy, particle size, explosion characteristics