To check gas release in an atmosphere can generate flammable mixture concentration (between LFL & UFL)

Purpose of Study             :              To find whether gas release in an atmosphere can generate flammable mixture concentration (between LFL & UFL)

Location                             :              Cylinder storage area 

As we aware that the Flammable Range (Explosive Range) is the concentration range of a gas or vapor that will burn (or explode) if an ignition source is introduced.

Three basic requirements must be met for explosion to take place:

1. Fuel
2. oxygen or air
3. source of ignition

Below the explosive or flammable range, the mixture is too lean to burn and above the upper explosive or flammable limit the mixture is too rich to burn. The limits are commonly called the "Lower Explosive or Flammable Limit" (LEL/LFL) and the "Upper Explosive or Flammable Limit" (UEL/UFL).

From this study we can find out whether a gas release in an atmosphere can generate flammable mixture concentration (between LFL & UFL)

How to calculate the oxygen level drop in a room if any gas cylinder leaks in to the atmosphere.

The air around us is a mixture of gases, mainly nitrogen and oxygen, but containing much smaller amounts of water vapor, argon, and carbon dioxide, and very small amounts of other gases. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, determined the optimal range of oxygen in the air for humans runs between 19.5 and 23.5 percent. As we aware that lower oxygen content (depending upon %) may have various effects in our human body.

So, when gas cylinder is stored in area/gases are used in an area, it is very important to predict the concentration of gas present in that area for carrying out adequate safety precaution. The calculation are as follows

Assumption/Conditions:

1.      Volume of the room                            = 165 Cu.m

2.      Gas stored                                           :   Nitrogen in cylinder

3.      No air exchange rate in the room         :   0

4.      Weight of N2 in cylinder                                              = 16 kg

Calculation

Density of air at 30°C(our environment temp)  = 1.1644 kg/Cu.m

Mass of air in the room                                    = 165 * 1.1644             = 192.126 kg

Molecular weight of air                                               = 29

So, Number of kg-moles of air                                   = 192.126/29

= 6.625034

Since the volume ratio is the same as mole ratio for gases,

Therefore

Number of kg-moles of N2               =          6.625034*.78 (78 % of N2 in atmosphere)

=          5.167527

Number of kg-moles that would add if leaked from the cylinder is = 16(weight of N2 in cylinder)/28

= 0.57.

Total kg-moles of Nitrogen in the room = 5.16752 + 0.57 = 5.737527

If the released volume of N2 is added to denominator, then the % of N2 in air (after Nitrogen release is)

= (5.737527 / 6.625034+0.57) *100         = 79.7429 %

The oxygen % in air is reduces to = 19.287 % which below 19.5%. so we can go for any of the below said recommendation

Note : More over the above said will come if equal dispersion happens & in case of any jet leakage the oxygen level near the leakage area will be low which increases the risk.

Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

This Rule shall apply to every waste generator, local body, Gram Panchayat, manufacturer, Importers and producer.

The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 aim to:

• Increase in minimum thickness of plastic carry bags from 40 to 50 microns and stipulate minimum thickness of 50 micron for plastic sheets also to facilitate collection and recycle of plastic waste
• Expand the jurisdiction of applicability from the municipal area to rural areas, because plastic has reached rural areas also
• To bring in the responsibilities of producers and generators, both in plastic waste management system and to introduce collect back system of plastic waste by the producers/brand owners, as per extended producers responsibility
• To introduce collection of plastic waste management fee through pre-registration of the producers, importers of plastic carry bags/multilayered packaging and vendors selling the same for establishing the waste management system.
  

What's new in Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016

• Rural areas have been brought in ambit of these Rules since plastic has reached to rural areas also. Responsibility for implementation of the rules is given to Gram Panchayat.
• First time, responsibility of waste generators is being introduced. Individual and bulk generators like offices, commercial establishments, industries are to segregate the plastic waste at source, handover segregated waste, pay user fee as per bye-laws of the local bodies.
• Plastic products are left littered after the public events (marriage functions, religious gatherings, public meetings etc) held in open spaces. First time, persons organizing such events have been made responsible for management of waste generated from these events.
• Primary responsibility for collection of used multi-layered plastic  sachet or pouches or packaging is of Producers, Importers and Brand Owners who introduce the products in the market
• Use of plastic sheet for packaging, wrapping the commodity except those plastic sheet’s thickness, which will impair the functionality of the product are brought under the ambit of these rules. A large number of commodities are being packed/wrapped in to plastic sheets and thereafter such sheets are left for littered. Provisions have been introduced to ensure their collection and channelization to authorized recycling facilities.
• Every producer shall, for the purpose of registration or for renewal of registration, make an application to the State Pollution Control Board or the Pollution Control Committee  of the Union territory concerned, in Form I
• Every person recycling or processing waste or proposing to recycle or process plastic waste shall make an application to the State Pollution Control Board or the Pollution Control Committee, for grant of registration or renewal of registration for the recycling unit, in Form II.
• Every manufacturer engaged in manufacturer of plastic to be used as raw material by the producer shall make an application to the State Pollution Control Board or the Pollution Control Committee of the Union territory concerned, for the grant of registration or for the renewal of registration, in Form III
• Producers to keep a record of their vendors to whom they have supplied raw materials for manufacturing carry bags, plastic sheets, and multi-layered packaging. This is to curb manufacturing of these products in unorganized sector.
• The entry points of plastic bags/plastic sheets/multi-layered packaging in to commodity supply chain are primarily the retailers and street vendors. They have been assigned the responsibility of not to provide the commodities in plastic bags/plastic sheets/multi-layered packaging which do not conform to these rules. Otherwise, they will have to pay the fine.
• Plastic carry bag will be available only with shopkeepers/street vendors pre-registered with local bodies on payment of certain registration fee. The amount collected as registration fee by local bodies is to be used for waste management.
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been mandated to formulate the guidelines for thermoset plastic (plastic difficult to recycle). In the earlier Rules, there was no specific provision for such type of plastic.
• All institutional generators of plastic waste, shall segregate and store the waste generated by them in accordance with the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 and handover segregated wastes to authorized waste processing or disposal facilities or deposition centers  either on its own or through the authorized waste collection agency.