SYSTEM TO STORE NITRIC ACID

Nitric acid 60% properties:

Density at 20 C- 1363kg/m^3

Boiling point- 120C

Vapor pressure at 20C- 0,009 bar

Freezing point- -20C

Solubility (in water)- Completely miscible (forms homogenous mixture)

Tanker delivery:

Tankers should not wait on public roads or busy internal roads. A separate parking bay for
road tankers waiting to unload is advisable so that vehicles and documents can be
checked with minimum interference to traffic flow.

The offloading point should be clearly labelled with the product to be handled. It should be
locked closed to prevent unauthorized operation. Take precautions against spillage due to
vehicles being moved with the hoses still connected. These include providing barriers
across the tanker stand, brake interlocks on the vehicle, clamping or breakaway couplings
on the hose connections.

Before acid is unloaded from a tanker into a storage tank the site operator should ensure
there is enough ullage (UNFILLED) space in the tank to take the load.

There are 3 delivery methods are:

1. Pump discharge- pump may be installed on the site or on the vehicle. As acid is pumped
out, air is drawn into the tanker through the tanker vent valve.
2. Pump discharge with vapour return
3. Compressed air discharge (air padding). An air compressor on the vehicle is used ; the
tank should be designed to cope with the pressures generated

Control Aspects:

Mass: Mass flow meter can be used to measures the mass per unit time of nitric acid for
product manufacturing. A metering pump can also be used to improve accuracy

Storage-> Factors around the tank itself

Tank Design: product density, capacity, the materials of construction and delivery method

Horizontal tanks are considered easier to repair and maintain but vertical tanks use less

space and the ground support is less expensive. On the other hand stock taking and level
control is more accurate in vertical tanks. The tank foundation (and the supports for
horizontal tanks) should normally be of concrete with the required load bearing strength
and thickness.

Construction of storage tanks for weak nitric acid of 6070% concentration can be done
using austenitic stainless steels (types 304L, 316L and 321) which is different from carbon
steel. Also non-plasticised PVC, reinforced with glass fibre and polyester resin, can be used
however it can be brittle particularly if used in cold temperatures.

Product density. Density is mass per unit volume. We need to pump to product
manufacture and control this by mass.

Vents should be sized to prevent over pressurisation of the tank during product delivery,
and partial vacuum when product is being removed from the tank. The size and design of
the vent will depend upon the type of tank, its material of construction, and whether
tanker delivery is made using pump discharge or compressed air.

Centrifugal pumps of PTFE-lined cast iron or plastic or magnetic driven sealless pumps are
commonly used. All pumps should be visually examined for leaks on a daily basis and
inspected more thoroughly on a routine maintenance basis.

Transport (supply tanker -> tank -> process)

Safety Aspects

Conditions to avoid: Uncontrolled addition of water, contact with combustible materials.

Incompatibility: Moisture, bases, organic material, metals, hydrogen sulfide, carbides,
alcohols, organic solvents, carbides, cyanides, sulfides

1. Personal safety: full-body coverall (chemical coverall) or chemical protective suit, sturdy
shoes or acid-resistant boots, closed protective glasses or visor with full mask, helmet or
helmet with neck guard. acid-resistant protective gloves

2. Personal safety at working platform: the filling arm or arms, devices for leak detection
testing, flushing water connection, drainage lines for residual acid, tank wagon pressure
vent connections, safety equipment such as eye shower and emergency shower,
emergency switch to stop the loading operation

Environmental concerns: Acid rain is one concern amongst many. The loading and
unloading areas should be built in such a way that acid from leaks, spillage and overflow
is collected and led to a safe place.

Suitability: The tank is clean, has been approved for nitric acid use and the tank
equipment is suitable for nitric acid

Concerns about nitric acid storage

Issues: corrosion + spillages:

The bund (outer safety tank) walls and floor should be constructed of materials resistant to
the acid being stored. Previously nitric acid has been protected using a Coating of
Urethane, however, to protect nitric acid of concentration 60 %( Weak or aqueous),
chemical resistant Decavane RC can be used for Multi Coating.

Fibreglass Lining (reinforced with glass fibres) has no joints or seams and therefore creates
a complete seal making your bund impermeable to both water and the storage vessels
contents.

The bund walls should have sufficient strength to contain an acid spill. Overfill protection
can be used in case of a major leak.

Sump and a manually controlled sump for the removal of bund contents

Pumps and tanker hose connections positioned in a separate (acid resistant) catchment
area outside the main bund to prevent small spillages Note: if water reacts with spilled
acid it could release a gas

Access: How to get inside the tank?

Through the manway. If no manway exists, an opening with the minimum dimensions of 18" by 18" shall be cut in the
tank top avoiding welded seams. The tank section to be removed should be marked with chalk and a hole drilled with
an explosion-proof (such as air driven) drill at one corner of the section. After the hole is drilled, the tank vapours must
again be tested by inserting the meter probe into the hole to verify that the vapour concentration does not exceed 10
percent LFL.

Contents measurement: How to know how much we have?

A device called a contents gauge can be fit inside the tank. Examples include pneumacators, magnetically coupled
float gauges or ultrasonic reflection transmitters.

How to dose accurately?

Flow control or flow monitor systems. Malfunctions in your dosing process will be detected and displayed as digital
dosing pumps deliver unrivalled and optimum performance in these industries. These allow you to automatically adjust
dosing pump flows to set points.
http://www.wermac.org/equipment/pumps_centrifugal.html

Equipment required for the process:

Pumps-

corrosion resistant centrifugal pumps

1. For concentrations of 0 to 65%, most AISI 300-Series stainless steel has shown great corrosion

2.

resistance for temperatures up to the boiling point. Impeller and casing covered in resistant
materials e.g. stainless steel, nickel, rubber, polypropylene, stoneware, and carbon. Lead can be
used for concentration between 52 and 70%
Wetted parts should be made of 304L stainless steel for concentrations lower than 95 wt. %; for
higher concentrations, they should be made of titanium (with a water content higher than 1.34% to
prevent spontaneous combustion), silicon iron or 3003 aluminium alloy.

Gear- Neoprene or natural rubber latex gloves are acceptable for handling nitric acid
Fittings (mechanical) : Tees, Entry Boots, Reducers, Malleable Pipe Fittings, Valves, Elbows,
Nipples, Bosses & Unions, Plugs & Caps, Manways & Lugs, Accessories, Sockets & Adaptors

Gauges: Remote Gauges, OCIO Gauges, Float Gauges, Hydrostatic Gauges, Constant Reading
Gauges, Sight Gauges, Accessories & Spares

Flowmeters:

These are used to measure flow movement.

http://www.flexim.com/en/concentration-and-mass-flow-measurement-of-nitric-acid
http://www.ukflowtechnik.com/catalog/flowtechnik/by-application/chemical-flow-meter/acids

Overfill Prevention (safety measure):

Prevents the tank from being overfilled. Fuel passes until

the maximum level is reached at which point it isolates the supply of fuel into the tank ensuring that it is not
overfilled. E.g. Risk Stop Valves, Bund & High-Level Alarms, Hytek Battery & Mains Alarms

Chromium enhances corrosion resistance in alloys while handling nitric acid, due to this fact, Incoloy
alloy 800 and 825 are adequate for nitric acid at all concentrations for temperatures up to the boiling
point. Inconel alloy 600 and C-276 also offer good corrosion resistance to nitric acid for concentration
over 20% at room temperature; alloy 690 has shown better corrosion resistant because its chromium
content is higher. Hastelloy G-30 alloy and G-35 offer excellent corrosion resistance for this same
reason.

Measurements:
Volume of BUND: 4.6865*1.2192*7.7724=
44.4097899m^3
Volume of TANK --> 110% of x= 44.4097899m^3
x = 40.3725363m^3