Safety aspects of organic peroxides in bulk tanks

Abstract

The dangers associated with the handling of organic peroxides in bulk quantities of the order of 10 m3 are analyzed. The possible sequence of events in case of an accident is enumerated. The worst probable situations have experimentally been simulated in 33 X 10"3 m3 and 234 X 10"3 m3 model tank investigations. Many experiments have been carried out to cover the maximal hazardous effects of an organic peroxide decomposing in a tank equipped with venting devices. Product temperature course and pressures inside the tank have been measured. The findings have been projected on the desirable safety features and emergency procedures for a practical 10 m3 tank. From this safety study it is concluded that organic peroxides can be handled in bulk quantities in such a way that bursting and fragmentation of the tank due to exothermic decomposition of the peroxide can be avoided.

Vent sizing: Analysis of the blowdown of a hybrid non tempered system

“…No vent sizing criterion that would take vapour influence into account is available although it was demonstrated that it greatly modifies the necessary vent size [6], [7], [8], [9] and [10]. Few experiments involving the runaway and blowdown of non tempered systems were published [11], [12], [13], [14] and [15]. These tests were performed with the objective of developing the UN 10 l method based on the similarity principle.…”