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- Gauge pressure (3) (entfernen)
The objective of this work was to determine the maximum gauge pressure in the vapour phase above the liquid in different design types of dangerous goods packagings under normal conditions of carriage. The design types investigated were steel and plastic packagings with a volume of approximately 6 l.
Two different methods were applied. In method 1, the pressure inside the packaging filled with a certain filling substance (dichloromethane) was directly measured under simulated conditions of carriage (degree of filling: 90%; filling temperature: 15°C; temperature during storage: 31°C). The maximum measured gauge pressures were between 89 mbar for a light plastic jerrican and 336 mbar for a steel drum.
In method 2, the gauge pressure was calculated. The consideration of a rigid packaging combined with the assumption of a vapour pressure of zero during filling and sealing can serve as a worst case scenario. The calculated gauge pressure is approximately 1061 mbar. This procedure leads to the highest safety factor and does not require any experimental investigations.
For a more realistic approximation of the gauge pressure of a non-rigid packaging, a packaging-specific function of relative expansion can be used, which is determined by a hydraulic pressure test. The calculated values ranged from 105 to 347 mbar. Method 2 provides conservative results. No hazardous filling substance is needed, and it allows a prediction of gauge pressure for other temperatures, substances and filling degrees. Therefore, this method could serve as alternative to UN Model Regulations 6.1.5.5.4 (a).
The objective was to find out whether an explosive atmosphere can be created in a freight container by gaseous leakage flow of vapour-air-mixture through leaks in the closures of dangerous goods packagings filled with hazardous liquids. Because of high temperatures during intercontinental carriage, there is a gauge pressure in the free vapour phase inside the packagings which can cause a gaseous leakage flow. Two different methods were applied:
Helium limit leakage rates for 23 quantitatively important hazardous liquids concerning their lower explosion limit (LEL) were calculated for a worst case transport scenario (Method 1).
Helium leakage rates of five closure types of dangerous goods packagings with volumes of approximately 6 l were measured using the pressure technique by accumulation (Method 2).
All types of closures of steel packagings were uncritical. The maximum measured leakage was 33% of the limit leakage rate. The leakage rates of screw closures of plastic jerricans can exceed the LEL if there are production-related patterns such as non-concentricity of the closures and flashes on the neck. Especially for plastic packagings it is important to minimize gaseous leakage flow, because an explosive atmosphere can also be reached by permeation of the individual filling substance or by a combination of both effects. For the assessment of potentially explosive mixtures in freight containers, both mass transfer mechanisms have to be taken into account.
The dangerous goods regulations UN/ADR 6.1.5.5.4 (a) prescribe a maximum filling degree for determining the test pressure for the hydraulic pressure test by real measurements. The assumption is that the maximum filling degree of the liquid phase is the worst case concerning the gauge pressure. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of the filling degree on the gauge pressure. Gauge pressure measurements and calculations for different substances were carried out at different filling degrees for a steel drum and a steel jerrican (heating up from 15°C to 55°C). The assumption that the maximum filling degree is the most critical is only valid for relatively rigid packagings: If the relative expansion of the packaging is smaller than the volume increase of the liquid phase due to heating up, the gauge pressure increases with increasing filling degree. But the opposite is true for relatively flexible packagings: If the relative expansion of the packaging exceeds the relative volume expansion of the liquid, the gauge pressure increases for decreasing filling degrees. The current regulations for the hydraulic test pressure determination at a maximum filing degree do not lead to the intended safety level. For a lower level than the maximum filling degree, the prescribed safety factor of 1.5 is not respected. Under transport conditions, it is possible that the inner gauge pressure exceeds the test pressure. This can result in a failure of the packaging. There is a need to reconsider the regulations.