Cooling water back-flushing

Highly flammable liquid flash point (closed cnp) —37°C (—35°F) vapor density 2.0 (air = 1), vapor can travel a considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back antoignition temperature 318°C (604°F) fireextinguishing agent dry chemical, CO2, or alcohol foam water should be used to keep fire-exposed containers cool and to flush and dilute the spill. 

Highly flammable flash point (closed cup) —17°C (0°F) vapor pressure 1095 torr at 20°C (68°F) vapor density 1.5 (air=l) the vapor can travel a considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back ignition temperature in air 429°C (804°F), ignition temperature in the absence of air (100% ethylene oxide) 570°C (1058°F) fireextinguishing agent use a water spray from an explosion-resistant location to fight fire use water to flush the spill and to keep containers cool. 

A shell-and-tube water-cooled condenser is fouled with dead crabs, mud, grass stalks, etc., and needs to be back-flushed. 

Absolutely the first things to look for on water-cooled condensers are back-flush connections. Such condensers must be back-flushed periodically to obtain peak performance. This is especially true if the water outlet temperature is higher than design. Plastic bags are typical of the type of material that blocks the tube inlets. Mud, grass, crabs, and paper cups are also common. 

The best type of back-flush connection is a nozzle welded onto the inlet portion of the channel head cover. The nozzle should be the same size as the cooling water inlet line. For best results, proceed as follows ... 

My rule of thumb is that I don t want the back-flush cormection to be less than half the ID of the cooling water supply line. 

In the event of a lire, wear full protective clothing and NIOSH-approvcd self-contained breathing apparatus with full facepiece operated in tlie pressure demand or other positive pressure mode. Use water spray to blanket (ire, cool fire exposed containers, and to flush non-ignitod spills or vapors away from fire. Vapors can flow along surfaces to distunt ignition source and flash back. 

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