Tank Car Relief Valve Requirements for Liquid Poison Inhalation Hazard (PIH) Lading

Analyses were performed by Transportation Technology Center, Inc., a subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads, to determine if the changes made to Chapter 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations under docket HM-181 for the selection of pressure relief valves used on tank cars transporting liquid materials designated as poison inhalation hazard (PIH) would affect safety. Also considered were the implications for other materials that are thermally reactive, polymerizable, or dangerous when wet. Key findings are: (1) The start-to-discharge pressure of a pressure relief valve on a tank car used to transport PIH materials is not a significant factor in the survival of the car when subjected to a 100-minute pool fire provided a large enough flow capacity is chosen for the valve; (2) If the overturned car case is to be included in the conditions to be considered by the regulations, it is recommended that the criterion for the pressure in the tank not exceeding the flow capacity of the valve not apply; (3) Although pressure relief design methods for polymerizable and thermally reactive materials are not considered in current regulations, survival of a 100-minute fire is likely for most cases; and (4) The relatively high start to discharge pressures used in present tank car safety relief devices are an impediment to achieving practical sized pressure relief for most runaway reaction scenarios.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L16607#p1_z50_gD_lRT_y2002
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Technology Center, Incorporated

  55500 DOT Road, P.O. Box 11130
  Pueblo, CO  United States  81001

  Federal Railroad Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Conlon, Peter
  • Johnson, Milton R
  • Grolmes, Michael
• Publication Date: 2002-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 58p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fire; Hazardous materials; Poisonous gases; Pressure relief valves; Railroad safety; Tank cars
• Uncontrolled Terms: Hazardous liquids; Toxic inhalation hazards
• Subject Areas: Railroads; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01685254
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: DTFR 53-93-C-00001
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 13 2018 12:21PM