Explosions, prevention

Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems NFPA 69, National Fire Protection Association, Quiacy, Mass., 1986. 

Fire and Explosion Prevention. Prevention of fire and explosion takes place in the design of chemical plants. Such prevention involves the study of material characteristics, such as those in Table 1, and processing conditions to determine appropriate ha2ard avoidance methods. Engineering techniques are available for preventing fires and explosions. Containment of flammable and combustible materials and control of processes which could develop high pressures are also important aspects of fire and explosion prevention. 

Protection against explosions is typically provided by explosion-venting, using panels or membranes which vent an incipient explosion before it can develop dangerous pressures (11,60). Protection from explosions can be provided by isolation, either by distance or barricades. Because of the destmctive effects of explosions, improvement in explosion-prevention instmmentation, control systems, or overpressure protection should receive high priority. 

F. T. Bodurtha, Industrial Explosion Prevention and Protection, McGraw-HiU Book Co., Inc., New York, 1980. 

Dust Explosion Prevention-Plastics Industy, Code No. 654, NFPA, 1988. 

Alternatives to Arresters Alternatives to the use of flame arresters include fast-ac ting isolation valves, vapor suppression systems, velocity-type devices in which gas velocity is designed to exceed flashback velocity, and control of the flammable mixture (NFPA 69 standard, Explosion Prevention Systems ). The latter alternative frequently involves reduction of oxygen concentration to less than the limiting oxygen concentration (LOC) of the gas stream. 

Explosion prevention can be practiced by mixing decomposable gases with inert diluents. For example, acetylene can oe made nonexplosive at a pressure of 100 atm (10.1 MPa) by including 14.5 percent water vapor and 8 percent butane (Bodurtha, 1980). One way to prevent the decomposition reaction of ethylene oxide vapor is to use methane gas to blanket the ethylene oxide hquid. 

Explosion prevention by inerting has several advantages over explosion protection techniques, such as explosion venting. For example, with successful inerting, fires or business interruptions cannot occur. Nevertheless, beware of the potential of asphyxiation with inerting proper vessel entry procedures must be implemented and occasionally it may be prudent to monitor for oxygen in workplaces. 

IChemE. 1992. Dust Explosion Prevention and Protection Part 1-3. The Institution of Chemical Engineers, Rugby, Warwickshire. 

General measures for controlling flammable atmospheres inside equipment are described in NFPA 69 Explosion Prevention Systems. These measures do not necessarily prevent flammable atmospheres in some practical cases, such as when powders are added to an inerted vessel via an open manway. Where possible such cases are identified in the relevant sections of Chapters 5 and 6. 

Maximum Pressure and Rate of Pressure Rise and KJ These explosibility parameters are used in assessing whether equipment will contain the maximum pressure developed during deflagration, or to design deflagration relief vents and other explosion prevention systems (see NEPA 68 and 69). The test method is given in ASTM E 1226. 

Necessary min. inert gas cone, for explosion prevention in case of emergent outflow of gas in closed volumes (% v/v) ... 

Scohfield, D. (1984) User Guide to Explosion Prevention and Protection, Pt 2, Instn of Chem. Eng., London. 

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (1992). Explosion Prevention Systems. NFPA 69, Quincy, MA NFPA. 

Schofield, C. and Abbott, J. A. 1988. Guide to Dust Explosion Prevention and Protection, Vol. 2 Ignition Prevention, Containment, Inerting, Suppression and Isolation. Institution of Chemical Engineers, Rugby, Warwickshire, UK. 

Lapp, K. and Werneburg, H. 1999. Detonation Flame Arrester Application Parameters for Explosion Prevention m Vapour Handling Systems./. Canadian Petroleum Technology, Special Edition, 1949-1999, Paper 94-58. 

The task of preparing the text, examples, tables, and figures of the book was entrusted to TNG Prins Maurits Laboratory, Rijswijk, the Netherlands. The principal authors were all members of the Explosion Prevention Department of the Laboratory ... 

The authors and the subcommittee were well served during this transnational effort by Dr. Hans J. Pasman, then Director, Technological Research, and Mr. Gerald Opschoor, Head, Explosion Prevention Department, TNG PML. Likewise, Mr. Thomas W. Carmody, then Director, CCPS, supported this important work. William J. Minges provided CCPS staff help. 

The National Fire Protection Association has extensive codes that relate to fire and explosion prevention and protection for all major industries and/or occupations, for example [10, 26, 27, 33, 55], NFPA Code No. 69 [55]... 

Monomer Formula Explosion Causing Environment Explosion Prevention Techniques Heat of Polymerization in kcal/mole Ignition Temp,°C Polymerization Techniques... 

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