Anhydrous Ammonia

Use in Power Production

Introduction
• Anhydrous ammonia is listed by the
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) as a
hazardous substance. Detectable by
odor at just 20-50 parts-per-million
(PPM), at 10,000 ppm, anhydrous
ammonia becomes immediately fatal.
(Table 1)
Introduction
• Ammonia (NH3) is used in the coal
burning process to remove nitrogen
oxides that are produced during
combustion. NOX is one the main
ingredients involved in the formation of
ground-level ozone. Ground-level
ozone in turn is known to cause
respiratory problems as well as lead to
global warming, nutrient overload that
deteriorates water quality along with
other problems.
Ammonia Safety
• The transportation, storage and
handling of ammonia sets off certain
safety issues. And with thousands of
accidental releases per year,
companies are looking for the safest
ways to handle the gas.
Ammonia Safety
• “For the larger power plants that
could easily be storing a half million
pounds of anhydrous ammonia, if
they had a catastrophic failure it
could travel 10 miles or more,” said
Bill Hankins, vice president of sales
for U2A systems offered by Wahlco
Inc
What does a leak look like?
What does a leak look like
What a leak look like?
• Those were photos of controlled
release exercises
• Notice the “V” pattern of the cloud.
Ammonia will take this pattern
whether it is going up and away or if
hugging the ground. Thus if you are
downwind you want to move laterally
and upwind (to get out of the “V” line).
 Ammonia Response – Health Issues
Upper
Flammable
Limit
Skin Irritations
Burns, blisters 1,000,000 ppm

Lower 100 %
Flammable
Immediate Limit
Death
280,000
Death in 28 %
minutes
Immediate 30,000
eye injury 3 % 150,000
10,000 PPM 15 %
PEL (OSHA) Z-List IDLH 1%
5000 PPM
Runny eyes .5%
& nose 700 PPM
STEL

REL TLV- TWA

140 PPM
Detectable 50 PPM
Odor
35 PPM 300 PPM

25 PPM
0 ppm
0%
2-5 PPM
What happens?
Here’s what NIOSH wants employers and workers to know about anhydrous
ammonia exposure:

Eye exposure: Mild or moderate exposure to the eyes can result in irritation and a
burning feeling, whereas severe exposure can lead to inflammation of the eye’s
membranes, swelling and sloughing of the eye’s surface cells, and temporary or
even permanent blindness.
Ingestion: Although uncommon, ingesting ammonia is hazardous. Symptoms can
range from mild to moderate – such as vomiting, abdominal pain and burns to the
mouth, esophagus and stomach – to severe, including corrosive damage to the
mouth, throat and stomach.
Inhalation: Inhaling ammonia gas can cause breathing problems, wheezing or
chest pain. Asphyxiation may occur in poorly ventilated or enclosed areas,
according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Skin exposure: Mild to moderate skin exposure to ammonia can result in swelling
and stinging pain; severe exposure to the skin can cause inflammation, blistering,
tissue death and penetrating burns. Additionally, a worker may experience a
frostbite injury if exposed to liquefied ammonia gas.
What to do?
• Eyes: Wash eyes out with tepid water for a minimum of
15 minutes.
• Ingestion: Ensure the victim’s airway is unobstructed.
Refrain from inducing vomiting or administering
anything by mouth. Provide supplemental oxygen if
needed.
• Inhalation: Check the victim’s respiratory function and
pulse, ensure the airway is free of obstructions and
administer oxygen if the person is having breathing
problems.
• Skin: If a severe exposure has occurred, remove the
victim’s clothing (to at least their undergarments) and
thoroughly wash the victim’s contaminated skin with
soap and water. Take care not to break the victim’s skin
during decontamination, as this may lead to further
injury.
Emergency Action Plan
• If you smell or see the release of
ammonia, evacuate the area
immediately and notify your contact.
• The plant you are working in should
have an emergency action plan on
Anhydrous Ammonia release.