Wastewater tank at PTT Phenol factory in Rayong explodes

[webfact]

Wastewater tank at PTT Phenol factory in Rayong explodes

 

 

RAYONG: -- A wastewater tank of the PTT Phenol factory in Rayong province exploded and caught fire early Monday, slightly injured a worker.

 

The incident at the factory located inside the Hemaraj Eastern Industrial Estate happened at 02.15 am today.

 

The tank contained wastewater contaminated with hydrocarbon.

 

The fire quickly spread and was raging to nearby tanks.

 

Several fire trucks were rushed to the scene and were able to keep it under control an hour later with foams and water before spreading to other nearby wastewater tank.

 

During the fire, foul smell was emitted from the fire raged tank, but there was no report of environmental threat to nearby communities.

 

Only one employee at the control room received pain chest.

 

PTT Phenol Co Ltd later this morning issued a statement saying that it has joined officials of the Mab Taphut Industrial Estate to inspect and check surrounding areas inside and outside the factory and found no unusual level of pollutants and smells in the environment.

 

It said the exact cause of fire will be informed to the public.

 

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/wastewater-tank-ptt-phenol-factory-rayong-explodes/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-08-22

[tifino]

 

ah!! a waste hydrocarbon tank, with water contaminant

 

 

The storage and separation of this stuff should be left to professionals

[Briggsy]

Massive rush to deny any kind of environmental pollution or impact. I know what they are worrying about. Compensation.

[PETERTHEEATER]

So, if the tank contained water then the contents would not burn in which case the tank itself must have caught fire. Made from a combustible material.......

[Emster23]

Wastewater? Me thinks there was more than water in there. My ex was not such a great cook: she could burn water, but this is a bit much

[LennyW]

16 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

So, if the tank contained water then the contents would not burn in which case the tank itself must have caught fire. Made from a combustible material.......

 

16 hours ago, Emster23 said:

Wastewater? Me thinks there was more than water in there. My ex was not such a great cook: she could burn water, but this is a bit much

C'mon people, learn to read....." The tank contained wastewater contaminated with hydrocarbon. " 

 

Commonly known as a slops tank, where contaminated water goes while awaiting processing and separation prior to disposal.

[Emster23]

My slight attempt at humor was using the headline which used the word "wastewater".

[Narratio]

As LennyW says, waste water tanks contain lots of stuff. If there has been a leak or a spill, that flows or is washed via the surface drains into the waste water tank.  While in the tank the water and whatever oil/chemical there is separate out. BUT. There is always some sort of out-gassing from the oil/chemicals, so the tank should have a gas vent on it which releases any gas buildup in a safe location. If the man way has been left open then gases vent to here. Any arcing or sparking device or naked flame, depending upon the LEL of the gas,) can cause it to ignite or 'flash'. Then the questions is, does that burning gas burn backwards into the tank? In this case the answer appears to be yes. result - The tank, she go boom!

 

So look for bad maintenance and while teh high ambient temperature may have been a contributor, it's most likely workers smoking where they shouldn't.