Chemical Process Safety: Fundamentals with Applications, Second Edition

Chapter 7 Designs to Prevent Fires and Explosions

Atwofold strategy is used to limit the potential damage from fires and explosions: prevent the initiation of the fire or explosion and minimize the damage after a fire or explosion has occurred. This strategy is presented in this chapter. The specific topics include

• inerting,

• use of the flammability diagram introduced in chapter 6,

• static electricity,

• controlling static electricity,

• ventilation,

• explosion-proof equipment and instruments,

• sprinkler systems, and

• miscellaneous design features for preventing fires and explosions.

For any fire or combustion explosion to occur, three conditions must be met (as shown in the fire triangle of Figure 6-1). First, a combustible or explosive ...