Managing Electrostatic Hazards in the Chemical Industry
CCPS China Conference on Process Safety
2013
Proceedings from 1st Asia-Pacific Conference on Process Safety
General Program
Prevention of Dust Explosion Hazards
Thursday, September 5, 2013 - 12:25pm to 12:50pm
MANAGING ELECTROSTATIC HAZARDS IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
Vahid Ebadat, Ph.D.
Chilworth Technology, Inc.
113 Campus Dr.
Princeton, NJ 08540
Tel: 609-799-4449
safety-usa@chilworthglobal.com
Many processes and operations in a chemical plant involve handling and processing of liquids and powders, most of which could under certain conditions be flammable. Flammable gas, vapor, and dust cloud atmospheres can be ignited if a sufficiently energetic ignition source is present. It is noteworthy that most flammable gas/vapor atmospheres and some dust clouds can ignite by very small energy ignition sources. One potential ignition source that, in many cases could be an inherent part of the process/operation is an electrostatic discharge. Electrostatic discharges result from the generation and accumulation of electrostatic charges. Electrostatic charge generation most commonly occurs whenever two materials, solids and/or liquids, make and then break contact with each other. The accumulation of the electrostatic charge can result in electrostatic discharges. This suggests that there are many occasions during the handling, processing, and packaging of flammable liquids and powders in a chemical plant flash fire and explosion hazards exist.
This presentation shall discuss the practical measures that can be considered to prevent/control electrostatic problems and ignition hazards that are associated with liquid and powder handling operations in the chemical industry.
Dr Vahid Ebadat Ph.D., M.Inst.P, MIEE, C.Eng., C.Phys. is the CEO of Chilworth North America. He has worked extensively as a process and operational hazards consultant for the chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries. Dr. Ebadat is a regular speaker at training courses on gas and vapor flammability, dust explosions, and controlling electrostatic hazards. He is a member of NFPA 77 Technical Committee on Static Electricity, NFPA 654 Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions from the Manufacturing, Processing, and Handling of Combustible Particular Solids and ASTM E27 Committee on Hazard Potential of Chemicals. Dr. Ebadat's research has culminated in the publication of numerous technical articles and papers.