LP Gas Emergency Response

2. LP Gas Emergency Response • VBN920 – Respond to LPG incident. • VBN 921– Undertake LPG flare-off. The units of competency of 21690VIC Liquefied Petroleum Gas Emergency Response are:

3. Units of Competency - Elements

4. Course Structure

5. What is an LP Gas Incident? LPG incidents (SOP 10.12) may be classified as: • LPG leak of varying size unignited • LPG leak ignited • LPG cylinder having fire or some other heat source impacting on it • LPG cylinder impacted or damaged, not leaking (possible loss of cylinder integrity) a potentially dangerous pressure vessel.

7. Introduction This session includes: • What is Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)? • Identification of LPG • Properties/characteristics/hazards of LPG • Properties of LPG storage vessels.

8. What is Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)? LPG: • Is a flammable gas used as a fuel or propellant • Is normally stored under pressure, in liquid form • Commercial butane and commercial propane are the most common form • Domestic and industrial supplies of LP Gas are set at 100% propane. • Automotive LP Gas is composed of a mixture of propane and butane. Typically 60% propane and 40% butane (varies).

9. What is Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)? LPG: • is odourless and non-toxic • has a rotten cabbage-like odour added as a detection agent for all domestic, and for most commercial and industrial LPG. (AS1596) Beware: • Laboratories, at times, use un-odorised LPG • Some refrigeration units use un-odorised LPG.

10. Identification of LPG Name: Liquefied Petroleum Gas LP Gas LPG Propane /Butane Mix UN Number: 1075 HAZCHEM Code: 2 WE Dangerous Goods Class: 2.1

11. Activity Activity - Uses of LPG and methods of storage

12. Properties/Characteristics/Hazards of LP Gas Seven properties of liquids and gases are used to describe the characteristics of LPG and the resulting hazards. • Boiling point • Expansion ratio • Flammability range • Specific gravity • Vapour density • Ignition temperature • Flash point.

13. o C 0 Boiling Point • Boiling Point - the temperature at which liquid bubbles or boils. • Example - the boiling point at sea level of the following is: • Water 1000C • Butane 00C • Propane -420C 100 Water Butane -42 Propane Hazard Very low boiling point - any leak of LPG readily and quickly evaporates or boils at ambient air temperatures.

14. Expansion Ratio • Expansion ratio of propane = 1 to 270 at normal atmospheric pressure. • One litre of propane will expand to 270 litres of vapour.

15. Expansion Ratio The high expansion ratio of LPG is: • an advantageEconomical to transport and store large quantities of gaseous fuel in small containers in the liquid state. • a hazard if the liquid is spilledLPG vapour can combine with up to 50 times its own volume of air to form an explosive mixture.

16. Flammability Range • Flammability Range -The minimum and maximum amounts of fuel vapour that needs to be present in air for the fuel vapour to ignite. • Flammability range is given as: • Lower flammability limit, Lower Explosive Limit (LEL), or Lower Limit (LL) • Upper flammability limit, Upper Explosive Limit (UEL), or upper limit (UL).

17. A volume of air 90%to 98% air 10% 2% to 10%fuel vapour 2% Flammability Limits Vapour concentrations (fuel vapour/air mixture) are expressed as a % by volume of air. A LEL of 2% means 2% fuel vapour and 98% air. A UEL of 10% means 10% fuel vapour and 90% air.

18. Will burn Too lean to burn Too rich to burn Rich in fuel vapour Fuel vapour/air mixture ideal Lean in fuel vapour UEL LEL Flammability Range

19. Flamability Range Hazard Only a small amount of gas vapour mixed with air will provide a mixture which will burn.

20. Specific Gravity • Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to that of a standard substance. • For solids and liquids, the standard substance is usually water at 4.0°C.

21. Butane = 0.6 Water = 1 Propane = 0.5 Propane Butane Water Water Water Water Specific Gravity Hazard Pooled LPG will rapidly vaporise if water is directly applied. If the pool of gas is burning, a violent reaction will rapidly increase the intensity of the fire.

22. Air Butane Vapour Density • Vapour density is defined as the relative weight of a gas or vapour compared to air, which has an arbitrary value of one. • Propane vapour =1.5 times the weight of air • Butane vapour = 2 times the weight of air • Initially, in any discharge, butane and propane vapour will seek the lowest level in an area before it starts to dissipate.

23. Vapour Density HazardsLPG vapour seeks the lowest level in any area such as ditches, drains, underground telephone, sewer, electrical lines and sub surface areas such as basements, where it becomes a potentially explosive mix as it evaporates. Air currents can create uncharacteristic LPG movement.

24. Ignition Temperature Ignition temperature: • is the lowest point at which a product will ignite without an ignition source being introduced • depends on the flammable vapour that is released and the fuel vapour/air mixture.

25. Ignition Temperature Hazard • The liquid or vapour when heated to this point will tend to explode.

26. o C 0 -60 -104 Flash Point Flashpoint is: • the lowest temperature at which a substance produces enough flammable vapour to produce a momentary flash when an ignition source is applied • not sufficient to sustain combustion—it will stop burning when the ignition source is removed. The flash point of LPG is -1040C to -600C

27. Flash Point Hazard • The low flashpoint of LPG creates the potential for an explosive mix of vapour and air if any flame is present.

28. Activity Summary of LPG physical properties and hazards.

29. Summary of Properties

30. Properties of LPG Storage Vessels • LPG is stored as a liquid under pressure in specially designed containers.

31. Properties of LPG Storage Vessels • LPG cylinders are not completely full of liquid. • liquid in the lower portion. Max 80% by volume. • vaporised LPG in the space above the liquid.

32. Properties of LPG Storage Vessels Cylinder pressure: • increases as the temperature of the gas in the cylinder increases • will vary depending on the temperature and the mixture of propane and butane • is not affected by the amount of liquid in the cylinder, as long as there is adequate vapour space • decreases as vapour is released. Then the remaining liquid gives off vapour to restore cylinder pressure

33. Properties of LPG Storage Vessels Pressure Relief Valve • Located in vapour space • Prevents cylinder rupture • expanding compressed gas increases internal pressure • Vents to atmosphere at: • 1.75Mpa on tanks • 2.55Mpa on cylinders

34. Activity • Activity – LPG cylinders.

35. Self Assessment

37. Precautions and Safe Handling This session includes: • Health hazards • Personal protective clothing and equipment • Initial/emergency first aid • Basic precautions at LPG incidents • Road accident rescue incidents • LPG vehicle BLEVE.

38. Activity Activity – Health hazards when exposed to LPG

39. Health Hazards Warning: LPG is an asphyxiant in high concentrations, and skin contact with liquid causes burns similar to frostbite.

40. Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment

41. Activity Activity – PPE/PPC

42. Initial/Emergency First Aid If a person inhales LPG vapour: • remove them from the hazard • remove any clothing splashed by LPG • place them in fresh air as soon as possible • loosen clothing which is not frozen that may restrict blood circulation or respiration • administer artificial respiration if they are not breathing • keep them warm • seek medical attention in cases of over-exposure.

43. Initial/Emergency First Aid Eye contact: • Be aware of contact lenses. • Hold eyelids open and flush eyes with tepid water continuously for 15 minutes. • Seek medical advice immediately. Skin contact: • Remove contaminated clothing and wash the exposed areas with plenty of water. • Seek medical advice if irritation or frostbite occurs.

44. Initial/Emergency First Aid Frostbite Seek urgent medical attention. • Place the casualty in a warm area as soon as possible. • Allow the injured area to warm gradually. • Small exposure - Bathe the affected part with warm water 33–350C, immersing if possible. • Large exposure - Immerse in a bath of warm water 33–350C. Prolonged immersion in cold tap water may cause hypothermia. • Do not expose the injured area to excess heat or cold. • Cover or drape injured area with clean dressing or sheet. • Pain relief - immerse the injured area in water which is near or at a body temperature (35-400C). • If possible, get the casualty to exercise the injured area gradually.

45. Activity Activity – LPG Initial First Aid Scenario 1 – LPG spill from tanker. Inhalation and skin contact. Scenario 2 – LPG explosion. Inhalation and eye contact. Scenario 3 – LPG leak. Frostbite.

46. Basic Precautions at LPG Incidents An LPG emergency may involve one or a combination of the following situations: • An LPG leak of varying size unignited. • An LPG leak may be ignited. • An LPG cylinder may have fire or some other heat source impinging on it. • An LPG cylinder impacted or damaged, not leaking (possible loss of cylinder integrity) a potentially dangerous pressure vessel. There are basic precautions that apply to all incidents involving LP Gas.(See next slide)

47. Basic Precautions at LPG Incidents Basic precautions. • Approach the fire or gas leak from upwind. • Keep people out of the vapour cloud. • Evacuate any area which is in the path of the vapour cloud. (70 metres to 1,000 metres) • Eliminate sources of ignition. • Secure the area.

48. Basic Precautions at LPG Incidents Once the area is secured: • remove ignition hazards • stop the flow of gas and leaks • use water spray/fog to: • disperse the gas • cool the cylinder • reduce pressure within the cylinder.

49. Extract – SOP: LPG Incidents In relation to LPG incidents: • When should WorkSafe be notified? • When should the Energy Safe Victoria be notified?

50. Activity Activity – LPG Emergencies • Scenario 1 – Small LPG leak from a passenger sedan. • Scenario 2 – Large unignited leak from a truck. • Scenario 3 – Liquid LPG leak with fire.