Electrical equipment buildings

As part of a Process Hazards Analysis (PHA). I was required to check a naturally ventilated building containing electrical equipment and a fuel gas supply, for adequate air flow due to thermal forces (stack effect). API RP 500 has a method that they recommend for buildings of l,000fP or less. The building in question was much larger, because ... 

Distances are recommended for zoning of electrical equipment, separation of storage from buildings etc. Distances are also proposed (on the basis of experience) to minimize the escalation... 

Equipment inside the building also often influences the ventilation parameters. For example, some electrical equipment needs especially precise indoor conditions. The requirements of these parameters can be one decade stricter than the target levels for people working inside the building. 

For facilities that include large numbers of motors and other electrical equipment, it normally is both more economical and more convenient to furnish a building to enclose the required motor starters and distribution panels. This building is normally referred to as a motor control center (MCC). In addition to typically allowing less expensive non-explosion-proof equipment, these buildings are frequently environmentally controlled (air conditioned, and possibly heated in colder climates) to reduce equipment corrosion and enhance reliability. Maintenance is more easily performed indoors than if the equipment were installed outside and maintenance personnel were subject to extreme cold, rain, snow, or other adverse weather conditions. 

If air conditioning systems are designed for buildings housing electrical equipment, the heat generated by the electrical equipment must be considered when sizing the air conditioning equipment. Artificial heat is seldom required in all but the coldest of climates. 

There has been a rapid growth of the demand for plastics from less than 20 billion pounds in 1970 to nearly 50 billion pounds consumed in the United States in 1986, mostly due to the substitution of traditional raw materials. All over the world, plastics have replaced metals, glass, ceramics, wood papers, and natural fibers in a wide variety of industries including packaging, consumer products, automobiles, building and construction, electronics and electrical equipment, appliances, furniture, piping, and heavy industrial equipment [57-121]. Consumption patterns of PBAs in some countries are shown in Tabies 1 and 2. 

Inspection Certificate - Based on requirements to comply with the lEE Regulations for the Electrical Equipment of Buildings... 

Inclusion of thermography into a predictive maintenance program will enable you to monitor the thermal efficiency of critical process systems that rely on heat transfer or retention electrical equipment and other parameters that will improve both the reliability and efficiency of plant systems. Infrared techniques can be used to detect problems in a variety of plant systems and equipment, including electrical switchgear, gearboxes, electrical substations, transmissions, circuit breaker panels, motors, building envelopes, bearings, steam lines, and process systems that rely on heat retention or transfer. 

EXPLOSION Finely dispersed particles form explosive mixtures in air. Prevent deposition of dust closed system, dust explosion-proof electrical equipment and lighting. Prevent build-up of electrostatic charges (e.g., by grounding). ... 

Distances are recommended for zoning of electrical equipment, separation of storage from buildings etc. Distances are also proposed (on the basis of experience) to minimize the escalation or effects on site of fire, explosion, toxic relea.se or similar incident. Selected sources of information are summarized in Table 11.6. A typical example is given in Table 11.8 subject to the requirement of Table 11.7. 

PM 82 The selection, installation and maintenance of electrical equipment for use in and around buildings... 

Teflon Fluorocarbon Resin, for instance was discovered in 1938. The substance was produced on a small scale throughout World War II for defense applications. It became commercially available in 1948, but did not gain public recognition until 1961 when it was used as a lining for nonstick frying pans. Today, Teflon coats chemical process equipment, insulates electrical equipment, coats the blades of tools, protects buildings from earthquakes and is used as a material in... 

Quenching the vapour with cold air in the chamber may increase the rate of heat removal although excessive nucleation is likely and the product crystals will be very small. Condenser walls may be kept free of solid by using internal scrapers, brushes, and other devices, and all vapour lines in sublimation units should be of large diameter, be adequately insulated, and if necessary, be provided with supplementary heating to minimise blockage due to the buildup of sublimate. One of the main hazards of air-entrainment sublimation is the risk of explosion since many solids that are considered safe in their normal state can form explosive mixtures with air. All electrical equipment should therefore be flame-proof, and all parts of the plant should be efficiently earthed to avoid build-up of static electricity. 

If there is an actual bomb threat, carry out the following procedures First, evacuate the premises. Do not fall into fire drill routines remember, you are vacating to avoid injury stemming from premeditated violence. Leave the building immediately. Take nothing with you. Do not shut down electrical equipment. Keep movement to a minimum. If there are visitors or persons with special needs in the building, make certain they are evacuated. 

Codes those governing pressure vessels, other equipment, buildings, electrical, safety, sanitation, and others. 

PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls are a group of toxic chemicals used for a variety of purposes and found in a number of products, such as carbonless copy paper, adhesives, hydraulic fluids, and caulking compounds. They were originally used to insulate electrical equipment, and although they ve been banned in the United States since the late seventies, they are still found in water. They accumulate in the sediment at the bottoms of rivers and lakes, and build up in the fatty tissues offish. The primary effect of PCBs is on the endocrine system, which is responsible for regulating the hormones in our bodies. They are particularly dangerous to fetuses and young children. If PCBs get into your bloodstream, they can upset the body s natural hormone levels and can lead to birth defects and cancers. 

Once the purchased equipment costs are known, the capital investment can be calculated by summing these results and using ratio factors for installation, piping, buildings, instrumentation, electric equipment, thermal isolation, indirect expenses, etc. (Chauvel, 2000). 

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