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    01.hazards of Trapped Pressure & Vacuum-9

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    rahul
    This document discusses hazards related to trapped pressure and unexpected vacuums. It identifies common operations in oil and chemical plants that can result in these hazards, such as maintenance activities like breaking containment, storage tank operations, and connecting/disconnecting hoses. Sources of trapped pressure and vacuums are also outlined, including blocked vents and drains, plugged pipelines, thermal expansion, and condensation creating a vacuum. The document explains that pressures will equalize between high and low pressure areas, and the greater the difference the more dangerous the consequences can be, including serious harm to people and property.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    01.hazards of Trapped Pressure & Vacuum-9

    Uploaded by

    rahul
    12 views2 pages
    This document discusses hazards related to trapped pressure and unexpected vacuums. It identifies common operations in oil and chemical plants that can result in these hazards, such as maintenance activities like breaking containment, storage tank operations, and connecting/disconnecting hoses. Sources of trapped pressure and vacuums are also outlined, including blocked vents and drains, plugged pipelines, thermal expansion, and condensation creating a vacuum. The document explains that pressures will equalize between high and low pressure areas, and the greater the difference the more dangerous the consequences can be, including serious harm to people and property.

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    01.Hazards of Trapped Pressure & Vacuum-9

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    This document discusses hazards related to trapped pressure and unexpected vacuums. It identifies common operations in oil and chemical plants that can result in these hazards, such as maintenance activities like breaking containment, storage tank operations, and connecting/disconnecting hoses. Sources of trapped pressure and vacuums are also outlined, including blocked vents and drains, plugged pipelines, thermal expansion, and condensation creating a vacuum. The document explains that pressures will equalize between high and low pressure areas, and the greater the difference the more dangerous the consequences can be, including serious harm to people and property.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    12 views2 pages

    01.hazards of Trapped Pressure & Vacuum-9

    Uploaded by

    rahul
    This document discusses hazards related to trapped pressure and unexpected vacuums. It identifies common operations in oil and chemical plants that can result in these hazards, such as maintenance activities like breaking containment, storage tank operations, and connecting/disconnecting hoses. Sources of trapped pressure and vacuums are also outlined, including blocked vents and drains, plugged pipelines, thermal expansion, and condensation creating a vacuum. The document explains that pressures will equalize between high and low pressure areas, and the greater the difference the more dangerous the consequences can be, including serious harm to people and property.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    HAZARDS OF TRAPPED PRESSURE AND VACUUM

    1.9 Identification of trapped pressure and unexpected


    vacuum hazards
    There are many operations in the oil and chemical plants that present the
    potential hazard of trapped pressure and unexpected vacuum. Below are some
    common operations that require special attention and actions to avoid the
    occurrence of pressure mishaps.
    Maintenance:
    • breaking of containment and equipment under pressure;
    • leak or pressure proof tests to prove the integrity of equipment.

    Operations:
    • storage tank operations;
    • pig launchers and receivers;
    • sampling;
    • overfilling;
    • connecting and disconnecting of hoses to process systems.

    Start-ups and shutdowns:


    • steaming out equipment;
    • hydrostatic or pneumatic tests of new/modified equipment;
    • commissioning.

    13
    HAZARDS OF TRAPPED PRESSURE AND VACUUM

    1.10 Sources of trapped pressure and vacuum


    Beware of the possibility of trapped pressure and vacuum. The most common
    reasons have been:

    • passing isolation valves;


    • vents and drains blocked/choked by particles, ice or wax;
    • other obstructions to vents and drains (e.g. pig/sphere stuck in a receiver
    preventing depressurization);
    • plugged/choked pipelines, strainers or a valve body;
    • hydrostatic head of liquid;
    • formation of ice or hydrate in equipment or pipes;
    • failed or incomplete heat tracing creating blockages;
    • thermal expansion from trapped liquids;
    • steam pressure generated from water by heat;
    • passing non-return valves;
    • production from a gas/oil reservoir;
    • steam condensation causing a vacuum;
    • vapour dissolving in the water phase creating a vacuum.
    Nature is always trying to achieve a balance or equilibrium. Fluids in areas of
    high pressure will flow to areas of low pressure, and eventually the pressure in
    the two areas equalize.
    The higher the pressure difference between the two areas, the greater is the
    driving force that causes the fluids to move, and the more dangerous the
    consequences. When high pressure is suddenly released to atmospheric
    pressure, the force can be extensive and can cause serious harm to both man
    and property.
    Also remember the Joule-Thompson (auto-refrigeration) effects—most gases
    cool on expansion, such as when compressed gas is released through a throttle
    or leak to a lower pressure area. At lower enough temperatures this can create
    the condition for a brittle failure. The only exception is hydrogen gas. Hydrogen
    heats up when it is released from a higher to a lower pressure. With elevated
    temperature and its tendency to generate static charges, hydrogen gas will
    ignite spontaneously, giving rise to fire and explosion hazards.

    14

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