Section
4 Linked emergency shutdown (ESD) system
4.1 General
4.1.1 An emergency shutdown (ESD) system shall be fitted to all ship units to
stop cargo flow in the event of an emergency, either internally within the ship
unit, or during cargo transfer with shuttle tankers. The design of the ESD system
shall avoid the potential generation of surge pressures within cargo transfer pipe
work, see
Pt 11, Ch 18, 4.2 ESD valve requirements 4.2.1.(d). For linked ESD systems the requirements in Pt 7, Ch 1, 7.4 Linked ESD systems are to be satisfied.
4.1.2 Auxiliary systems for conditioning the cargo that use toxic or flammable
liquids or vapours shall be treated as cargo systems for the purposes of ESD.
Indirect refrigeration systems using an inert medium, such as nitrogen, need not be
included in the ESD function.
4.2 ESD valve requirements
4.2.1
General
- The term ESD valve means any valve operated by the ESD system.
- ESD valves shall be remotely operated, be of the fail closed type
(closed on loss of actuating power), shall be capable of local manual closure
and have positive indication of the actual valve position. As an alternative to
the local manual closing of the ESD valve, a manually operated shut-off valve in
series with the ESD valve shall be permitted. The manual valve shall be located
adjacent to the ESD valve. Provisions shall be made to handle trapped liquid
should the ESD valve close while the manual valve is also closed.
A manually operated vent valve in the pneumatic/hydraulic logic is
preferable to an additional in-line valve.
Table 18.4.1 ESD Functional
Arrangements
|
Pumps
|
Compressor
Systems
|
Valves
|
Link
|
Shut-down action →
|
Cargo pumps/cargo
booster pumps
|
Spray/ stripping
pumps
|
Vapour return
compressors
|
Fuel gas
compressors and system
|
Reliquefaction
plant****, including condensate return pumps, if
fitted
|
Gas combustion
unit
|
ESD valves
|
Signal to ship
unit-shuttle tanker link *****
|
Initiation ↓
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emergency push buttons (see
Pt 11, Ch 18, 4.1 General 4.1.2)
|
|
|
|
Note
2
|
|
|
|
|
Fire detection on deck or in compressor
house*
|
|
|
|
Note
2
|
|
|
|
|
High level in cargo tank***
|
|
|
|
Note 1
Note 2
|
Note 1
|
Note 1
|
Note
4
|
|
Signal from ship unit-shuttle tanker
link
|
|
|
|
Note
2
|
Note
3
|
n/a
|
|
n/a
|
Loss of motive power to ESD valves**
|
|
|
|
Note
2
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
|
Main electric power failure
(‘blackout’)
|
Note 5
|
Note
5
|
Note 5
|
Note 5
|
Note
5
|
Note 5
|
|
|
NOTES
1. These items of
equipment can be omitted from these specific
automatic shut-down initiators provided the
compressor inlets are protected against cargo liquid
ingress.
2. If the fuel gas
compressor is used to return cargo vapour to the
ship unit, it shall be included in the ESD system
only when operating in this mode.
3. If the reliquefaction plant compressors are used
for vapour return/ship unit line clearing, they
shall be included in the ESD system only when
operating in that mode.
4.
Alternatively, a stage 1 high level in an individual
cargo tank may initiate the closure of the shut-off
valve referred to in Pt 11, Ch 13, 1.3 Overflow control 1.3.2, and not the ESD valve referred to
in Pt 11, Ch 18, 4.2 ESD valve requirements 4.2.1.(c). The sensor indicated in Pt 11, Ch 13, 1.3 Overflow control 1.3.2 shall also ensure that when all
tank valves referred to in Pt 11, Ch 13, 1.3 Overflow control 1.3.2 are shut that the ESD in Pt 11, Ch 18, 4.1 General 4.1.2 is operated.
5.
These items of equipment shall not be started
automatically upon recovery of main electric power
and without confirmation of safe
conditions.
|
Remarks
* Fusible plugs, electronic point
temperature monitoring or area fire detection may be
used for this purpose on deck.
** Failure of hydraulic, electric or
pneumatic power for remotely operated ESD valve
actuators.
*** See
Pt 11, Ch 13, 1.3 Overflow control 1.3.2 and Pt 11, Ch 13, 1.3 Overflow control 1.3.3.
**** Indirect refrigeration systems
using an inert medium, such as nitrogen, need not be
included in the ESD function.
***** Signal need not indicate the event
initiating ESD.
Functional requirement.
n/a Not applicable.
|
- ESD valves in liquid piping systems shall close
fully and smoothly within 30 seconds of actuation. Information about the closure
time of the valves and their operating characteristics shall be available on
board, and the closing time shall be verifiable and repeatable.
- The closing time of the valve referred to in
Pt 11, Ch 13, 1.3 Overflow control 1.3.1 to Pt 11, Ch 13, 1.3 Overflow control 1.3.1 (i.e. time from shut-down signal initiation to complete
valve closure) shall not be greater than:
where
U
|
= |
ullage volume at operating signal level (m3) |
LR
|
= |
maximum loading rate agreed between ship unit and
shuttle tanker (m3/h). |
The loading rate shall be adjusted to limit surge pressure
on valve closure to an acceptable level, taking into account the loading
hose or arm and the piping systems of the ship unit and shuttle tanker where
relevant.
4.2.2
Ship unit-shuttle tanker manifold connections
- One ESD valve shall be provided at each manifold connection.
Cargo manifold connections not being used for transfer operations shall be
blanked with blank flanges rated for the design pressure of the pipeline
system.
4.2.4
ESD system controls
- As a minimum, the ESD system shall be capable of manual
operation by a single control in the control position required by Pt 11, Ch 13, 1.1 General 1.1.2 or the cargo control room if installed, and no less than
two locations in the cargo area.
- The ESD shall be automatically activated on detection of a fire
on the weather decks of the cargo area and/or cargo machinery spaces. As a
minimum, the method of detection used on the weather decks should cover the
liquid and vapour domes of the cargo tanks, the cargo manifolds and areas
where liquid piping is dismantled regularly.
- The ESD system shall be activated by the manual and automatic
inputs listed in Table 18.4.1 ESD Functional
Arrangements. Any additional inputs should only be
included in the ESD system if it can be shown their inclusion does not
reduce the integrity and reliability of the system overall.
4.2.5
Additional shut-downs
- The requirements of Pt 11, Ch 8, 1.3 Vacuum protection systems 1.3.1.(a) to protect the cargo tank from external differential
pressure may be fulfilled by using an independent low pressure trip to activate
the ESD system, or as a minimum to stop any cargo pumps or compressors.
- An input to the ESD system from the overflow control system
required by Pt 11, Ch 13, 1.3 Overflow control may be provided to stop any cargo pumps or compressors
running at the time a high level is detected, as this alarm may be due to
inadvertent internal transfer of cargo from tank to tank.
4.2.6
Pre-operations testing
- Cargo emergency shut-down and alarm systems involved in cargo
transfer shall be checked and tested before cargo handling operations begin.
|
Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime
and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective
officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications
Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance
on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant
Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is
exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.
|
![](LR-FooterLogo.png) |
|