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Codes / Guidelines for Blast Protection of Reactors (Hydrogenation)- Specialty Chemicals Batch Plant 1

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plantprowler

Chemical
Aug 10, 2013
136
I was researching into Codes and Guidelines for Blast Protection of Reactors (Hydrogenation). A non-US facility I was reviewing has a number of hydrogenators (approx 10,000 to 15,000 L) and there are no locally applicable codes that cover this use case.

The end-use is specialty chemicals so the plant itself is built to local codes and "good engineering practice". And in any case the facility is older and grandfathered in.

Hence I was wondering from a safety point of view whether there would be other codes e.g. API, US / EU etc. that would serve as guidance or best practices.


Fundamentally, I am trying to reconcile two different points of view: (a) Safely venting the blast wave pressure e.g. by friable panels or having a reactor which is somewhat "open" i.e. no surrounding concrete walls etc. versus (b) Blast shielding that would remain structurally sound in case of a blast.

This is a preliminary review so just want to familiarize myself with applicable standards and recommendations before a PE comes in for the detailed calculations and recommendations.
 
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This might help:


This document has Codes/Standards listed under the section marked "References"


All of these guidelines and papers seem to reference that 1964 seminal classic -- Biggs !!!

BIGGS (J M). Introduction to structural dynamics, 1964. McGraw Hill Book Company, Inc, New York.

A risk based approach may be useful during the FEED or conceptual stages of a project






MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer
 
Your questions are addresses in NFPA 68 Standard on Explosion Protection by Deflagration Venting.

NFPA 68 said:

1.1 Scope.
This standard applies to the design, location, installation, maintenance, and use of devices and systems that
vent the combustion gases and pressures resulting from a deflagration within an enclosure so that structural and mechanical damage is minimized.

1.2 Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to provide the user with criteria for design, installation, and maintenance of deflagration vents and associated components.

1.3 Application. This standard applies where the need for deflagration venting has been established.

Refer to Chapter 6 (Fundamentals of Venting of Deflagrations) for specific design guidance.
 
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