Download - Non-Pressure Tank Cars
Non-Pressure Tank Cars
Fort Bend County Hazardous Regional hazardous Materials
Response Team
Tank Car Emergency Response
• Overview– While problems with tank cars occur
infrequently, response personnel are called upon to handle those few problems. When faced with a tank problem,the responder’s ability to communicate an accurate and detailed description of the contents, condition of the tank, and other circumstances is extremely important.
Non-Pressure Tank Cars
• Transport hazardous and non-hazardous materials with vapor pressures below 25 psig at 105-115F
• Tank pressures are 60 to 100 psi
• Capacities range from 4,000 to 45, 000 gallons
Tank Car Appearance • Cylindrical with rounded
ends• At least one manway for
access to the tank’s interior• Fittings for
loading/unloading, pressure and/or vacuum relief, gauging, and other purposes are visible at the top and/or bottom of the car
Tank Car Structure• Body Bolster
– Cradles the tank• Continuous underframe
– Absorbs the draft and buff forces of train movement
• Stub Sill – Attaches the the tank to its
trucks• Truck
– Consists of wheels, axles, side frames springs, truck bolster, center bowl and pin.
Side and End Identification Nomenclature
• Tank divided into quadrants
• The “B” end of the car is the end with the hand brake
• All nomenclature is based on facing the “B” end of the car
• Truck wheels designated along left and right side
Commodities
• Class 3 (flammables)• Class 4 (flammable
solids/reactive liquids and solids)
• Class 5 (oxidizers/organic peroxides)
• Class 6 (poisons and irritants)
• Class 8 (corrosives)
Tank Car Markings
• Overview– Knowledge of the tank and its contents will help
you size up the problem and plan a response. These markings may be difficult to read from a distance, but aided vision may allow you to read the markings, including:
• Initials (reporting marks) and number• Capacity stencil• Specification marking
Reporting Marks and Number
• Unique set of initials• The initials and numbers
are stencilled on both sides (to the left when facing the car) and both ends (upper center) of the tank car
• Useful getting information about car’s contents from shipper.
Capacity Stencil
• Shows the volume of the tank car in gallons or pounds.
• Stencilled on both ends of the car under the car’s initials and number
• The term “load limit” may be used to mean the same thing as capacity
Specification Marking Components
• Approving Authority• Class Number• Delimiter letter• Tank Test Pressure• Material Construction• Weld Construction• Other Features• Additional Information
Specific Characteristics
• General Service– Manway– Safety relief valve– Mailbox
• Liquid line• Vapor line• Vacuum breaker
– Bottom valve or top operated bottom valve
• Acid Car– Manway– Liquid line– Vapor line
• Vent with frangible disk
Potential location of Leaks
• Overview– Most tank car problems are associated with
their fittings. Quite often, tightening a valve or a fitting with readily available hand tools can stop these releases.
Basic Methods for Stopping Releases
• If it’s open, close it (clockwise to close)• If it’s loose, tighten it (clockwise to tighten)• If a component is missing (but near by), replace it• If a pressure relief valve activates, don’t try to
tighten it, or cover it, initiate emergency procedures
• If not trained as a tank car specialist, seek assistance, initiate emergency procedures
Tank Damage Assessment
• Cracks• Scores and Gouges• Wheel burns• Dents• Rail burns• Puncture• Flame impingement• Corrosion
Thank You