Ammonia Cylinder
Ammonia is, under normal conditions, a colorless gas with an extremely pungent, characteristic, tear-inducing smell, a chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen (the chemical formula is NH3). Ammonia is a toxic by-product of amino acid metabolism in all living organisms on Earth. Ammonia can be found often in nature, but in relatively small quantities, formed by the decay of organic residues containing nitrogen. Small amounts of ammonia are in the air as ammonium carbonate and ammonium nitrate salts, from where they are carried away by atmospheric precipitation and reach the ground in a more concentrated state. The ammonia absorbed by the soil is an important nutrient material for plant organisms and is converted by them into proteins and other essential plant constituents. Ammonia is liquefied at -33.4 °C, converting to a colorless, highly mobile, highly refractive liquid, it freezes at -77.8 °C, taking the form of a crystalline mass. The industrial method of producing ammonia is based on the direct interaction of hydrogen and nitrogen at a temperature of 500 °C and a pressure of 350 atmospheres using a catalyst in the form of porous iron with impurities. The yield of ammonia under these conditions is about 30 %. The synthesized ammonia is removed by cooling, and the unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen are returned for re-synthesis. Under laboratory conditions, ammonia is produced in small quantities using the action of strong alkalis on ammonium salts.
APPLICATION:
• for the production of nitrogen fertilizers; • for the manufacture of explosives and polymers; • for the production of nitric acid, soda and other chemical products; • in refrigeration as a refrigerant (R717); • in medicine, ammonia in the form of a 10% solution ("ammonia spirit") is used for fainting conditions, to induce vomiting, as well as externally for insect bites, for treating the surgeon's hands; • liquid ammonia is used as a solvent. Requirements for transportation, storage and use of cylinders for liquefied anhydrous ammonia are established by the Federal standards and regulations in the field of industrial safety "Regulations of industrial safety for hazardous facilities using equipment operating under excessive pressure", GOST 6221-90 "Liquefied anhydrous ammonia. Technical specifications (with Amendment N 1)", fire safety standards, as well as other laws and regulations and international agreements in force on the territory of the Russian Federation.Cylinders are not hazardous cargo until they are taken into use, but in any case they should be transported in conditions that exclude mechanical damage. Cylinders with liquefied anhydrous ammonia shall be transported by all modes of transport in covered vehicles in accordance with the regulations on transportation of dangerous goods established for this mode of transport. Liquefied anhydrous ammonia in cylinders is transported by rail in wagon-load shipments. Liquefied anhydrous ammonia in cylinders is transported by sea and river in unit-load devices. The cylinders must be transported with caps screwed on.
Cylinders designed for storage and transportation of liquefied anhydrous ammonia must not be used for storage and transportation of other gases, and it is prohibited to perform any operations that may contaminate their internal surface and degrade the physical and chemical properties of the gas. It is forbidden to make any modifications to the cylinder bodies using welding or mechanical tools, which can lead to damage to the integrity or appearance of defects that degrade the technical characteristics of the cylinders. When using cylinders for liquefied anhydrous ammonia it is not allowed to install them in the places of people passage, movement of goods and passage of vehicles. Cylinders must be located at least 1 m away from radiators and other heating devices and at least 5 m from heat sources with open flame. The maximum permissible concentration of ammonia vapor in the air of the working area of production facilities is 20 mg/m3. When working with liquefied anhydrous ammonia, you must comply with safety requirements, use personal protective equipment: filtering industrial gas mask "M" or "KD" or other, designed to protect against ammonia, according to the current regulations, protective clothing and footwear in accordance with established standards. To protect hands against frostbite, use gloves that protect against temperatures down to -40 °C. A mixture of ammonia and air is explosive. When ammonia ignites in the fire zone, fixed automatic fire-extinguishing systems, water, foam or inert gases must be used to extinguish the fire. When filling cylinders with liquefied anhydrous ammonia, the mass of gas in the filled cylinder should not exceed 0.570 kg per 1 dm3 of the cylinder capacity. The gas in the cylinders must not be completely consumed when in use. The residual gas pressure in the cylinder must be at least 0.05 MPa (0.5 kgf/cm2). Also, when using, it is always necessary to remember that the pressure of liquefied anhydrous ammonia in the cylinder changes with the temperature. For example, a cylinder filled with liquefied anhydrous ammonia at a temperature of +20 °C to a pressure of 8.74 kgf/cm2, when the temperature rises to +50 °C will have a pressure of 20.70 kgf/cm2, and when lowering to 0 °C - 4.38 kgf/cm2, to -20 °C - 1.94 kgf/cm2.
Cylinders filled with liquefied anhydrous ammonia are stored in special warehouses or in outdoor areas under a shelter that protects the cylinders from precipitation and direct sunlight. Storage of cylinders should be carried out with the caps screwed on. Labels made of plywood or cardboard in a polyethylene bag with marking data shall be attached to cylinders with liquefied anhydrous ammonia. Fire safety requirements for the joint storage of liquefied anhydrous ammonia and other materials and substances are set by GOST 12.1.004 (Annex 7).