Static Electricity

A shamelessly stolen introduction

Albert Ness
September 15, 2008
 Sensory Effects

Slide 2 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 Visual Effects

Slide 3 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 Workplace Effects?

Slide 4 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 Static Electricity
• 3 Steps
1. Generation
2. Accumulation
3. Discharge
• Control & Mitigation
 A General Static Condition -
1) Whenever two materials are placed in contact, an exchange of
charge occurs between them.

2) Unless the materials are conductive and electrically bonded

together, when the surfaces are separated each acquires an
equal and opposite net charge. The net charges drain away
to ground at a rate that depends on the conductivity of the materials.

3) Electric charges may build up on

ungrounded conductive materials (such as metals)
non-conductive materials (most plastics) until
The electrical breakdown field of the surroundings (usually air) is
exceeded and an electrostatic discharge (such as a spark) occurs.
The static discharge may be of sufficient energy to ignite vapors or
dust, depending on the Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE)
of the ignitable mixture.
Slide 6 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002
Generation - Streaming Current
Splash Charge

+
++
+++
+ + + + + +- - - - - + + + + + +
- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dumping Powder
Contact and Frictional
Charging
Induction
 Accumulation of Charge

+ Charge in + + + Charge out + +

Charge Out (grounded vessels)
• Conductive liquid – Nearly instantaneous
• Non-conductive liquid - eventually
dissipates in grounded vessels.

Relaxation Time

10,000 gal
5–10,000 gal <5,000 gal

5 min 1 min
30 min
Extra kicker - Examples of some
nonconductive liquids that will accumulate
charge and are flammable:
gasoline
propane
toluene
butadiene
benzene
mineral spirits
styrene monomer

Slide 15 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 Accumulation of Charge on
Equipment
• Charge on fluid places opposite charge on
equipment.
• Conductive equipment (metal), if
grounded, safely brings charge to ground.
• Charge on non-conductive (or non-
grounded) equipment will linger on
equipment.
• Accumulated charges remain in non
conductive and in non-grounded
vessels.

++
++
Conductive Sections in non-
conductive Line
Discharge
 Flammable Limits
Effect OfFlammable Limits -
Fuel Concent rat ion
On (LFL)
Lower Ignitand
ionUpper
Energy
(UFL)

FLA MMABLE

RA NGE

ENERGY FOR
IGNIT ION

M. I. E

L. F. L. U. F. L
M.I.E - Minimum Ignit ion Energy
L.F.L. - Lower Flammable Limit
U.F.L. - Upper Flammable Limit

Slide 20 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 Minimum Ignition Energy
Approximat e Values Of M.I.E.
In Air*

1 . Gases: 0 .1 Millijoule
Hydrogen = 0 .0 2 mJ

2. Liquids 1 .0 Millijoule
Pent ane = 0 .5 4 mJ
St yrene = 0 .3 0 mJ
3 : Dust s 10 Millijoule Or More

* Oxygen - Enriched Fuels Have Much Lower M.I.E.’s

Slide 21 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

Spark
Spark
Discharge
 Static Electricity Control
• Ground all isolated conductors
• Reduce flow velocity
• Install dip pipes
• Move filters further upstream
• Eliminate top electrodes
• Antistatic additives, materials
• Increase Humidity
• Ionize the air
 Grounding & Bonding
• Grounding. The process of bonding one or
more conductive objects to the ground, so that
all objects are at zero (0) electrical potential;
also referred to as “earthing.”
• Bonding. The process of connecting two or
more conductive objects together by means of a
conductor so that they are at the same electrical
potential, but not necessarily at the same
potential as the earth.
 Example

Grounding

Bonding
Example of a tank car dip-pipe liquid
transfer system

Slide 28 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

Safe Charge Discharge from
Bags

Conductive Bag

+ +
Conductive Gloves + -
-
--
Conductive Shoes
- --

Conductive Floor
 Prevent Static Discharge

xyzx

• Reduce charge micro filter

velocity
• Ground all isolated
conductors
-- - - - - -
• Move filter further -- - - - - - -
-- - - - - - -
upstream -- - - - - - -
-- - - - - - -
---- -- -- -- -- -- --
• Install dip pipe -- - - - - - -
----- -- -- -- -- -- --
• Eliminate top
electrodes
Inert Environment

Vent N2 to a
safe place!
 Important Summary Points
1- Ground and Bond prior to any transfer
2- Non conductive fluids are more likely for static generation
3- Bottom filling or top fill using dip tube less static generation
4- Slow filling will generate less static than rapid filling.
Magic number slow start velocity of 3 feet per second until loading
lance is submerged.
5- Spray filling- keep nozzles from extending into the container to
avoid pulling in air and creating flammable vapor mixture.
6- Inerting eliminates the potential for combustion, but does not
eliminate the static. Padding with nitrogen may not achieve the
same full potential as inerting (5% or less oxygen).

Slide 32 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 Quiz
With respect to “Static electricity” before you transfer a flammable liquid material
from a 55 gal drum to an open container, what should you do?
A. Make sure it is raining and you have rubber boots on, so static will not be generated
B. Make sure that the 55 gal. Drum and the open container are grounded and bonded
C. Make sure you fill the container very slowly with a thin stream and place the filling
nozzle close to the bottom of the container.

You have just finished unwrapping a skid of material with several layers of
saran wrap and are going to remove and add a combustible dust material into a
reactor containing a flammable solvent. What steps should you take.
A. Open the reactor, start the agitator, and dump the contents into the reactor
B. Open the reactor, ground the reactor, bond the agitator, start the agitator,
dump the contents and close the reactor.
C. Ground the reactor, bond the agitator, open the reactor, dump the contents, close the
reactor, start the agitator.

Slide 33 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 Quiz - Answers
With respect to “Static electricity” before you transfer a flammable liquid material
from a 55 gal drum to an open container, what should you do?
A. Make sure it is raining and you have rubber boots on, so static will not be generated
B. Make sure that the 55 gal. Drum and the open container are grounded and bonded
C. Make sure you fill the container very slowly with a thin stream and place the filling
nozzle close to the bottom of the container.

You have just finished unwrapping a skid of material with several layers of
saran wrap and are going to remove add a combustible dust material into the
reactor containing a flammable solvent. What steps should you take.
A. Open the reactor, start the agitator, and dump the contents into the reactor
B. Open the reactor, ground the reactor, bond the agitator, start the agitator,
dump the contents and close the reactor.
C. Ground the reactor, bond the agitator, open the reactor, dump the contents,
close the reactor, start the agitator.

Slide 34 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 Quiz
You are preparing to load a non conductive flammable solvent into a tank truck
via the top manway. From a static's perspective, what two things should be done?
A. Ground the tank truck and get the filling done as fast as possible
B. Ground the tank truck and fill slowly through a grounded down pipe
C. Stand way back and fill the tank quickly

You are asked to load a tank car and in checking the grounding clamp, you
notice that it is heavily corroded. What should your action be?
A. Continue on with the loading operation, but don’t use the grounding clamp.
B. Continue on with the loading operation by repairing the ground clamp yourself.
C. Get the ground clamp repair and then continue with the loading operation.

Slide 35 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 Quiz - Answers
You are preparing to load a non conductive flammable solvent into a tank truck
via the top manway. From a static's perspective, what two things should be done?
A. Ground the tank truck and get the filling done as fast as possible
B. Ground the tank truck and fill slowly through a grounded down pipe
C. Stand way back and fill the tank quickly

You are asked to load a tank car and in checking the grounding clamp, you
notice that it is heavily corroded. What should your action be?
A. Continue on with the loading operation, but don’t use the grounding clamp.
B. Continue on with the loading operation by repairing the ground clamp yourself.
C. Get the ground clamp repair and then continue with the loading operation.

Slide 36 Static Electricity -David Wechsler October, 2002

 More Info
• NFPA 77
• IChemE Guides
• Knovel
– Avoiding Static Ignition Hazards in Chemical
Operations
– Electrostatic Hazards
– Electrostatic Ignition of Fires and Explosions