Calculation issues for cyanide storage areas and accident ponds
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For a cyanide warehouse, the fire hazard category should be classified as Class V. As for the measures for cleaning up wastewater, should it be calculated based on the amount of fire-fighting water used during an accident, plus the maximum local rainfall? Question: As I understand it, fire-fighting water is more commonly used for facilities and tank areas containing flammable liquids of categories A, B, and C ； Fire problems hardly occur in Class D and E warehouses. Is there then a problem with the capacity of the aforementioned calculation tank?
According to building codes, Class E materials are completely incapable of catching fire; in fact, they can be used as fire-suppressing materials. It’s a pity I don’t understand chemical engineering design; I’ll try to help out and see if there are any experts who can provide an answer. Additionally: Cyanides are generally highly toxic, but they are usually in solid form, so there’s no major issue leaving them as they are. However, once it comes into contact with water and then with carbon dioxide in the air, it is prone to release toxic hydrogen cyanide. Is it appropriate to use water to extinguish a fire in a cyanide warehouse?
Under normal circumstances, cyanide itself does not burn, but it can produce highly toxic, flammable, and explosive hydrogen cyanide gas. It reacts violently with nitrates and nitrites, posing an explosion risk. In the event of a fire during storage, transportation, or use, water, yellow sand, or dry powder fire extinguishers can be used to put out fires involving other items; it is recommended to avoid using water for extinguishing fires unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it can easily lead to poisoning accidents. Enterprises that produce cyanide can install accident ponds, but those that only use cyanide should not take cyanide into account when designing such ponds.
Only the fire-fighting water volume and the possible amount of cyanide leakage are considered. No basis for considering the maximum rainfall has been found yet.
Reply to 1# xjfhqw: I completely agree. Cyanide itself is non-flammable, and the main purpose of installing accident collection tanks is to prevent environmental pollution and safety hazards by capturing emergency water. Therefore, the maximum local rainfall must be taken into account.