Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FTOPS2
korytarl@yahoo.ca
LPG - LNG HAZARDS AND CONTROL
INTRODUCTION
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) are
petroleum products which are quite safe when contained in their
storage containers.
Released into the atmosphere they condense the moisture in the air
producing vapor clouds these vapor clouds pose a serious hazard to
the safety of personnel and plant alike should they be ignite.
Knowing how to properly respond to releases of LNG and LPG products
can make the difference between a small leak or a catastrophic event
which kills many people and destroys property.
No LPG - LNG release should be considered a minor event. The
potential for it to rapidly escalate into a catastrophe is ever present.
3/4/2015
3/4/2015
LPG CHARACTERISTICS
LPG is predominantly a mixture of propane and butane in a liquid state
at room temperatures when under moderate pressures of less than
200 psig.
LPG is:
Colourless
Odourless
Non-Corrosive
Specific Gravity (H2O = 1) 0.60
Vapor Density (Air = 1) 1.92
A gas at atmospheric pressure
Boils at -42.1 C
Flammable (2.1 % - 9.5 %)
Auto ignition temp 450 0 C
0.307 mill joule ignition temp
Expansion ratio of 275:1
3/4/2015
LNG CHARACTERISTICS
LNG is made up mostly of methane. The liquefaction process removes
the non-methane components like carbon dioxide, water, mercury,
H2S, propane, butane, ethane from the natural gas.
LNG is:
Colourless
Odourless
Non-corrosive
Lighter then air (> -1070 C)
Specific Gravity (H2O = 1) 0.42
Vapor Density (Air = 1) 0.47
A gas at atmospheric pressure
Boils at 1620 C
Flammable (range 5% to 15%)
Auto ignition temp 537 0 C
0.29 mill joule ignition temp *
Expansion ratio of 600:1
3/4/2015
MAJOR HAZARDS
In addition to the most obvious hazards that come with a flammable
gas . When we combine LPG characteristics we realize a situation can
quickly become much more complicated and dangerous.
The key points to consider and remember are:
Cryogenic injuries
Metal failure due to brittle effect
Large leaks develop large vapor clouds
Vapor clouds will travel down wind, possibly to an ignition source
LPG Vapor clouds explode (UVCE), unconfined LNG clouds do not
Obstructions reduce cloud spread but increase blast overpressures
It takes little energy to ignite LPG/LNG vapors
LNG gas fires are 2 times hotter then any other hydrocarbon fire
Jet fires can cause adjacent supports, pipes and vessels to fail
When subjected to fire, pressurized vessels can BLEVE
3/4/2015
CONGESTION vs OVERPRESSURE
The effect of congestion on the propagation of explosions is well
known. The following gives a clearer picture of the effects of
congested plant areas and the respective explosion overpressures
that can be generated.
3/4/2015
Unconfined RPT are not considered hazardous since they are less
energetic then combustion explosions.
RPT
3/4/2015
3/4/2015
10
CONTROL MEASURES
Two types of controls are considered to manage plant emergencies.
One at the design phase and the other in the operating phase.
3/4/2015
DESIGN
OPERATIONS
Spill prevention
Spill detection
Spill minimization
Spill containment
Ignition control
Fire detection
Fire control
Exposure protection
11
3/4/2015
12
Heat emissions are the principal cause of damage from LNG fires,
capable of causing severe damage to personnel, structural steelwork,
plant and adjacent facilities if left unchecked.
3/4/2015
13
3/4/2015
14
3/4/2015
15
3/4/2015
16
The main effect of this condition is that the smoke of these fires reduces
the fires radiant heat. The cause is suspected to be the lack of sufficient
oxygen in the middle of the fire to complete the combustion cycle.
The reduced flame surface emissive power is due to the smoke .
3/4/2015
17
3/4/2015
18
Inject water to raise the level above the leak * (propane sphere)
Vapor dispersion with water curtain and or fog streams
Vapor control and dispersion with high expansion foam (HEF)
Fire intensity and radiant heat control with HEF
Exposure protection with cooling water streams
Fire extinguishment with dry chemical powder
Let the fire burn itself out!!!!!!
3/4/2015
19
VAPOUR DISPERSION
A major consideration in LNG releases is to prevent the vapor cloud
traveling to a source of ignition. An effective means of containing
and dispersing an LNG vapor cloud is to install flat fan water
curtains down wind of the vapor cloud.
As the cloud enters the water curtain it is heated resulting in its further
warming, evaporation and dispersion. The most effective tools are
monitors set at approximately 40 degrees which helps to entrain air
into the vapor cloud lowering its LFL.
(Water must not be allowed to run into the pool)*
3/4/2015
20
VAPOUR SUPPRESSION
Experience has shown that HEF is very effective in reducing LNG
flammable vapour concentrations at ground level during an LNG spill.
High-Expansion Foam Systems
(HEF)
provide
vapour
suppression and dispersion by channelling the vapours upwards.
This same foam blanket reduces heat release and radiant heat
feedback on involved LNG pools allowing responders to approach for
extinguishment purposes.
3/4/2015
LNG
LPG
500:1
300:1
21
3/4/2015
22
EXTINGUISHMENT
Applying high volumes of dry chemical powder (DCP) is the only
way to extinguish a large LPG/LNG fire. Its important to use DCPs
which are compatible with the HEF used to blanket the pool since it
can degrade the foam blanket quality.
LNG DCP 1
3/4/2015
23
3/4/2015
24
3/4/2015
25
3/4/2015
26