Exothermic chemical reactions lead to explosions and the release of flammable and/or toxic material to the environment. The key to reaction control and incident prevention is an understanding of the thermochemistry, obtained from laboratory tests. A range of instruments are detailed below which can identify and characterise reactions and enable emergency relief systems to be designed according to the DIERS methodology.

Automated Gas Burette

For the measurement of Gas generation rate and quantity from chemical processes. This can be linked to either the Adiabatic Dewar Calorimeter equipment, carius tube or other isothermal calorimetry equipment (e.g. Mettler RC1).

Adiabatic Pressure Dewar Calorimeter ADCII

A large scale calorimeter with an ultra low phi factor which permits direct simulation of plant runaway conditions in the laboratory. Pressure and temperature data collected enable the specification of plant protection measures and the design of emergency relief systems.

Options include:

• Protective containment pod.

• Tempering cell for detailed vent design work.

• Gas evolution apparatus.

• Pumped additions (via high pressure pump).

• Custom manufactured high pressure and various coated Dewar vessels including accessories.

10g Screening Tool (Carius tube)

An instrument for thermal stability and pressure rate screening to search for exothermic activity and gas generation.

Due to interest from clients in the development of the Carius apparatus for the purposes of high energy/high rate material screening, the system software now has the capability of logging data at multiple temperature/pressure trigger points depending on the rate of rise of the sample under test.

The standard log to disk rates of every 30 secs (constantly activated throughout a test) and every 0.1 sec (activated on a rate of rise trigger point of either temperature or pressure) have now been extended with additional log rate capability of every 1 second and every 1 msec. Any combination of these faster rates may now also be de-activated or re-enabled to suit a clients specific needs whether to investigate the thermal stability of various materials or to observe more closely the pressure effects of highly energetic materials.

Tests are conducted to temperatures up to 400°C and the glass 10g Carius tubes are capable of withstanding nominally 60 barg (tube failure pressure could be lower than this if testing aggressive materials such as alkaline solutions).