Electrostatic hazards are often given the blame as the cause of an accident when it is unclear what in fact was the ignition source. Yet, the processes leading to the generation of electrostatic charge, accumulation, and discharge are well understood, and hence, electrostatic hazards as a possibility for causing ignition of flammable gas, vapor, or dust clouds can be prevented.
You will learn how electrostatic charge is generated and accumulated, what can be ignited depending on what has been charged, and methods to evaluate and control electrostatic hazards.
Professionals concerned with the risks and vulnerabilities associated with the potential ignition of flammable gases, liquids and dust by electrostatic sparks and discharges including:
- Process safety engineers
- Electrical engineers
- Chemical engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Process engineers/ scientists
- Safety consultants
- Oil and Gas HSE engineers
- Incident investigation team members
In general, no special prerequisites are required. However, knowledge in process safety and experience in plant operation will be helpful.
Day 1
| 09:00 | General introduction
Accumulation, different types of discharges, minimum ignition energy, liquids and dusts |
| 09:45 | Charging and accumulation
Principles of charging and pre-requisites for charge accumulation, induction, triboelectric effect |
| 10:30 | Coffee break – Q&A |
| 10:45 | Electrostatic sparks and discharges
Electrostatic sparks, corona discharges, brush discharges, propagating discharges, cone discharges, mechanisms, discharge energies, results latest research |
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 13:00 | Preventive measures in practice – liquids
Large and small tanks, metal and non-conductive containers, non-conductive liquids, emulsions, grounding, guidelines |
| 14:00 | Preventive measures in practice – dusts
Hazard assessment and prevention of various types of discharges, grounding, choice of types of big bags |
| 15:00 | Coffee break – Q&A |
| 15:15 | Demonstration of electrostatic hazards and their prevention
Charging, accumulation, discharges, ignition of gas- and dust-air mixtures |
| 16:15 | Q&A |
| 16:45 | End of Course |
