UPWARDS and UNOBSTRUCTED – say it again! UPWARDS and UNOBSTRUCTED. Two simple and very clear terms that so many struggle with when it comes to Relief System Designs. Here is a horizontal discharge of a relief valve on an NH3 vessel. The discharge height is ~20′ but we can see how the gas is dispersing. […]
UPWARDS and UNOBSTRUCTED – say it again! UPWARDS and UNOBSTRUCTED. Two simple and very clear terms that so many struggle with when it comes to Relief System Designs. Here is a horizontal discharge of a relief valve on an NH3 vessel. The discharge height is ~20′ but we can see how the gas is dispersing.
This past week a small ice plant in São Luís – State of Maranhão, Brazil experienced what can only be described at a “catastrophic failure” of a pressure vessel. Details of what/how this happened are sketchy at best; however, the video shows us what anhydrous ammonia can do when it is “blocked-in”. I am assuming this
This past week a small ice plant in São Luís – State of Maranhão, Brazil experienced what can only be described at a “catastrophic failure” of a pressure vessel. Details of what/how this happened are sketchy at best; however, the video shows us what anhydrous ammonia can do when it is “blocked-in”. I am assuming this
This is an excellent video that takes us through the progression of an ammonia (CAT 2 Flammable Gas) explosion. A contractor working in the engine room reported the smell of ammonia @ 6:04 a.m. A maintenance worker entered the engine room at 6:24 a.m. and did not smell/see/notice anything unusual!!! I am guessing they did
One of the biggest flaws in the OSHA’s and EPA’s process safety standards is their expectations of how contractors are to be evaluated. Yes, of course, hiring contractors with good safety programs and good safety performance is CRITICAL, but way too many facilities are only looking at the safety numbers and programs. And that is
Following the August 2012 fire and chemical release at a San Fransico Bay Area refinery, the Governor of CA formed the Interagency Working Group on Refinery Safety to examine ways to improve public and worker safety through enhanced oversight of refineries, and to strengthen emergency preparedness in anticipation of any future incident. The Interagency Working
With the recent Hot Work fire in KS at a beef processing plant, I was looking for my posting regarding the 2011 NFPA Loss Report(s) for refrigeration facilities and realized it had not made the move over to the new website. So here it is again. Some really good loss data in here(albeit it is
One of, if not the most critical, aspect of flammable liquids/gases piping is the bonding and grounding of the piping. And unfortunately, this “safety system” is often neglected and not managed as a PREVENTION LAYER of protection. It’s not like we don’t have good guidance in this need; NFPA 77: Recommended Practice on Static Electricity
It has been a while since we have mentioned/discussed the refrigerant HFO-1234yf – which has taken the car manufacturer’s on a ride down the PSM lane of H_LL! I have had several discussions with these businesses and for the life of me, I am puzzled as to where this idea that NFPA 55: Compressed Gases
With the absence of an OSHA Flammable Gas standard I have been using NFPA 58 since 1994 and it is one of my all time favorite RAGAGEPs. I am always pushing clients to use it for their flammable gases, as well as the IFC Chapter 58, especially when their flammable gases are stored/processes/handled as a
