How necessary are grounding systems for Road Tankers transporting Hydrocarbons?
Flammable materials are transported around the world by various means. Elok Asia focuses on safe systems that will earth a vehicle carrying products that easily ignite or combust – normally flammable liquids and gases but certain solids can also be included in the list of hazardous materials. These liquids and materials are to be handled in the safest manner possible since the presence of any static electricity increases the chance of causing sparks (even the tiniest sparks) which pose a risk of the hydrocarbon based products igniting and exploding. For the sake of a driver’s safety and the safety of the personnel involved in the loading unloading process,it is important that operators fully understand the need for reliable fuel truck grounding systems.
How is a vehicle containing flammable products grounded?
Lets take road tankers as an example. These are literally tanks on wheels often carrying all sorts of hazardous chemicals, powders and especially fuel. When transported, there is movement in the tank ( like rubbing) which causes static to build up around the tank body. Even if the tanker is moving, the action of the pumped liquids flowing through the loading unloading piping system can create static charges. In order to completely eliminate this charge, it is necessary to connect the tanker truck to a true ground (normally using a copper wire and clamp) This procedure is commonly known as fuel tanker grounding or fuel truck earthing. When properly connected to the earth/ground, the static electricity will be safely discharged and pumping products is no longer a potential hazard.
Industrial Grounding Oil and Gas/ Petrochemical Plants
Companies around the world that buy and sell hydrocarbons have to meet hazardous area equipment standards and are also depending on safety equipment that is easy to use, easy to understand and reliable. It is not good enough to simply task personnel to purchase an earth wire and clamp and make an earth connection manually each time a tanker comes in. This would mean that the safety is compromised. An automated system where some electronic monitoring is implemented is the most reliable way to ensure that the earth wire is definitely connected to the vehicle and that the static has definitely been discharged.
Any system that is implemented must first of all be ATEX certified. ATEX certification not only involves a third party testing house verifying the design of the static earthing equipment’s rating but also involves continual inspections of the manufacturer’s quality system and practices to ensure that the standards in manufacturing are followed and regularly audited and improved.
How will we know when it is safe to load and unload fuel or hazardous products?
A no brainer light system is visible to the drivers . When the light is red, it is no go! No pumping! When the light is green, it is safe to transfer liquids.
What are some of the advantages of using Elok system?
This is not a new product. We have been manufacturing these systems for applications all over the world for more than two decades. We understand that weather conditions change at loading unloading terminals – so, the earthing testers need to work well at all times and in all temperatures. The system is simple to understand, simple to use and install and has all the necessary hazardous area safety certifications to help any operator comply to comply to acceptable international safety standards.
