What safety precautions should be observed when loading pearlescent sand?

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Answer: At present, the insulation material used in the insulation boxes of air separation equipment is mostly perlite. Pearlescent sand are particles with a very low apparent density, making them easy to become airborne. It can invade the facial features, irritate the throat and eyes, and even be inhaled into the lungs through the respiratory tract. Therefore, wear a protective mask while working. Pearlescent sand has excellent fluidity and a density lower than that of water; therefore, if a person falls into such a layer of sand, they will be submerged and suffocate. As a precaution, square-shaped safety grills made of 8–10 mm steel bars must be installed at all manholes on the top of the cold box as well as at the loading areas. Whenever it is necessary to remove the pearlescent sand, leaks are always found inside the cold box. If there is an oxygen leak, it will increase the oxygen concentration inside the cryogenic tank, and a fire or explosion could occur if work is carried out there ； If nitrogen is leaking, the nitrogen concentration inside the cryogenic tank will be very high, which could lead to asphyxiation. Therefore, before entering the cryogenic tank for work, it is essential to analyze in advance whether the oxygen concentration inside the tank is within the normal range (19%–21%). Furthermore, the pearlescent sand inside the insulated box is at a low temperature (-50 to -80°C), so it is necessary to take anti-freezing measures when removing the pearlescent sand. At the same time, it should be noted that low-temperature pearlescent sand will develop dew on contact with air and become damp, which affects its insulation properties during the next filling.