LIQUID NITROGEN

SAFETY DOCUMENTS
CVjAPRILIO
LIQUIDNITROGEN: GOLDENRULES
KnowtheEmergencyProcedure!!
1. LN
2
storagetanksarelocated inroomC.27
2. Alwayswear yoursafetyglasses.
3. Alwayswear yourleather gloves.
4. Alwaysusetherigidsyphonand gasphase separator.
5. Alwaysusevessels designedforLN
2
.
6. Neveruseplastic, glassorrubber withLN
2
.
7. Ensurereceivingvesselissecure.
8. Openvalvesslowlyandbeaware ofgasnoisefrom gasphase
separatororLN
2
pressure reliefdevice.
9. Avoidsplashinganduseminimum quantityrequired.
10. Nevertouchun-insulatedpipes orvesselswithbare skin.
11. NeverputwaterintopolystyreneLN
2
buckets.
12. Whenfillingothervesselsuseappropriatemetalfunnels- Always
fill"slowly".
13. Neverfilldetectors,trapsetcwithLN
2
bucket atorabovehead
height.
14. If movinglargeLN
2
tanks, alwaysusethecorrecttrolley and care
duringtransportation.
15. Neveraccompany largeLN
2
vesselsinlifts
Finally,imagineLN
2
like"hotboilingwater"- takeextreme careatalltimes!
The Department
..,j,.i University Of
* RiskAssessment For-m Of Physics&
Sheffield. Astronomy.
PERSONS AT RISK: ( X)ElllP!Oyees (x )Students ()Public (x)Visitors (x) Others Reference No;
Risk:(H ) High (M)Medium (L) Low (0) No risk Environment: Laboratorv and stor age areas
._- ---- .-----.----- ---- --.--.----- -- --.- ---- - .-..---- .---
storageareas
SIGNIFICANT HAZARD POTENTIALCONSEQUENCESOF RATING EXISTINGCONTROL/PROPOSEDCONTROLMEASURES RATING
HAZA.RD
Liquid between 8L-18L Cold burns Ifrostbite M i.Ensure workplace and work area is well ventilated
z.Useminimumquantitiesnecessary
3.Use PPE minimumleather gloves and eve protection L
4.Ensure that all workers are trained and instructed in its use
I). Use only eouiurnentandcontainersdesignedforuse wit hLN2
6.Ca1culatemaximumquantiti es suitable for the work area
Liquid greater than 18L Asphyxiation due to rapid conversion of H i. Contr olsas listed above }
liquidtogas
2. Installation of Oxygen Deficiency sensing where oxygen }
concentrations would be lower than18%in theeventof total
conversion of liquidto gasLowlevel sensingapproxD.7m from
floorlevel
Cold burns/frostbite 3.0>"j'gensensor-Smonthly calibration&12monthly } L
reulacernent
4. EmerzencvProcedure in the event of a lowoxygen level alarm }
__ ._. ._ _. . . ._. ._. ______ _ _ . . -' Overall Ri sk: L
__. . . ._... ._. .__. __
_ . ._. ._..__ . . . . ._._.. . .__.. . ._. ._. ..__..._. ._. . .. .
1. Read the additional safetyinformation within the cryogenics section of the LaboratorySafety folder. (General &Safe WorkingPracticesandEmergency
__ ..._.__. . .. .__ . . ._. _
_ __. . ..__.. ..__.. ._ _.. . .... ...._._..__. ._..__ _.._. ... _. __. ._. . .__... . .__..
- -. ---..-.-- - -.-.--.--- ---
Emergencx
Procedurefor
LiquidNitrogen
In the ResearchLaboratory
No asphyxiationhazard asmaximumquantitiesshould never beexceeded.
Incase oftotal spillage,open windowsand main door andallow todisperse.
In theLiquidNitrogenStore(C27)
A Neverenter the room ifthe Oxygendeficiencyalarm isgoing off
(Sounding/flashing)Reportimmediatelytoamemberofthe Liquefierstaff
B Ifthealarmsoundswhilstinthe room, turnoffthe liquid withdrawal valve.
Openthelarge swingdoors tothe Hicks buildingyard andexit leaving the
doors wide open..Reportimmediately toamemberofthe Liquefierstaff.
C Ifthe withdrawal valve isstuck orbrokeninthe openpositionthenthe
followingprocedurescan befollowed.
Try closingthe liquid extractionvalve. Ifthe valve nearlycloses to a
trickleofgasthen exit viatheHicks yard and inform amemberofthe
Liquefierstaff
Ifthe flow ishigh and cannotbeshut offthen fully open the "silver"
handled valve onthetop ofthe dewar, ensuringthat itispointingaway
from yourselfand any otherpeople. This will releasethe overpressureand
eventuallythe liquid will stop flowing.
NOTE Openingthe gasphasevalve will benoisy,sodo notbealarmed.
Exit into theHicksyard leavingthedoors open and reporttoa
memberofthe Liquefierstaff.
Recommended procedure for transportation of Cryogenic
Liquids using the Goods lift
Liquid Nitrogen
Open top dewars - typically the 4L Polystyrene containers should NOT
be transported in the lift. In the event of spillage the liquid expansion
volume would cause an asphyxiation environment. All such movements
should be made using the staircase and no more than two at a time.
Low Pressure sealed dewars (l60L volume) - rarely, if ever should
these vessels need to be transported in the lift. If required to do so, it is
important that the gas over pressure is reduced to 50% of the relief valve
pressure in a well ventilated area. This would be typically 1Opsi/ 0.7 barg.
In the event of breakdown , use the emergency alann for assistance, do
not panic since the relief valve setting will take more than 12 hours to be
reached. It is recommended that such a procedure is undertaken by a
member of the liquefier staff.
Liquid Helium
lOOL sealed dewars - commonly transported between C&D floors. Only
vessels that have been previously connected to the helium recovery
system may be transported. Under these circumstances the dewar
overpressure is atmospheric. Upon removal, proceed immediately to
your destination, reconnecting the dewar back to the recovery system.
Visually check the pressure gauge prior to entering the lift or open
bladder inflation valve (if fitted). Please ensure all valves remain closed
during transportation and the dewar plug is fitted.
In the event of breakdown, use the emergency alann for assistance, do
not panic since the relief valve setting will take more than 12 hours to be
reached. Under no circumstances transport dewars that were not
previously connected to the recovery line or exhibit any frosting on the
top flange. In the latter case seek advice from a member of the liquefier
staff.
General
1. Do not to use the passenger lifts unless the goods lift is out of order
2. Always travel alone
3. Try to avoid transportation during Out of Hours
April 2008
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Safe Working Procedure
This form should be completed for each procedure that may be undertak en in the designated area, which has a
hazard or potential hazard associated with it.
Each procedure an undergraduate, postgraduate, research associat e, staff member, technician or secretary is
expected to perform, must be adequately explained, (with the aid of this form) at the time of their induction
into the working area, by a suitably qualified person.
Date: Octob er 2005
Location : Experimental Physi cs & Astronomy Research Laboratories
Name of supervi sor
General guide: specific procedure to be determined by individuals
Detail s of the procedure : LIQUID NITROGEN USE
Location for LN2 store is C.27
1.00 not enter the room if the Oxygen Defici ency alarm is sounding or the light is flashing.lmmediately report
this to the liquefier staff or senior staff member
2. Never take storage containers(240L Wessington) to a resear ch laboratory unless it has a low level sensor for
Oxygen Deficiency monitoring.(See guide for transport ation if moved from C.27)
3.Should the alarm sound , close the stora ge vesse l valve and exit the room . Follow the Emergency Procedure in
this event
Important information prior to using LN2
I.Read and understand the guidance notes contained within the cryogeni cs section of the Laboratory Safety
folder situated in each research laboratory
2.Calculate the maximum quantities permitted in the laboratory/work area, but use the minimum that is
necessary ( See calculation informat ion)
3. Receiv e appropri ate PPE and a practical demonstration from a competent colleague
4. Sign the declaration as a registered and trained user(Pl ease see C. Vickers,C.10)
5. Only use 4L capacity polystyren e containers and carry no more than 2 at anytime .
6. Always use the stairs and not the lift
General use
I . Only pour into equipment specia lly designed for LN2
2. Use your PPE
3. Avoid splashin g liquid on bare skin, especially the eyes
4. Burns to hands/fingers to be treated as for hot burns
Current safety precautions for this procedure
1. Guidance notes in the Laboratory Safety folder.
2. Read the "Golden Rules "
3. Use PPE
4. Know the Emergen cy Procedure
To calculatethemaximumpermittedasphyxiantthatcanbe
storedin aLaboratorysoas to preservea lifesustaining
atmospherein thecaseofspillageoraccidentalventing.
Assume thatthe asphyxiantisfullymixed withthe airintheroom.
Thenormal concentrationofoxygen is20.9%
Oxygen concentrationsbelow18%areconsideredhazardous.
Thevolume ofasphyxiant isthereforegivenby,
v ==v _0.18V
R
m'
A R 0.209
where V
R
isthevolume oftheroominrrr',or
Example:whatisthelargestvolumeofliquidnitrogenthatcanbesafelystored
inCllLaboratory,toavoid anoxygen depletedatmosphere?
Data Volume ofCllLaboratory = 127m
3
1litreofliquidnitrogenis0.683rrr'
then,
VA == 0.139X127== 17.6 m
3
ofgasor
VA = 17.6/0.683== 25.8 Iitresofliquidequivalent.
Takinga500/0 safety factor, toallow forthefactthat atthepoint ofspill,the
oxygen depletionwillbehighest,
maximumpermittedlevelis == 12.9litres
ofliquidnitrogen
(thisisequivalentto3-4polystyrenebuckets full)
Youcancomparethiscalculationwiththe data onthe accompanyingsheet.
Remember also that there can be a natural changeof air in a room every ] -2 h.
ROOM OXYGEN CONCENTRATIONS -INFULLYMIXEDATMOSPHERE- RESULTING FROM LEAKI SPILLAGE
ROOM VOLUMES(in m3)
NITROGEN VOLUME 50 100 150 200 250 300 400 500 750 1000 1250
Cylinder(sizemm) GAS (m3) OXYGEN CONCENTRATION
140x940(230bar) 2.1 X 20.1% 20.5% 20.6% 20.7% 20.8% 20.8% 20.8% 20.9% 20.9% 20.9% 20.9%
230x1460(230bar) 9.78 W 16.8% 18.9% 19.5% 19.9% 20.1% 20.3% 20.4% 20.5% 20.7% 20.7% 20.8%
230x1640 (230bar) 10.78 Z 16.4% 18.7% 19.4% 19.8% 20.0% 20.2% 20.4% 20.5% 20.6% 20.7% 20.8%
CARBON DIOXIDE VOLUME
Cylinder(sizemm) GAS (m3) OXYGEN CONCENTRATION
140X940(50bar) 3.3 19.6% 20.3% 20.5% 20.6% 20.7% 20.7% 20.8% 20.8% 20.9% 20.9% 20.9%
203x870(50bar) 7.3 17.9% 19.4% 19.9% 20.2% 20.3% 20.4% 20.6% 20.6% 20.7% 20.8% 20.8%
230x1496(50bar) 18 13.4% 17.2% 18.4% 19.1% 19.4% 19.7% 20.0% 20.2% 20.4% 206.0% 20.6%
ARGON VOLUME
Cylinder(sizemm) GAS (m3) OXYGEN CONCENTRATION
230x1460(230bar) 11.01 16.3% 18.6% 19.4% 19.8% 20.0% 20.2% 20.4% 20.5% 20.6% 20.7% 20.8%
NITROGEN VOLUME
LIQUID (Iitres) GAS (m3) OXYGEN CONCENTRATION
10 6.83 18.1% 19.5% 20.0% 20.2% 20.4% 20.5% 20.6% 20.7% 20.7% 20.8% 20.8%
25 17.1 13.8% 17.4% 18.6% 19.2% 19.5% 19.8% 20.1% 20.2% 20.5% 20.6% 20.7%
50 34.1 6.6% 13.8% 16.1% 17.3% 18.1% 18.6% 19.1% 19.5% 19.9% 20.2% 20.4%
100 68.2 0.0% 6.6% 11.4% 13.8% 15.2% 16.2% 17.3% 18.1% 19.0% 19.2% 19.8%
150 102.3 0.0% 0.0% 6.6% 10.2% 12.4% 13.8% 15.6% 16.7% 18.1% 18.8% 19.2%
200 136.4 0.0% 0.0% 1.9% 6.6% 9.5% 11.4% 13.8% 15.2% 17.1% 18.1% 18.7%
250 170.5 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.1% 6.6% 9.0% 12.2% 13.8% 16.2% 17.3% 18.1%
300 204.6 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.8% 6.6% 10.2% 12.4% 15.2% 16.6% 17.5%
400 272.8 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.9% 6.6% 9.5% 13.3% 15.2% 16.4%
500 341 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.1% 6.6% 11.4% 13.8% 15.2%
600 409.2 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 3.8% 9.5% 12.4% 14.1%
Oxygen concentrationsbelow18%mustbeconsideredhazardous
Thecalculations abovewillbevalid where the gasisfully mixedwiththe airinthe room.
Atthepoint ofthe leakI spill - the concentration ofoxygenwill besignificantly lowerthanindicated above.
If2cylinders areconnected viaachangeovervalve thenthe maximumvolume ofgaswhich couldleak doubles,andtheresulting Oxygen concentration
canbecalculated byhalving the roomvolumeandreading offthe Oxygen concentrat ionforthe smallersized room.