FIRE & EXPLOSION

HAZARDS OF LPG

• WHAT IS LPG?
• EXAMPLES OF DISASTERS?
• RISKS INVOLVED?
• STATUTORY PROVISIONS?
• HAZARDOUS PROPERTIES?
 WHAT IS LPG?

LPG IS A GENERIC NAME GIVEN TO THE

GASES DERIVED BY FRACTIONAL
DISTILLATION OF PETROLEUM CRUDE
AND ARE LIQUEFIABLE UNDER
PRESSURE.
LPG MAINLY CONTAIN MIXTURE OF C-3
AND C-4 HYDROCARBONS.
 PAST DISASTERS
MEXICO CITY DISASTER
FEYZIN REFINERY DISASTER
CRESENT CITY DISASTER
 RISKS FROM LPG
POSSIBILITIES AFTER RELEASE OF LPG FROM THE VESSEL

RELEASE OF LPG

IMMEDIATE IGNITION & JET FIRE DELAYED IGNITION

CONFINED EXPLOSION UNCONFINED EXPLOSION

HEAVEY SHOCKWAVE MIILD SHOCK WAVE HEAT RADIATION

WITH DESTRUCION

SUSTAINED JET & POOL FIRE SUSTAINED JET & POOL FIRE

BLEVE BLEVE

SHOCKWAVE FIRE BALL SHOCK FIREBALL

DESTRUCTION BURN INJURIES DESTRUCION BURN INJURIES

 LEGAL ASPECTS OF LPG STORAGE & HANDLING

• FACTORIES ACT 1948

– RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OCCUPIER TO
ENSURE SAFETY U/S 7A
– LISTED AS HAZARDOUS OPERATION IN
IST SCHEDULE U/S 2 CB AND
APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER 4A THAT
INCLUDES SAFETY POLICY, SAFETY
COMMITTEE, EMERGENCY PLANNING,
HAZARD INFORMATION, WORK
ENVIRONMENT POLLUTION, ETC.
 LEGAL ASPECTS OF LPG STORAGE & HANDLING

• MSIHC Rules & CIMAH Rules

• If the maximum quantity available in the plant is
more than 15 tons:
– Preparation of On Site & Off Site Emergency Plans.
– Reporting of major accidents to the Ministry of
Environment in special format.
– Information to public
• If the quantity is more than 200 tons:
– Preparation of Safety Report.
– Safety audit once in a year.
 LEGAL ASPECTS OF LPG STORAGE & HANDLING

• Indian Motor Vehicle Rules 1989

– Consigner to provide hazard information.
– Transporter to ensure training of drivers,
Display of Hazard, vehicle upkeep etc.
– Vehicle to have dipol battery cut off switch, fire
extinguishers, double cable wiring etc
– Driver trained on dangerous goods, license
duly endorsed, to report on accident.
– Consignee to ensure compliance before entry
into the premises.
.
 LEGAL ASPECTS OF LPG STORAGE & HANDLING

Static & Mobile Pressure Vessel Rules 1981

• Reference temp. for design 550 C.
• Design pressure 15.5 Kg/cm2 for LPG.
• Prior approval of of drawings and thickness.
• To be frabricated by approved frabricators.
• Metal plate with Manufacturer’s name, standard,
cert. number., insp. agency, design pressure,
design temperatue, water capacity, hydro test,
name & symbol of the gas to be kept.
Static & Mobile Pressure Vessel Rules 1981
(contd.)
Fittings on a pressure vessels
• Releif Valves: (Two or more)
– Set at not more than 110 % of design pressure,
– Discharge capacity enough to not allow more than
120 % of the design pressure.
– Markings- Set Press., Max. diascharge rate, Manuf.
name, ident. number.
– Not to protrude out side.(Guarding if necessary)
– For toxic gas-- rupture disc before safety valve and
neutralisation system.
Static & Mobile Pressure Vessel Rules 1981
(contd.)
Fittings on a pressure vessels (Contd.)

• Shut off Valves on all liquid & vapour

connections except RVs and plugged openings.
• Excess Flow Valves on all liquid connections
of 3 mm or more and vapour connections of 8 mm
or more except RVs and plugged openings.
• Level Indicator.
• Temperature indicator.
• Pressure guage.
 DECANTING FROM ROAD
TANKERS
• EXPERIENCED DRIVERS, WITHOU
HABITS OF ALCOHOL OR NARCOTICS
• PRESENCE OF COMPETANT PERSON.
• DRIVE TO REMAIN WITH THE
VEHICLE WHILE DECANTING.
• NO PERSON BELOW 18 YEARS OF
AGE.
 LOCATION OF PRESSURE
VESSELS OF FLAMMABLE
MATERIALS
CAPACITY OF THE MIN. MIN.
VESSELS (Litres) DISTANCE DISTANCE
FROM FROM
BOUNDARY ORHER
(Metres) VESSEL
(Metres)
UPTO 2000 5 1
2000 - 10000 10 1
10000 - 20000 15 1.5
20000 - 40000 20 2
Above 40000 30 2
 PROPERTIES OF LPG
Physical Properties Of Liquified Commercia Commercia
Petroleum Gas l Butane l propane
0
Relative Density at 15.6 C 0.57-0.58 0.50-0.51
(Water=1)
Litre per Tonne of Liquid at 1723-1760 1957-2019
0
15.6 C
0
Vapour Density at 25.6 C 1.90-2.10 1.40-1.55
(Air=2)
Ratio of Gas to Liquid Volume at 233 274
0
15.6 C and 1015.9 mbar.
Ratio of gas-air mixture(at LEL) 12900 12450
volume to liquid volume at
0
15.6 C and 1015.9 mbar.
Boiling point -2 -45
0
Vapour Pressure at 20 C 2.5 bar 9 bar
40 psig 130 psig
0
at 50 C 7 bar 19.6 bar
100psig 283 psig
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LPG
Propperty Butane Propane
Lower 1.8 % v/v 2.2 % v/v
explosive
Limit
Upper 9.0 % v/v 10.0 % v/v
Explosive
Limit
 HEALTH HAZARDS

• At very high • Can cause cold

concentration burn on contact
in air LPG is with skin due
aneasthetic and cooling on
subsquently evaporation of
asphyxiating. the liquified
gas.
Bulk Storage of LPG

LPG
 Venting

LPG

Multiple Safety Valves with total discharge capacity enough

to not allow bursting of tank even in the vicinity of the tank.
 NRV
Inlet Lines

LPG

Liquid fill line

LPG Liquid delivery line

Vapour Delivery line

Alternate liquid delivery line

Drain Line

LPG