Section 10 Storage and use of chemicals
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Clasifications Register Rules and Regulations - Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Naval Ships, January 2023 - Volume 2 Machinery and Engineering Systems - Part 12 Emissions Abatement Plant - Chapter 1 Emissions Abatement Plant for Combustion Machinery - Section 10 Storage and use of chemicals

Section 10 Storage and use of chemicals

10.1 Reductants used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR)

10.1.1 Storage tanks that contain urea-based ammonia (e.g. 40 per cent urea with 60 per cent water solution), hereinafter referred to as urea solution, as a reductant, are to comply with the requirements given in Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.1 Reductants used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) 10.1.2 to Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.1 Reductants used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) 10.1.19.

10.1.2 Storage tanks are to be arranged in accordance with Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 5.1 General 5.1.4 and Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 5.1 General 5.1.5, so that any leakage will be contained and prevented from making contact with heated surfaces.

10.1.3 Storage tanks are to be protected from excessively high or low temperatures. Depending on the operational area of the ship, this may necessitate the fitting of heating and/or cooling systems in accordance with Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 5.1 General 5.1.3. The physical conditions recommended by the applicable recognised standards (such as ISO 18611-3) are to be taken into account to avoid any impairment of urea solution during storage.

10.1.4 The storage tanks may be located within the engine room.

10.1.5 Where storage tanks are integrated, the following are to be considered during the design and construction:
  • These tanks shall be designed and constructed as integral part of the hull (e.g. double bottom, wing tanks);
  • These tanks shall be coated with appropriate anti-corrosion coating or shall be made of adequate corrosion resistant materials and cannot be located adjacent to any fuel oil and fresh water tank;
  • These tanks shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the structural requirements applicable to hull and primary support members described in Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 5 Hull construction; and
  • These tanks shall be included in the ship’s stability calculation.

10.1.6 The storage tank piping is to meet the requirements of Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 7.1 General 7.1.1, and Ventilation arrangements required to comply with the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN) requirements given in Vol 1, Pt 4, Ch 1, 7 Design guidance for nuclear, biological and chemical defence, will be specially considered.

10.1.7 Pipes or other tank penetrations are to be provided with manual closing valves attached to the tank in accordance with Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 7.1 General 7.1.3.

10.1.8 The storage tank piping and venting systems are to be independent of other ship service piping and/or systems.

10.1.9 The storage tank piping systems are not to be located in accommodation, service spaces or control stations.

10.1.10 Reductant tanks are to be of steel or other equivalent material with a melting point above 925°C. Pipes/piping systems are to be of steel or other equivalent material with melting point above 925°C, except downstream of the tank valve, provided this valve is metal seated and, in the event of fire, is arranged as fail-to-closed or equipped with quick closing facilities at a safe position outside the space. In such cases, type approved plastic piping may be accepted even if it has not passed a fire endurance test. Reductant tanks and pipes/piping systems are to be made with a material compatible with reductant or coated with appropriate anti-corrosion coating.

10.1.11 Where storage tanks are installed in closed compartments, the compartments are to be served by an effective extraction type mechanical ventilation system capable of providing not less than six air changes per hour, which is independent from the ventilation system of accommodation, service spaces or control stations.

10.1.12 The ventilation system is to be capable of being controlled from outside the compartment and is to be in continuous operation except when the storage tank is empty and has been thoroughly ventilated.A warning notice requiring the use of such ventilation before entering the compartment shall be provided outside the compartment adjacent to teach point of entry.

10.1.13 The requirements to the ventilation system specified in this paragraph and above paragraph Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.1 Reductants used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) 10.1.11 also apply to the following closed compartments normally entered by persons:

  • When such closed compartments are adjacent to the integral urea tanks and there are possible leakage points (e.g. manholes, fittings) from these tanks;
  • When the chemical piping systems pass through such compartments, unless the piping system is made of steel or other equivalent material with a melting point above 925°C.

10.1.14 The vent pipes of the storage tank are to terminate in an area on the weather deck with no ignition hazard. The tank venting system is to be arranged to prevent entrance of water into the storage tank.

10.1.15 The storage tanks are to be arranged so that they can be emptied and ventilated by means of portable or permanent systems. The drainage arrangements are to be independent of drainage arrangements of other systems and shall be capable of draining to a dedicated tank.

10.1.16 Where a storage tank is located within an engine room, a separate ventilation system defined in Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.1 Reductants used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) 10.1.8 is not required when the general ventilation system for the space is arranged so as to provide an effective movement of air in the vicinity of the storage tank, and is to be maintained in operation continuously except when the storage tank is empty and has been thoroughly ventilated.

10.1.17 In the event of a ventilation failure, an audible and visual alarm shall be provided outside the compartment adjacent to each point of entry and inside the compartment, together with a warning notice requiring the use of such ventilation.

10.1.18 Each storage tank is to be provided with alarms and safeguards in accordance with Table 1.9.1 Machinery emissions to air abatement plant: alarms and safeguards.

10.1.19 For the protection of crew members, the ship is to have suitable personnel protective equipment on board. Eyewash stations are to be provided in locations where chemical contact is most likely to occur. The location (e.g. near storage tank, loading area etc.) and number of these eyewash stations is to be derived from the detailed installation arrangements.

10.1.20 Reductant that uses aqueous ammonia (28 per cent or less concentration of ammonia) is to comply with the requirements given in Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.1 Reductants used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) 10.1.21 to Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.1 Reductants used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) 10.1.22.

10.1.21 Aqueous ammonia is not to be used as a reductant in a SCR except where it can be demonstrated that it is not practicable to use urea solution as the reductant.

10.1.22 Where an application is made to use aqueous ammonia as the reductant, then the arrangements for its loading, carriage and use are to be derived from a risk-based analysis.

10.1.23 Reductant that uses anhydrous ammonia (99,5 per cent or greater concentration of ammonia by weight) is to comply with the requirements given in Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.1 Reductants used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) 10.1.24 to Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.1 Reductants used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) 10.1.26.

10.1.24 Anhydrous ammonia is not to be used as a reductant in a SCR except where it can be demonstrated that it is not practicable to use urea solution as the reductant, and where the Flag Administration agrees to its use.

10.1.25 Where it is not practicable to use urea solution as the reductant, then it is also to be demonstrated that it is not practicable to use aqueous ammonia.

10.1.26 Where an application is made to use anhydrous ammonia as the reductant, then the arrangements for its loading, carriage and use are to be derived from a risk-based analysis.

10.2 Chemical treatment fluids used for exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS)

10.2.1 The aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) is commonly used as a chemical treatment fluid used for EGCS. Where other chemical treatment fluids are used, safety measures are to be taken according to the result of a risk assessment conducted to analyse the risks, in order to eliminate or mitigate the hazards to personnel on board the ship.

10.2.2 The storage tank for chemical treatment fluid is to be arranged so that any leakage will be contained and prevented from making contact with heated surfaces. All pipes and other tank penetrations are to be provided with manual closing valves attached to the tank. In cases where such valves are provided below the top of tank, they are to be provided with quick closing valves which are to be capable of being remotely operated from a position safely accessible in the event of chemical treatment fluid leakage. Tank and piping arrangements are to be approved.

10.2.3 The storage tank for chemical treatment fluid is to be protected from excessively high or low temperatures applicable to the particular concentration of chemical treatment fluids. Depending on the operational area of the ship, this may require the fitting of heating and/or cooling systems.

10.2.4 If a storage tank for chemical treatment fluid is installed in a closed compartment, then the area is to be served by an effective mechanical ventilation system of the extraction type, providing not less than 6 air changes per hour, which is independent from the ventilation system of accommodation, service spaces, or control stations. The ventilation system is to be capable of being controlled from outside the compartment. A warning notice requiring the use of such ventilation before entering the compartment shall be provided outside the compartment adjacent to each point of entry.

10.2.5 The requirements specified in Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.2 Chemical treatment fluids used for exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) 10.2.4 also apply to closed compartments normally entered by persons:
  1. when they are adjacent to the integral storage tank for chemical treatment fluid and there are possible leak points (e.g. manhole, fittings) from these tanks; or
  2. when the treatment fluid piping systems pass through these compartments, unless the piping system is made of steel or other equivalent material with melting point above 925°C and with fully welded joints.

10.2.6 The storage tank may be located within the engine room. In this case, a separate ventilation system is not required when a general ventilation system for the space providing not less than 6 air changes per hour is arranged so as to provide an effective movement of air in the vicinity of the storage tank and is maintained in operation continuously except when the storage tank is empty and has been thoroughly ventilated.

10.2.7 Each storage tank for chemical treatment fluid is to be provided with level monitoring arrangements and high/low level alarms. In cases where heating and/or cooling systems are provided, high and/or low temperature alarms or temperature monitoring are also to be provided.

10.2.8 The storage tanks are to have sufficient strength to withstand a pressure corresponding to the maximum height of a fluid column in the overflow pipe, with a minimum of 2,4 m above the top plate, taking into consideration the density of the treatment fluid.

10.2.9 Where chemical treatment fluid is stored in integral tanks, the following are to be considered during their design and construction:
  1. these tanks shall be designed and constructed as an integral part of the hull (e.g. double bottom, wing tanks); and
  2. these tanks shall be coated with appropriate anti-corrosion coating and are to be segregated by cofferdams or other similar spaces from accommodation, cargo spaces containing cargoes which react with chemical treatment fluid in a hazardous manner, food stores, oil tanks, lube oil tanks, aviation fuel tanks or fresh water tanks.

10.2.10 The chemical treatment fluid piping and venting systems are to be independent of other ship piping systems. The chemical treatment fluid piping systems are not to be located in accommodation, service spaces, or control stations. The vent pipes of the storage tank are to terminate in a safe location on the weather deck and the tank venting system is to be arranged to prevent entrance of water into the tank for chemical treatment fluids.

10.2.11 Storage tanks and piping systems for chemical treatment fluids which transfer undiluted chemical treatment fluids are to be of steel or other equivalent material with a melting point above 925°Celsius.

10.2.12 Storage tanks and piping systems for chemical treatment fluids are to be made with a material compatible with the chemical treatment fluids, or coated with appropriate anti-corrosion coating.

10.2.13 Regardless of design pressure and temperature, piping systems containing chemical treatment fluids are to comply with the requirements applicable to Class I piping systems.

10.2.14 The detachable connections between pipes or pipe and equipment are to be screened and fitted with drip trays to contain any spillage. The drip trays are to be fitted with drainpipes which lead to a residue tank. Tanks are to be fitted with high level alarm or are to be fitted with alarms for leakage detection. Where a tank is an integral tank, the requirements of Vol 2, Pt 12, Ch 1, 10.2 Chemical treatment fluids used for exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCS) 10.2.9 are to be applied.

10.2.15 For the protection of crew members, the ship is to have on board suitable personnel protective equipment consisting of protective clothing, boots, gloves and tight-fitting goggles. The amount of personnel protective equipment carried on board is to be appropriate for the number of personnel engaged in regular handling operations or that may be exposed in the event of a failure; but in no case are there to be less than two sets available on board.

10.2.16 Eyewash stations and safety showers are to be provided; the location and number is to be appropriate for the location of chemical treatment fluid systems on board. The following locations are to be provided as applicable;
  1. transfer or treatment pump locations;
  2. chemical bunkering station on deck;
  3. system connections/components that require periodic maintenance; and
  4. any part of the system where a spillage/drainage may occur.

10.2.17 Storage tanks for chemical treatment fluids are to be arranged so that they can be emptied of the fluids and ventilated by means of portable or permanent systems.

10.2.18 The holding tanks for residues generated from the exhaust gas cleaning process are to satisfy the following requirements:
  1. The tanks are to be independent from other tanks, except in cases where these tanks are also used as the overflow tanks for chemical treatment fluids storage tank.
  2. Tank capacities are to be decided in consideration of the number and type of installed exhaust gas cleaning systems as well as the maximum number of days between ports where residue can be discharged ashore. In the absence of precise data, a figure of 30 days is to be used.
  3. Where residue tanks used in closed loop chemical treatment systems are also used as the overflow tanks for chemical treatment fluid storage tanks, the requirements for storage tanks apply.

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