The modeling of toxic consequence of Ammonia release in industrial refrigerators Toxic Consequence Modeling of the Ammonia Release
Journal of Behdasht dar Arseh (i.e., Health in the Field),
Vol. 8 No. 3 (1399),
16 March 2021
,
Page 18-31
https://doi.org/10.22037/jhf.v8i3.32508
Abstract
Background and Aims: Ammonia is a toxic gas and is used as a refrigerant due to its special thermodynamic properties. This study was designed to evaluate the toxic effects of ammonia leakage in an industrial refrigerator.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in an industrial refrigerator in 2019. Due to its widespread use in industrial refrigerators, reservoirs containing ammonia gas were selected as the center of hazards. Given the potential damage of this chemical, only the toxic dimension of this gas was evaluated. Also, owing to the importance of determining the extent of human vulnerability, the scenarios were evaluated in the worst condition and in the case of the catastrophic rupture of reservoirs. Consequences modeling of selected scenarios was performed using PHAST 7.2 software.
Results: The obtained concentration profiles showed that during the first and last six months of year, reservoir 1 with up to respectively 570.20 and 349.09 meters beyond it in the wind direction, located on the ERPG3 level, according to ERPG (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines) levels. Likewise, in reservoir 2 between 891.05 and 556.74 m from the reservoir, during the first and last six months of the year, located on the ERPG3 level, respectively.
Conclusion: Catastrophic rupture of ammonia tanks and its dispersion into the environment can cause a high mortality rate. Therefore, implementation of preventive programs such as emergency response planning appropriate to the potential hazards of ammonia gas, development of a comprehensive risk management plan, determining the correct location of reservoirs following the results of consequence modeling, etc. can be effective steps in reducing the consequences in the case of such accidents.
- Consequence Modeling
- Ammonia
- Toxicity
- PHAST Software
How to Cite
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