ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE GENERATION DURING TANK WASHING. SPARK MECHANISMS IN TANKS FILLED WITH CHARGED MIST

Under conditions of tank washing several possible sparking mechanisms were investigated involving conducting objects not bonded to the tank. Some of the tests were done in a full-scale 12,000 cu m shore tank containing an electrostatically charged mist generated by a tank washing machine. Sparking mechanisms were identified associated with the formation of unbonded conductors in the form of water masses ("water slugs") by the water jets used for tank cleaning. Ignition experiments were performed using masses of water as unbonded conductors. They produced sparks of sufficient intensity to ignite hydrocarbon - air mixtures under conditions relevant to the practical situation in tankers.

• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  Radarweg 29
  Amsterdam,   Netherlands  1043 NX
• Authors:
  • Van De Weerd, J M
• Publication Date: 1975-8

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 295-309
• Serial:
  • Journal of Electrostatics
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: Elsevier

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cleaning; Electrostatics; Marine safety; Spark ignition engines; Storage tanks; Tankers
• Old TRIS Terms: Tank cleaning; Tanker safety
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00128401
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 14 1976 12:00AM