STORAGE OF ATMOSPHERIC, REFRIDGERATED AMMONIA

In 2002, EFMA issued the recommendation for the safe and reliable inspection of atmospheric, refrigerated ammonia storage tanks.

 

The practice for the inspection of storage tanks, which contain anhydrous liquid ammonia at atmospheric pressure, is different in the different countries in Europe. In addition to the specific national regulations or codes of practice, some companies supplement these with their own internal code of practice. Ammonia storage tank systems also have to comply with a number of other, more general, safety regulations in the respective countries.

 

In Europe, there are approximately 50 refrigerated ammonia storage tanks in operation. The main purpose of this document is to provide guidance and recommendations for the periodic inspection of fully refrigerated anhydrous liquid ammonia storage tanks. The guidance is based on experience from inspection of ammonia tanks and the knowledge of related failure mechanisms, in particular stress corrosion cracking induced by anhydrous liquid ammonia under certain conditions. The guidance uses a risk based inspection (RBI) approach to optimise the inspection program between the need for knowledge about the condition of the tank and the negative effects of opening the tank for inspection which could increase the potential for SCC.

 

This document has been revised and the 2008 edition is available.