Hoses indispensable

Continuous underway sampling using a deep-towed pump and a hose-cable can examine chemical patterns in the ocean that are nearly impossible to describe by other techniques. Growing realization of the importance of mesoscale features and oceanic fronts makes use of such sampling tools an essential part of oceanography. Effective data management must be an indispensable part of any deep-towed sampling system. 

Hoses are indispensable in most chemical plants refineries, and terminals. They offer so much flexibility for temporary routing of slurries, liquids, and gases. They are used to load and unload trucks, rail cars, barges, and ships. Hoses are great for temporary routing to compensate for unavailable equipment, to prepare for maintenance, to safely drain or vent systems, and similar tasks. When hoses are misused, maity unpleasant things can occur (see Fig. 8.11). 

Figure 9.5 Hoses are indispensable and ever present in most chemical plants. A British study over an 11 year period found hoses were involved in about 10% of aU loss of containment incidents.

Hoses can be so useful, yes even indispensable, and yet used without sufficient discipline and caution they can be a menace. The British Health and Safety Laboratory studied 718 Loss of Containment Incidents occurring between 1991 and 2002 and published it in 2003 [7]. Loss of containment incidents were identified from about 2500 investigations reported to the Health and Safety Executive. It is surprising that the HSE reported that the site of release of about 9.7% of all of the loss of containment incidents occurred involving a flexible hose. Said differently, about 10% of all loss of containment involved flexible hoses. The report is cryptic and statistical in nature. The report stated that 3.9% on the releases were at cotmections, 2.6% were in the hose body and 3.2% were open-ended sitirations. 

The main use of NR is in automobiles. In developed countries nearly 60% of all rubber consumed is for automobile tyres and tubes. The superior heat build-up and tensile strength of NR makes it indispensable in the manufacture of aviation tyres. In heavy-duty tyres such as those for tractors and trucks, the major portion of the rubber used is NR. In addition to tyres, a modern automobile has more than 300 components made out of rubber. Many of these are processed from NR. NR is also widely used in the manufacture of hoses, footwear, battery boxes, foam mattresses, balloons, toys, etc. In addition to this, NR now finds extensive use in soil stabilization, in vibration absorption and in road construction. A variety of NR-based engineering products have been developed for use in these fields. Seismic isolators, bridge bearings and dock fenders are niche products relying on the superior properties of NR. 

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