Methane Cylinder
Methane is an odorless, colorless gas (under normal conditions), the simplest limiting hydrocarbon (the chemical formula is CH4), the third most important greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere after water vapor and carbon dioxide (4 - 9 %). It is slightly soluble in water, and is lighter than air. In domestic and industrial applications, odorants with a specific "gas odor" are usually added to methane. Methane is the main component of natural gas (from 77 to 99 %), associated petroleum gases (from 31 to 90 %), mine and marsh gases, continuously biogenically formed in swamps, waterlogged soils, intestines of ruminants as a result of the vital activity of some microorganisms. Methane is liquefied at a temperature of -161.6°C (the volume of gas decreases by 600 times during liquefaction) and freezes at a temperature of -182.5°C. In cylinders, methane is stored and transported in compressed form (during compression, the volume of gas decreases by 200-250 times). Methane is produced during thermal processing of petroleum and petroleum products (from 10 to 57%), during coking and hydrogenation of hard coal (from 24 to 34%), in small quantities methane is obtained in the laboratory during various chemical reactions.
APPLICATION:< / strong>< / p>< / p> • as domestic and industrial fuel, fuel for internal combustion engines; • as a raw material for industry, namely: incomplete combustion of methane produces soot, which is used to make printing ink and as a filler for rubber; complete combustion at temperatures above 1,000°C produces soot and hydrogen, which is used for ammonia synthesis; methane chlorination produces methyl chloride, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, which is a good fat solvent and is used to extract fats from oilseeds; methane serves as a feedstock for the production of acetylene, methyl alcohol, and many other chemical products. Requirements for transportation, storage and use of cylinders for methane 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 27577-2000 "Natural compressed fuel gas for internal combustion engines. Technical specifications", 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 filled with methane shall be transported by rail, road and water transport in accordance with the regulations on transportation of dangerous goods, applicable to the relevant mode of transport. The cylinders shall be transported in a horizontal position with gaskets between the cylinders or in a vertical position necessarily with a guard against possible falling. The cylinders must be transported with caps screwed on.
Cylinders designed for storage and transportation of methane 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 methane it is not allowed to install them in the places of people passage, movement of goods and passage of vehicles. Methane is lighter than air and does not accumulate in ventilated premises. The maximum permissible concentration of methane in the atmospheric air of working areas must not exceed 7,000 mg/m3. When working in environments slightly exceeding the maximum permissible concentration of methane, it is necessary to use industrial filtering gas masks with a filter box of grade A or boxes with protection against harmful substances marked AVER with the appropriate protection classes, at high concentrations - hose isolating gas masks with forced air supply or isolating air breathing apparatuses. 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).
Cylinders filled with methane are stored in special warehouses or in outdoor areas under a shelter that protects the cylinders from precipitation and direct sunlight. Warehouses and outdoor areas must be located within the lightning protection zone. In the premises where the cylinders filled with methane are stored, it is prohibited to handle open flame; electrical networks and artificial lighting must be of explosion-proof design. Do not use tools that produce sparks on impact. It is forbidden to store cylinders with methane and oxygen in the same room, it is forbidden to store cylinders in the room where the technological process of using methane contained in them is carried out. Storage of cylinders should be carried out with the caps screwed on.