Enormous improvements have been made in efficient processing and packaging of bulk ingredients. Now the focus is on improving safety.
There are five components to every documented grain elevator explosion: fuel
(powdered grain), an oxidizer (air), containment of the fuel and oxidizer, dispersion
of the mixture and ignition—in this case, a concentrator roller bearing
that seized due to a lack of lubrication. As a conveyor belt continued to roll
over it, the roller’s temperature spiked to 500?F, more than enough
to ignite the layered grain dust inside the roller.