描述[文件摘要]

Safety Consulting Engineers, Inc. (SCE) has prepared this report for work on the Static Electricity Research Project which was administered by the American Petroleum Institute's Committee on Safety and Fire Protection (COSFP). This project was performed in three phases:

Phase I: The technical data and information contained in API RP 2003, Protection Against Ignitions Arising Out of Static, Lightning, and Stray Currents, March 1982, validated to substantiate the recommendations made therein.

NOTE: Since a new version of API 2003 has been released, some issues may not apply.

Phase II: Areas that are relevant to electrostatic ignition hazards in the petroleum industry but are not covered, or are inadequately covered in the existing version of API RP 2008, were identified and documentation was provided where it exists for these areas.

Phase III: Areas from Phase I or Phase II that require further research were identified and research programs for these areas are proposed.

A. Background

Phase I

Recommendations stated in API RP 2003 are guidelines followed in the petroleum industry for protection from electrical ignition of flammable vapors due to static, lightning and stray currents. API RP 2003 is based on research and many years of practical experience in the industry. Some substantiation of the recommendations given in API RP 2003 has already been documented through COSFP's Technical Data Recovery Project and other technical literature. However, many items may require further research to substantiate, such as the use of plastics and other nonconductive equipment.

Phase II

Certain areas of API RP 2003 may require additional coverage, including the use of plastics, static generation on clothing and surfaces, fiberglass storage tanks, and effects of various coatings. Static charges are generated during the flow of fluids and can be a concern with low conductivity fluids that may come in contact with flammable vapor/air mixtures. While earthing is the primary means of protection from incendiary discharge for systems with metallic conductors, it is ineffective when nonconductive plastic pipes, storage containers, sheets, coatings, liners, and clothing are used. Plastics are readily charged by contact electrification and induction and can dissipate charges very slowly, depending on resistivity, thereby producing hazards from discharges from their surface or from nearby insulated conductors. Therefore, standard criteria needs to be developed for the safe use of plastics in the presence of flammable atmospheres.

Phase III

For issues and recommendations contained in the current edition of API RP 2003 or identified in Phase II of this project that were not able to be validated or resolved, additional research was identified and programs were recommended for development and implementation were needed.