Solvent storage volume in Class A explosion-proof area
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I was involved in the construction of a synthetic pilot plant. Due to the need to produce multiple products, the amount of Class A liquids (solvents) used varied – ranging from around 10 tons per day to 1.5 tons per day. Since the design was initially based on a usage level of 1.5 tons per day, and taking into account other products as well, the solvent tanks were designed to hold 15 tons each; they are located on the first floor and separated from the workshop by an explosion-proof wall, in a semi-outdoor area. However, during safety assessments, in accordance with building codes, if Class A solvents are used in the workshop (while the codes classify them as Class C), their volume must not exceed 1 cubic meter, and explosion-proof isolation is required. The distance between the solvent recovery tank and the recovery tower is 12 meters, while the distance from the solvent tank to the factory building is 25 meters. (Requirements of building codes). In actual production, it is impossible to have no solvent storage tanks in the factory building, and those tanks are usually not less than 1 ton. I wonder how others handle this issue (the design institute says that it was designed this way in the past; I have seen many chemical or pharmaceutical factory buildings that contain a large number of solvent storage tanks, with capacities exceeding 100 tons. It is not scientific to simply set a limit based on the amount needed for one day and night). Please discuss how such issues in building codes should be addressed in practice.
No matter how long it takes to use up, as long as the storage level is reached, it must be classified as a major hazard source.
Uniformly arrange the tank area, with a metering tank placed in the middle. :lol
But a metering tank is also a storage tank; safety assessments do not allow the installation of storage tanks with a capacity exceeding 1 cubic meter, rather than focusing on whether it should be treated as a major hazard source； I also considered that a unified storage tank area would be safer, but it’s not very practical in reality and difficult to implement.
Refer to the petrochemical design codes; solvent tanks can be considered part of the same production facility as other equipment. Therefore, petrochemical design codes allow solvent tanks to be located in the workshop. For specific enterprises, the relevant design codes may be followed for such designs