I was researching into Codes and Guidelines for Blast Protection of Reactors (Hydrogenation). A non-US facility I was reviewing has a number of hydrogenators (approx 10,000 to 15,000 L) and there are no locally applicable codes that cover this use case.

The end-use is specialty chemicals so the plant itself is built to local codes and "good engineering practice". And in any case the facility is older and grandfathered in.

Hence I was wondering from a safety point of view whether there would be other codes e.g. API, US / EU etc. that would serve as guidance or best practices.


Fundamentally, I am trying to reconcile two different points of view: (a) Safely venting the blast wave pressure e.g. by friable panels or having a reactor which is somewhat "open" i.e. no surrounding concrete walls etc. versus (b) Blast shielding that would remain structurally sound in case of a blast.

This is a preliminary review so just want to familiarize myself with applicable standards and recommendations before a PE comes in for the detailed calculations and recommendations.