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B.F. Eoofirieli Chemical Company JO -'l Inter-Organization Correspondence
To D. L. Dowell Location Cleveland
Date 5/2/70
From
^ Gressler
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Subject Near Miss - Blown Manhead Gasket on Catalyst Charge Bottle- Pedricktown - Bldg* 513
On April 26, 1970 at 2:26 P.M. -we experienced a gas escape through the manhead of the catalyst charge bottle*
*
Poly //2 was being charged, Yhe catalyst had been added to the catalyst charge bottle
and -was being flushed into the poly with fresh VC1. Approximately 1$0 to 200 gallons of VC1 were added, when a leak appeared at the manhead of the catalyst charge bottle,
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, lead technician, had added the catalyst. He then asked
operating technician, to close and secure the manhead.
went to the recovered VC1
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tanks to switch tanks. "While '
was doing this, the gas alarm sounded. He immediately
went back to the second floor to see what had happened. Upon arriving at the second
floor, he noticed VC1 pouring out of the manhead of the catalyst charge bottle. He then
left the building.
Upon hearing the alarm, I immediately went to Bldg, 513. I saw .
and asked him what
had happened. He explained the situation. We re-entered the building to determine what
should be done next. In the meantime, \
, console technician, had closed the
VC1 valve and began to water flush the lines with the computer. After
id I had
examined the situation, we decided the water flush should continue. In this particular
situation the computer proved to be invaluable. If it had not been for the computer,
we would not have been able to water flush. With the Warner flush, we suppressed the
vapors and cleared the lines of VC1 within a short period.
Our charge bottle is designed with the ''O" ring located in the manhead. The charge bottle was opened and examined. Upon examination of the :,051 ring, it was found to be sheared in too places. It was then determined that the "0" ring had slipped out ox _its -proper location. This was the case, as part of the ring was in the bottle, while the major part was still in the manhead groove.
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technician assigned to Bldg. 513, activated the master gas alarm, fog
system and emergency fans,
Corrective Action:
NGC 15662
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1. The "0*' ring will be examined each and every time the bottle is opened. If wear is
apparent, the !,0!l ring will be replaced.
2. The :,0" ring will be greased periodically to prevent it from falling out of the
manhead,
3. A valve and funnel vrill be added to the rupture disc lino so the catalyst can be
added through the funnel and a vacuum will be -Gulled and the valve opened. By
installing the above, it will limit the number of times the manhead has to be opened.
cc: 0. I', teckmsyer
J, L. M-alsor. -
row W,, th incline V.\ L. Cano
D. Si
.awrence
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Gasessleal
Company
Ir/jer-Organisaticn Correspondence
D. La Dowell Location Cleveland
Uzta 5/2/70 From ja vi. Gressler
Subject Ke&r --iss - Pedricktown - Gas Escape, Poly 3uilding - Bldg. 513
On April 25, 1970 at 3:10 A.M. we experienced a gas escape through the top of washdown tank #8E in Building $13.
Poly #7 had finished its normal charge cycle and had been blown down. Recovery was being
made through the blowdown line and back through Poly #7 However, the blowdown valve from Polys ;> and #6 was not closed. With this valve open there was pressure up to the drain valve on the washdown tank* In the meantime. Poly #6 was ready to be flushed to
washdown tank #8E. The drain valve on the blowdown line from Poly #6 was opened by the
computer. When this valve was opened, the recovered VG1 and flushed slurry from Poly #6
went to the washdown tank and escaped through the top.
, operating technician,
was checking the level of the washdown tank at the time of the accident. As the washdown
tank overfilled,
was soaked with slurry. He was wearing his safety glasses, thus
preventing!: injury to his eyes. Realizing what had happened, he immediately turned on the master gas alarm, fog system, and emergency fans. He then contacted
console techriLeian, and informed him of the situation.
mmediately closed the
blowdown valve from Polys #5 and yo. The building was cleared of VC1 within a few minutes
and the Ail Clear was sounded at 3:20 A.M.
The common blowdown valves had been changed from manual to computer. This was done to prevent tea above from occurring. However, the program had not yet been set in the computer.
a lotion: blowdown or recovery is attempted, all valves will be visually checked,
k sheet will be provided to assure that the valves are in the proper position. i'his accident will be discussed with all shifts. The computer will be programmed to put the valves in the proper position before
tten.pting an operation.
cc: 0. F, Eeckmeyer J. i.-. kelson - P-. D,, Scott 1- hi Harrington - ?. H,, Lawrence
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