HAZARDS OF TRAPPED PRESSURE AND VACUUM

Choked vents and drains

ACCIDENT All vents and drains choked by polymer!

Three employees were killed during the unbolting of a cover plate on a vessel
in preparation for cleaning out deposited polymer. They were unaware of the
accumulated pressure inside the vessel as a result of the release of volatile
decomposition material and blocked nozzles (vent, drain, PSV and pressure
gauge) from the build up of solid polymer. After approximately half of the
bolts had been removed on one side of the cover plate, the internal pressure
was sufficient to eject the plate and the vessel internals as missiles.

Polymer catch tank after the incident. Its cover was blown a few feet away.

(Left) Polymer plugging the polymer catch tank vent nozzle. (Right) Vent line
obstructed by solid polymer.

Continued

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HAZARDS OF TRAPPED PRESSURE AND VACUUM

Pressure was trapped inside the polymer catch tank.

(Left) Normal operation. (Right) Vessel filled beyond working capacity — particles
entrained in vent polymer.

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