CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE HAZARD OF ELECTRICALLY CHARGED OBJECTS IN AN EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE

The report examines possible conditions under which sparks might occur as during tank washing and whether or not the sparks are incendive in an explosive atmosphere. High velocity water jets on board crude oil carriers can create an electrostatically charged mist which can create space potentials as high as 25 KV and possibly higher. Through several mechanisms, a conducting object insulated from ground can acquire a potential relative to ground, which can result in a spark discharge when the object was brought close to ground. The report defines these conditions and concludes that an object charged to a potential of 4 KV or more can be considered a hazard from the standpoint of igniting a gaseous hydrocarbon-air mixture through a spark discharge. Theoretically, objects may acquire such potentials in the charged mist existing in the tanks after or while being machine washed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Chevron Research Company

  576 Standard Avenue, P.O. Box 1627
  Richmond, CA  United States  94802
• Authors:
  • Klaver, R F
• Publication Date: 1971-9-16

Media Info

• Pagination: 6 p.

Subject/Index Terms

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

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00043963
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Mine Safety Appliances Research Corporation
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 11 1973 12:00AM