Conference Papers
Pressure vessels that operate at high pneumatic pressures (greater than 10,000 psi [69 MPa]) pose several potential hazards to nearby personnel, including projectile launch and blast loads that may occur as a result of a vessel failure. In order to provide personnel protection, pressure vessels are often placed inside test enclosures. However, sometimes these enclosures are built with the intent to create an exclusion zone but are not designed to contain these hazards. On some occasions, local shields are used to provide protection from potential projectiles that may be launched from a failed pressure vessel without regard to blast loads that will ensue from a pneumatically-charged vessel.
As the biofuels industry continues to expand in support of global decarbonization mandates and objectives, facility owners and developers are being challenged to balance production efficiency, operational reliability, and personnel safety.
As high hazard facilities, biofuels sites should focus on developing a fire protections strategy informed by performance-based analysis so strategies implemented meet the unique challenges found at each facility.
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