Reduction of Safe Separation Distances for Hazardous Materials Transported in Buckets through Ramps at LAP Plants

摘要

The purpose of this program was to evaluate and select materials for ramps and transport buckets that could reduce safe separation distances for hazardous materials in transit between buildings. Several thicknesses of aluminum, types of plastics, and material configurations were evaluated as candidate items for use in manufacture of transport buckets. Ramp-covering materials of Styrofoam R, acoustic blanket material, and corrugated fiberglass were also compared. It was determined that plastic materials offer a significant advantage over solid aluminum for buckets in the reduction of safe separation distances. However, a sandwich configuration consisting of an aluminum sheet, an aluminum honeycomb, and another aluminum sheet forms a rigid bucket which provides a safe separation distance approaching that provided by a plastic bucket. It was determined that the ramp-covering material influences that safe separation distances as a function of its area density. This influence, however, is a second-order effect compared with the pressure intensity. If the area density of the ramp-covering material is below 0.8 kg/m cu, the selection of the covering can be based on cost and utility factors without a deleterious effect on the safe separation distance. A safe separation model was formulated and, although incomplete, provides a first-order basis for estimating safe separation distances.