What is the explosion-proof design specification for acetic acid storage warehouse?

Safety knowledge

April 3, 2025

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In the chemical industry, acetic acid is an important basic chemical, widely used in the manufacture of acetate, acetic anhydride, polyvinyl butyral and other products. Acetic acid is flammable and volatile, and its vapor may form an explosive mixture when mixed with air. Therefore, when designing a warehouse for storing acetic acid, it is necessary to strictly follow the explosion-proof design specifications to ensure the safety of personnel and property. This paper will analyze the explosion-proof design specification of acetic acid storage warehouse in detail to help relevant practitioners better understand and implement it.

ACETIC ACID HAZARDOUS CHARACTERISTICS AND EXPLOSION REQUIREMENTS

Understanding the hazardous characteristics of acetic acid is the basis for the design of explosion-proof warehouses. Acetic acid (chemical formula CH3COOH) is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor. Its boiling point is 118.5°C and it can evaporate quickly. When acetic acid vapor is mixed with air, its explosion limit is usually between 5% and 30%, which means that within a certain concentration range, an explosion may occur when encountering a fire source. Therefore, the design of the storage warehouse must be able to effectively control and reduce the risk of explosion.

Explosion-proof design core principles

In the design of acetic acid storage warehouse, the core principles of explosion-proof design include the following:

Division of Explosion Hazard Areas According to the requirements of GB 50058-2014 Code for Design of Electrical Installations in Explosive Hazardous Environments, the space in the warehouse shall be divided into different explosion hazard areas. Generally, areas with high acetic acid vapor concentrations are considered "Zone 1", while areas where there may be occasional vapor leaks are considered "Zone 2". This division helps to determine the selection and installation location of explosion-proof equipment.
Ventilation system design A good ventilation system is the key to reduce the concentration of acetic acid vapor. Efficient ventilation equipment shall be installed in the warehouse to ensure that the vapor does not accumulate to dangerous concentrations. The design of the ventilation system needs to consider the air flow rate, the amount of ventilation and the position of the exhaust outlet to ensure that the steam can be discharged quickly.
Installation of explosion-proof equipment All electrical equipment and luminaires must be explosion-proof in explosion-hazardous areas. For example, explosion-proof lighting, explosion-proof switch and explosion-proof motor should be selected. Pressure relief valve and explosion-proof membrane shall also be installed in the warehouse to prevent structural damage caused by excessive pressure during explosion.
Anti-static measures When acetic acid vapor reaches a certain concentration in the air, electrostatic sparks may also cause an explosion. Therefore, the floor and equipment surface of the warehouse should take anti-static measures, such as the use of static conductive floor or the installation of static eliminators to avoid static accumulation.
Safe distance and partition management According to GB 50160-2008 Code for Fire Protection Design of Petrochemical Enterprises, the safety distance between acetic acid storage warehouse and other buildings must meet the requirements. Strict partition management shall be carried out in the warehouse to avoid storing other inflammable and explosive materials and reduce potential cross risks.
emergency treatment and monitoring system The warehouse shall be equipped with complete emergency treatment facilities, including fire extinguishers, ventilation equipment and alarm system. The installation of combustible gas detectors and temperature monitoring devices can detect abnormal conditions in time and take measures.

Explosion-proof design of the specific implementation steps

Risk Assessment Prior to design, a comprehensive risk assessment of the surrounding environment, process flow and equipment layout of the storage warehouse should be carried out. Identify possible explosion sources and hazardous areas to provide a basis for subsequent design.
Ventilation system design According to the volume of the warehouse and the release characteristics of acetic acid vapor, calculate the required ventilation volume to ensure that the vapor concentration in the air is always lower than the explosion limit.
Equipment selection and installation Select electrical equipment and lamps that meet explosion-proof standards and install them in accordance with the specifications. Check whether the explosion-proof level of the equipment matches the division of the explosion hazard area.
Anti-static treatment Apply anti-static paint on the floor and equipment surface of the warehouse, or install static eliminator to ensure that static electricity does not accumulate.
Safe distance and partition management According to the specification requirements, determine the safe distance between the warehouse and other buildings, and set up obvious partition signs in the warehouse to avoid mixed storage of articles.
emergency treatment and monitoring system Install combustible gas detectors and alarm devices, equipped with fire extinguishers and other emergency equipment to ensure that accidents can be handled in time.

Conclusion

The explosion-proof design of acetic acid storage warehouse is a complex and important work, which needs to consider the dangerous characteristics, the selection of explosion-proof equipment, the design of ventilation system and the safety distance. Through strict implementation of relevant norms and standards, the risk of explosion can be effectively reduced and the safety of personnel and property can be guaranteed. For chemical companies, the rational design and management of acetic acid storage warehouses is not only the need for production safety, but also an important manifestation of compliance operations.