Essential Safety Measures to Prevent Air Storage Tank Explosions

 
Air storage tanks play an essential role as high-pressure vessels in the industry, but their potential risk of explosion cannot be overlooked. To ensure the safe operation of air storage tanks, comprehensive and effective preventive measures must be taken. These measures involve various aspects from equipment design, pressure control to maintenance, aiming to minimize the risk of explosion and ensure the safety of equipment and personnel.

Pressure Protection Device Configuration

 
Pressure protection devices are a core component of the safe management of air storage tanks, directly related to the operational safety of the equipment. They include the following key components.
 
Pressure Regulators: Precisely regulate and maintain the safe internal pressure of the air storage tank to prevent overpressure. Pressure regulators need to be calibrated regularly to ensure their sensitivity and accuracy.
 
Safety Valves: Designed to automatically release pressure when it reaches a preset threshold. Choose high-quality safety valves and conduct regular inspections and maintenance to ensure they function properly when needed.
 
Pressure Sensors and Alarm Systems: Install pressure sensors and alarm systems that automatically issue an alert and take measures when the pressure exceeds the set value.
 
Operators must be familiar with the safety operating procedures of the air storage tank and the compressor, regularly participate in safety training and drills to enhance their emergency response capabilities.

Cooling System Maintenance

 
The cooling system is crucial for the safe operation of air storage tanks as it directly affects the temperature control and stability of the equipment, thereby reducing the risk of explosion. The following maintenance measures must be taken.
 
Cooling Water Quality Management: Choose appropriate cooling water quality, avoiding water with high concentrations of minerals or corrosive substances to reduce scaling and corrosion.
 
Scale Removal: Regularly inspect and clean the cooling tubes and cylinder water jackets to maintain the efficient operation of the cooling system.
 
Temperature Difference Control: Monitor the temperature difference between the inflow and outflow of cooling water to ensure it is within a safe range. Use temperature sensors and control devices to prevent damage to the equipment due to excessive temperature differences.
 
Regularly inspect all components of the cooling system, including cooling fans, cooling pipes, and water pumps, to ensure they are functioning properly.

Temperature Protection Device Configuration

 
Temperature protection devices are essential in preventing explosions in air storage tanks caused by excessive temperatures. They maintain equipment safety by monitoring and controlling temperatures in real-time. They mainly include the following aspects.

Exhaust Temperature Protection Devices: Monitor exhaust temperatures and automatically cut off power or issue an alarm when temperatures are too high. Choose high-precision temperature sensors and regularly verify their accuracy.
 
Air Temperature Protection Devices Inside the Air Storage Tank: Equip with air temperature sensors that can take cooling measures or issue an alarm when the air temperature exceeds the safety threshold.
 
Cooling Water Temperature Protection Devices: Monitor the temperature of the cooling water to ensure it is within the appropriate range, preventing equipment overheating due to poor cooling effects.
 
Strengthen the maintenance of temperature sensors, regularly check their working status, and take timely measures in case of temperature anomalies.

Pipeline Design and Maintenance

 
Pipeline design and maintenance are crucial in preventing air storage tank explosions, as improper design and maintenance can lead to pressure fluctuations, vibrations, and other faults, increasing the risk of explosion. The following measures are recommended.
 
Minimize Pipeline Bends and Reducer Numbers: In the design phase, minimize the number of pipeline bends, valves, and reducers, or increase the radius of curvature of the bends to reduce the excitation force in fluid flow.
 
Vibration Control: Inspect pipelines that already have vibrations and install buffers near the compressor. If the buffer area of the air storage tank is insufficient, it can be appropriately increased to reduce the unevenness of pulsation pressure.
 
Pipeline Support and Fixing: Ensure that pipelines are securely installed to prevent damage caused by vibrations or unstable supports. Use appropriate pipeline supports and fixing devices to reduce the risk brought by vibrations.
 
For sections of the pipeline with strong vibrations, first analyze the causes of the vibrations and solve the problems by adjusting the pipeline design or increasing the supports.

Lubricating Oil Management and Internal Cleaning

 
Lubricating oil management and internal cleaning help maintain the normal operation of air storage tanks, ensuring the efficiency and safety of the equipment. The specific measures are as follows.
 
Control the Amount of Lubricating Oil: Add lubricating oil according to the technical manual requirements to avoid adding too much at once. Excessive lubricating oil can cause leaks or overheating.
 
Regular Cleaning of the Air Storage Tank: Regularly clean the inside of the air storage tank to prevent excessive accumulation of carbon deposits or other dirt, which can lead to reduced equipment efficiency or malfunctions.
 
Regularly inspect the lubrication system to ensure the quality and quantity of the lubricating oil meet the requirements, and clean the carbon deposits or sediments inside the air storage tank.
 
The safe operation of air storage tanks depends on comprehensive and systematic preventive measures. By optimizing pressure protection, cooling systems, temperature control, pipeline design and maintenance, as well as lubricating oil and internal cleaning, the risk of explosion can be significantly reduced, ensuring the long-term stable operation of the equipment. Regular maintenance and inspection are key to preventing accidents. Enterprises should attach great importance to this, ensuring that all safety devices and operating procedures are strictly followed to protect the safety of equipment and personnel.