High pressure hazards

Chemical operations under high pressure are often regarded as high-risk hazards—there is always some risk of explosion with subsequent shards, shrapnel, fires, and toxic products. Always get assistance from an experienced researcher or a mentor who can teach you how to safely manage these high-pressure hazards. 

Refrigeration Loss of containment of a liquefied gas under pressure and at atmospheric temperature causes immediate flashing of a large proportion of the gas. This is followed by slower evaporation of the residue. The hazard from a gas under pressure is normally much less in terms of the amount of material stored, but the physical energy released if a confined explosion occurs at high pressure is large. 

Close proximity of hazardous process. High pressure vessels which may fail explosively. 

As discussed in Chapter 2, The Toller Selection Process, evaluating the site s safe work practice procedures should have been a part of the review during the toller selection process. Still, new materials may indicate a need to revise or develop special procedures to address unique chemical and physical hazards. New hazards such as vacuum, ciyogenics, ultra-high pressure, or new rotating equipment could be introduced. Medical monitoring requirements or special handling and spill response procedures for the toll s raw materials and products may indicate a need to write or revise safe work practices. 

Critical Equipment Equipment, instrumentation, controls, or systems whose malfunction or failure would likely result in a catastrophic release of highly hazardous chemicals, or whose proper operation is required to mitigate the consequences of such release. (Examples are most safety systems, such as area LEL monitors, fire protection systems such as deluge or underground systems, and key operational equipment usually handling high pressures or large volumes.)... 

Use of high or low temperature, high pressure, vacuum or possible hazardous reactions (polymerization, oxidation, halogenation, hydrogenation, alkylation, nitration, etc.)... 

Polymerization Exothermic reaction which, unless carefully controlled, can run-away and create a thermal explosion or vessel overpressurization Refer to Table 7.20 for common monomers Certain processes require polymerization of feedstock at high pressure, with associated hazards Many vinyl monomers (e.g. vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile) pose a chronic toxicity hazard Refer to Table 7.19 for basic precautions... 

Prevent air contamination in high-pressure reactions since the nitrogen dioxide which could form may pose ignition and detonation hazards. 

Chlorinated solvent vapor degreasers can be replaced with high pressure power washers which do not generate spent solvent hazardous wastes or toxic fugitive emissions. 

Vertical Pressure Leaf Filters are essentially the same as Horizontal Plate Filters except for the orientation of the filter elements which are vertical rather than horizontal. They are applied for the polishing slurries with very lov solids content of 1-5% or for cake filtration with a solids concentration of 20-25%. As with the horizontal plate filter the vertical leaf filters are also well suited for handling flammable, toxic and corrosive materials since they are autoclaved and designed for hazardous environments when high pressure and safe operation are required. Likewise, they may be readily jacketed for applications whenever hot or cold temperatures are to be preserved.The largest leaf filters in horizontal vessels have a filtration area of 300 m and vertical vessels 100 m both designed for an operating pressure of 6 bar. 

Unfortunately, many times it is not clear which of several process alternatives is inherently safer. Because nearly all chemical processes have a number of hazards associated with them, an alternative which reduces one hazard may increase a different hazard. For example, process A uses flammable materials of low toxicity process B uses noncombustible materials, which are volatile and moderately toxic, and process C uses noncombustible and nontoxic materials but operates at high pressure. Which process is inherently safer The answer to this question will depend on the specific details of the... 

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