• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.58 no.3
• /
• pp.493-497
• /
• 2020

Hazardous area classification is designed to prevent chemical plant explosions in advance. Generally, the duration of the explosive atmosphere is used for zone type classification. Herein, IEC code, a quantitative zone type classification methodology, was used to achieve Zone 2 NE, which indicates a practical non-explosion condition. This study analyzed the operating pressure of a vessel handling propane to achieve Zone 2 NE by applying the IEC code via MATLAB. The resulting zone type and hazardous area grades were compared with the results from other design standards, namely API and EI codes. According to the IEC code, the operating pressure of vessels handling propane should be between 101325-116560.59 Pa. In contrast, the zone type classification criteria used by API and EI codes are abstract. Therefore, since these codes could interpret excessively explosive atmospheres, care is required while using them for hazardous area classification design.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.46-64
• /
• 2019

Technical practice code, KGS GC101 2018, for explosion hazard area selection and distance calculation of gas facility was enacted and implemented from July 12, 2018. This code includes whole contents of IEC60079-10-1 2015 (Explosive atmospheres Part 10-1: Classification of areas - Explosive gas atmospheres), and clarifies the interpretation of ambiguous standards or adds guidelines for standards. KGS GC101 is a method for classifying explosion hazard place types: (1) Determination of leak grade (2) Determination of leakage hole size (3) Determination of leakage flow (4) Determination of dilution class (5) Determination of ventilation effectiveness, finally (6) Determination of danger place (7) Explosion The range of dangerous places can be estimated. In order to easily calculate this process, the program (KGS-HAC v1.14, C-2018-020632) composed by Visual Basic for Application (Excel) language was produced by Korea Gas Safety Corporation. We will discuss how to use codes and programs to select and set up explosion hazard zones for field users.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.29-39
• /
• 2016

Electrical apparatuses for use in the presence of explosive gas atmospheres have to be special designed to prevent them from igniting the explosive gas. Flameproof design implies that electrical components producing electrical sparks are contained in enclosures and withstand the maximum pressure of internal gas or vapours. In addition, any gaps in the enclosure wall have to designed in such a way that they will not transmit a gas explosion inside the enclosure to an explosive gas or vapours atmosphere outside it. In this study, we explained some of the most important physical mechanism of Maximum Experimental Safe Gap(MESG) that the jet of combustion products ejected through the flame gap to the external surroundings do not have an energy and temperature large enough to initiate an ignition of external gas or vapours. We measured the MESG and maximum explosion pressure of propane and acetylene by the test method and procedure of IEC 60079-20-1:2010.When the minimum MESG is measured, the concentration of propane, acetylene in the air is higher than the stoichiometric point and their explosion pressure is the highest value.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.30-37
• /
• 2016

Electrical apparatuses for use in the presence of flammable gas atmospheres have to be specially designed to prevent them from igniting the explosive gas. Flameproof design implies that electrical components producing electrical sparks are contained in enclosures and withstand the maximum pressure of internal gas or vapours. In addition, any gaps in the enclosure wall have to designed in such a way that they will not transmit a gas explosion inside the enclosure to an explosive gas or vapours atmosphere outside it. In this study, we explained some of the most important physical mechanism of MESG(Maximum Experimental Safe Gap) that the jet of combustion products ejected through the flame gap to the external surroundings do not have an energy and temperature large enough to initiate an ignition of external gas or vapours. We measured the MESG and maximum explosion pressure of ternary gas mixtures(propane-acetylene-air) by the test method and procedure of IEC 60079-20-1:2010. As a result, the composition of propane gas that has lower explosive power than acetylene gas in the ternary gas mixtures makes greater effects on MESG and explosion pressure.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.47-59
• /
• 2024

Purpose: This study aims to propose measures for the prevention of fire and explosion accidents within manufacturing facilities by improving the existing classification criteria for hazardous locations based on the leakage patterns of flammable liquids. The objective is to suggest ways to safely manage ignition sources and combustible materials. Method: The hazardous locations were calculated using "KS C IEC 60079-10-1," and the calculated explosion hazard distances were visualized in 3D. Additionally, the formula for the atmospheric dispersion of flammable vapors, as outlined in "P-91-2023," was utilized to calculate the dispersion rates within the hazardous locations represented in 3D. Result: Visualization of hazardous locations in 3D enabled the identification of blind spots in the floor plan, facilitating immediate recognition of ignition sources within these areas. Furthermore, when calculating the time taken for the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) to reach within the volumetric space of the hazardous locations represented in 3D, it was found that the risk level did not correspond identically with the explosion hazard distances. Conclusion: Considering the atmospheric dispersion of flammable liquids, it was concluded that safety management should be conducted. Therefore, a method for calculating the concentration values requiring detection and alert based on realistically achievable ventilation rates within the facility is proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.27-31
• /
• 2018

Classification of explosion hazard areas is very important in terms of cost and safety in the workplace handling flammable materials. This is because the radius of the hazardous area determines whether or not the explosion-proof equipment is installed in the electrical machinery and apparatus. From November 6, 2017, KS C IEC-60079-10-1: 2015 will be issued and applied as a new standard. It is important to understand and apply the difference between the existing standard and the new standard. Leakage coefficients and compression factors were added to the leakage calculation formula, and the formula of evaporation pool leakage, application of leakage ball size, and shape of explosion hazard area were applied. The range of the safety factor K has also been changed. Also, in the radius of the hazardous area, the existing standard applies the number of ventilation to the virtual volume, but the revised standard is calculated by using the leakage characteristic value. In this study, we investigated the differences from existing standards in terms of ventilation and dilution and examined the effect on the radius of the hazard area. Comparisons and analyzes were carried out by applying revised standards to workplaces where existing explosion hazard locations were selected. The results showed that even if the ventilation and dilution were successful, the risk radius was not substantially affected.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.26-32
• /
• 2012

With a progress of electrical and electronic technology, radio-frequency including high frequency components are widely to various industrial installations. Some of them are used in hazardous locations where explosive or flammable gases exist. As a result, ignition of such gases may be induced by a spark discharge when the radio frequency circuits are switched on or off. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ignition hazards of some kind of flammable mixtures based on the IEC 60079-11 publication. In this experiment, we used a high frequency resistive circuit which consists of a co-axial cable, a 20 ${\Omega}$, 30 ${\Omega}$, 40 ${\Omega}$ and 50 ${\Omega}$ resistor and two kind of power amplifier with frequency range up to almost 1 MHz and 50 MHz. Experimental results show that the ignition of the acetyleneair, ethylene-air mixtures and methane-air mixtures due to spark discharge depends primarily on the frequency of the power source in the resistive circuit the minimum ignition voltage increases gradually with the increase of the frequency.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.61 no.1
• /
• pp.62-67
• /
• 2023

Due to the prolonged impact of COVID-19, the demand for Information Technology (IT) products is increasing, and their production facilities are expanded. Consequently, the use of harmful and dangerous chemicals are increased, the risk of fire(s) and explosion(s) is also elevated. In order to mitigate these risks, the government sets standards, such as KS C IEC 60079-10-1, and manages explosion-prone hazardous facilities where flammable substances are manufactured, used, and handled. However, using the standards of KS, it is difficult to predict the actual possibility of an explosion in a facility, because ventilation (an important factor) is not considered when setting up a hazardous work environment. In this study, the SEMI S6, Tracer Gas Test was applied to the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) facility, a major part of the display industry, to evaluate ventilation performance and to confirm the possibility of creating a less explosive environment. Based on the results, it was confirmed that the ventilation performance in the assumed scenarios met the standards stipulated in SEMI S6, along with supporting the possibility of creating a less explosive working condition. Therefore, it is recommended to use the prediction tool using engineering techniques, as well as KS standards, in such hazardous environments to prevent accidents and/or reduce economic burden following accidents.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.102-109
• /
• 2021

Recently, an interest in risk calculation methods has been increasing in Korea due to the establishment of classification code for explosive hazardous area on gas facility (KGS CODE GC101), which is based on the international standard of classification of areas - explosive gas atmospheres (IEC 60079-10-1). However, experiments to check for leaks of combustible or toxic gases are very difficult. These experiments can lead to fire, explosion, and toxic poisoning. Therefore, even if someone tries to provide a laboratory for this experiment, it is difficult to install a gas leakage equipment. In this study we find out differences among actual experiments, CFD by using FLACS and calculation based on classification code for explosive hazardous area on gas facility (KGS CODE GC101) by comparing to each other. We develpoed KGS HAC (hazardous area classification) program which based on KGS GC101 for convenience and popularization. As a result, actual gas leak, CFD and KGS HAC are showing slightly different results. The results of dispersion of 1.8 to 2.7 m were shown in the actual experiment, and the CFD and KGS HAC showed a linear increase of about 0.4 to 1 m depending on the increase in a flow rate. In the actual experiment, the application of 3/8" tubes and orifice to take into account the momentum drop resulted in an increase in the hazardous distance of about 1.95 m. Comparing three methods was able to identify similarities between real and CFD, and also similarities and limitations of CFD and KGS HAC. We hope these results will provide a good basis for future experiments and risk calculations.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2024

In the event of an emergency such as facility shutdown during process operation, the by-product gas must be urgently discharged to the vent stack to prevent leakage, fire, and explosion. At this time, the explosion drop value of the released by-product gas is calculated using ISO 10156 formula, which is 27.7 vol%. Therefore, it does not correspond to flammable gas because it is less than 13% of the explosion drop value, which is the standard for flammable gas defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and since the explosion drop value is high, it can be seen that the risk of fire explosion is low even if it is discharged urgently with the vent stock. As a result of calculating the range of explosion hazard sites for hydrogen gas discharged to the Bent Stack according to KS C IEC 60079-10-1, 23 meters were calculated. Since hydrogen is lighter than air, electromechanical devices should not be installed within 23 meters of the upper portion of the Bent Stack, and if it is not possible, an explosion-proof electromechanical device suitable for type 1 of dangerous place should be installed. In addition, the height of the stack should be at least 5 meters so that the diffusion of by-product gas is facilitated in case of emergency discharge, and it should be installed so that there are no obstacles around it.