Archive for the ‘LNG’ Category

Physical Explosions: LNG Rapid Phase Transitions (RPT)

Friday, July 9th, 2010

LNG spilled onto water sometime undergoes a rapid phase transition (RPT) or physical explosion creating localized overpressures. Such physical explosions are also observed when water contacts molten metal or hot lava (steam explosions). RPT is a result of near spontaneous generation of vapor as the cold LNG is vaporized from heat gained ...

Preventing Pipeline Ruptures

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

The major cause of natural gas pipeline rupture is not corrosion or material defect but external damage. External damage is the damage to pipeline during digging, pilling, ground work, etc. by heavy equipment such as anchor, bulldozer, excavator, or plough.  Moreover typically the external damage is from third party construction activities ...

Choosing Fire and Gas Detectors for LNG Facilities

Monday, September 21st, 2009

Methane being extremely flammable, the fire and gas detection (FGD) system in LNG facilities should be capable of early detection of flammable gas leading to shutdown/isolation and depressurization. Usually catalytic combustion type gas sensors are used for detecting LNG vapors; however, for these combustion gas sensors to work the vapors within ...

Developing Trust While Communicating Risks

Sunday, June 7th, 2009

Communicating risks to public from chemical or nuclear facilities is a major challenge. We notice this over and over again with EPA community-right-to-know, nuclear power plants and lately with the LNG facilities. I want to focus on a critical aspect of this risk communication – winning the trust of the community. There ...

LNG Regasification Facilities: Consider High Pressure Releases

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

LNG import terminals in the U.S. follow NFPA-59A and 49CFR193 standards for facility siting.  As a part of the siting studies, LNG regasification facilities report thermal radiation exclusion zones and flammable vapor exclusion zones: Flammable vapor hazard zones are based on a design spill from a single accidental source, usually a ...

1944 Cleveland LNG Incident: Lessons Learnt

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

An explosion occurred at East Ohio Company’s peak-shaving plant in Cleveland, Ohio on October 20, 1944. 128 people were killed and 225 injured as a result of the incident. East Ohio Company built a LNG peak-shaving facility in Cleveland in 1941 to augment the gas supply. In 1943, a cylindrical storage ...