Ammonia Refrigeration Plant Risk Management Plan

[mbeychok]

I am developing an RMP (risk management plan as required by the U.S. EPA) for a client with an ammonia refrigeration plant of 250 tons per day refrigeration capacity. I need help in deciding whether or not the plant correctly handles their relief valve vents and their emergency release dump lines. Can any of you, involved with an ammonia refrigeration plant in the U.S of about the same size, help me with these questions:<br>
<br>
(a) How does your plant handle and/or route relief valve vents and emergency dump lines?<br>
(b) If your relief vents and emergency dump lines are routed into a water storage vessel, does it contain enough water to absorb 100 percent of your plant's ammonia inventory?<br>
(c) Is there some standard or code that governs how much water should be in such a water storage vessel?<br>
<br>
Thanks for any guidance you can give me. <p> Milton Beychok<br><a href=mailto:mbeychok@home.com>mbeychok@home.com</a><br><a href=

http://www.air-dispersion.com>

Air Pollution Dispersion Modeling</a><br>Visit my URL to learn about "Fundamentals of Stack Gas Dispersion",<br>
the most comprehensive book on air dispersion modeling of <br>
continuous, buoyant air pollution plumes. Site includes published<br>
peer reviews and complete Table of Contents.

 

[jonralph]

Hiya milton,<br><br>Good to see your name, I remember it from the &quot;discoveryplace&quot;.<br><br>I have never been involved with an ammonia plant so I could just be speaking through a hole in my proverbial but....&nbsp;&nbsp;I remember the classic high school chemistry ammonia fountain.&nbsp;&nbsp;IS this the standard way of dumping ammonia?&nbsp;&nbsp;I have concerns about the heat of the reaction with water.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also the speed of the reaction would create a vacuum in your relief header, possibly enough to screw up the delta p on the relief valve?&nbsp;&nbsp;I would be worried about losing the whole inventory of&nbsp;&nbsp;ammonia due to the speed of the reaction and the possible backflow of water??<br><br>As I say I could be speaking a load of old bull!<br><br>Regards<br>Jon

 

[mbeychok]

<br>Jon:<br><br>Thanks very much for your input, but routing of relief valve exhausts into a water absorption tank is a fairly common practice in ammonia refrigeration plants.&nbsp;&nbsp;What I'm looking for is some guidance on how large a water tank is required. <p> Milton Beychok<br><a href=mailto:mbeychok@home.com>mbeychok@home.com</a><br><a href=

http://www.air-dispersion.com>

Air Pollution Dispersion Modeling</a><br>Visit my website to learn about "Fundamentals of Stack Gas Dispersion", a most comprehensive book on dispersion modeling of continuous, buoyant air pollution plumes. The site has published peer reviews and the complete Table of Contents.

 

dear sir
can you give me detail of ammonia plant risk?
thank you ,sir

 

Dear Milton,
The answers to your question re: how big a tank, relief vent routing, water-NH3 mix ratio, e.t.c can be found in the Uniform Mechanical Code, Refrigeration Section; and the Uniform Fire Code, Refrigeration.
Good Luck
Jesse Flores
Power Refrigeration Co.