AN INVESTIGATION OF ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE GENERATION DURING CARGO TANK WASHING ON THE S.S. RALPH B. JOHNSON

This investigation presents electrostatic field measurements performed during cargo tank washing operations on one of the vessel's ballast voyages. These tests supplement similar investigation on the "J.T. Higgins" and the "James E. O'Brien" but differed in two respects. The "Ralph B. Johnson" was a 70,000 DWT vessel while the other two were of the 212,000 DWT class. The "Johnson" tests were performed in dirty oil-covered tanks while the tests of the larger vessels were clean and done on their maiden voyages. The magnitude of electrostatic field strengths generated aboard the "Johnson" were not uniquely different from those of the larger tankers. Machine washing dirty tanks generated negative fields that maximized in less than 15 minutes. Additional findings included variations in maximum fields for different tanks, variation in the rate at which fields decreased, and the affects "Yo-Yo" flushing operation, the operation of washing equipment and the Coppus blowers system had on field strength.

• Corporate Authors:

  Chevron Research Company

  576 Standard Avenue, P.O. Box 1627
  Richmond, CA  United States  94802
• Authors:
  • Dayot, V A
  • Klaver, R F
• Publication Date: 1970-7-27

Media Info

• Pagination: 26 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cleaning; Electric fields; Electrostatics; Storage tanks
• Old TRIS Terms: Gas freeing; Tank cleaning
• Subject Areas: Maintenance and Preservation; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00043954
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Mine Safety Appliances Research Corporation
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 4 1973 12:00AM