Liquid Oxygen - Receipt Transfer Storage Disposal

this film is directed to everyone actively engaged in handling liquid oxygen or lock as it is commonly called locks is one of the Prime oxidizers used in the Air Force's inventory of missiles although liquid oxygen is our subject the handling of liquid nitrogen will also be covered since all procedures and safety precautions for working with this cryogenic liquid are the same as for locks the only difference is that liquid nitrogen is inert does not support combustion and is normally used for pressurization purposes the liquid oxygen system at a typical Air Force Base will include a generating plant like this one in which the liquid is manufactured by the compression expansion and cooling of air taken from the atmosphere once manufactured it is a cryogenic material a cryogenic refers to the handling of low temperature materials the temperature of liquid oxygen is 297 F below Z now in addition to the locks generating plant and mobile containers like this transporter trailer for taking the liquid oxygen from one place to another the propellent systems plant at any Air Force Base will also include Lock storage tanks at each launch site in which the lock can be kept until it may be used or transferred for disposal there is also in which locks is tested to be sure it is up to specifications free of contaminants and finally there is a propellent disposal area usually an open depression like this in which the contaminated locks may be safely disposed of liquid oxygen is a pale blue clear liquid that flows like water there are three major hazards involved in its handling first because it is so cold 297 or de below zero remember it will burn you severely on contact with your skin for this reason impregnated asbest gloves must always be worn when working with lots these should be loose fitting for quick removal other protective clothing includes a safety hood or face shield flame resistant cover alls impervious to Locks and rubber boots with pants legs worn outside and over the boot tops if you're working with liquid oxygen or nitrogen handle everything with care and be sure you know where the nearest emergency shower and eye bath is just in case any of it contacts your skin or eyes wash the affected areas at once with large quantities of water this will heat the skin and may prevent blindness or permanent disfigurement the second Hazard involved in handling locks results from the fact that in spite of its cold temperature it is an oxidizer a material capable of producing or supporting combustion lock supports and even accelerates combustion it is therefore a fire hazard furthermore the gel formed by liquid oxygen with certain organic materials called hydrocarbons is an extremely explosive hazard if subjected to shock or to ignition the explosive potential of well mixed gel is approximately that of nitroglycerin carbon black paper wood cloth asphalt gasoline kerosene type fuels alcohol and metal in form similar to Steel W wool are materials which can combine with locks to explode they must never be permitted in any area where locks is stored now because of this fire and explosive Hazard when locks is allowed to mix with organic materials Good Housekeeping is a must in any area where locks is handled the locks plant and all storage areas must be kept absolutely free of any dangerous contaminants check your shoes or boots for metal particles or other organic material before entering remember no smoking is the rule here strike no matches use no lighters in this area and use only appropriate tools like these in turning lock spitting and connecting transfer hoses whenever lock is being transferred sufficient water must be running through the area so that should any locks leak or spill it will be immediately washed away from the working area and to help prevent such spills a continual alertness for leaks or ruptures of all lock lines must be maintained and this brings us to the third hazard in handling liquid oxygen it cannot be contained in a closed system confined in this or any other container locks will eventually vaporized building up a tremendous pressure that no known vessel can contain that is why there are pressure relief and vent valves on all locks lines and storage tanks that is why all piping and transfer equipment must be designed for this specific purpose that is why every lock tank is vented discharging to Atmosphere it should be noted and never in the vicinity of combustible material but safety factors designed into all liquid oxygen equipment do not relieve you of your responsibility in any area where locks is handled for losses of refrigeration or vacuum jackets can overcome normal venting systems to's and other directives will be rigidly followed all the time you will work by the book but also use common sense when handling liquid oxygen wearing protective clothing at all times handling even small quantities of locks with care washing down any spillage that occurs with plenty of water there will be no smoking Sparks or open flame in any area where locks is handled when they are designated only non-sparking tools will be used the area will be kept absolutely clean free of contaminating organic materials with which locks might mix to cause a fire or explosion locks will never be stored in the same area with fuels like alcohol RP or Oils or other hydrocarbons you will use only approved solvents or detergents in cleaning locks equipment and only tested and recommended packing and Gasket material locks will never be vented or transferred over asphalt maadam or any other organic surfacing material and a continual alertness or leaks or ruptures of all locks tanks and lines will be maintained now with these basic rules in mind let us see how locks is received liquid oxygen or liquid nitrogen will always be received directly from the generating plant it storage tank or from a mobile container such as this transporter but no matter how the locks or liquid nitrogen may be received the transfer procedure will always involve the same necessary steps first the transporter must be properly grounded then the prepared checklist covering all safety and standard operating procedures will be followed in all transfer operations a minimum of two men will be present whenever locks is transferred from one container to another and both men will wear the required perfective clothing all equipment used in the transfer will have been cleaned with a proper solvent to remove any grease oil or other organic materials all hose adapters couplings pressure buildup coils and check valves must still however be carefully inspected for foreign particles then if the equipment is clean and if the locks is on specification or free of contaminants the transfer hose is purged with a small amount of locks and the first transfer can continue remember use non-sparking tools only keep in mind that after the locks floor has started if this equipment touches your unprotected skin instant and severe frost bite will result help when the transporter has been filled with locks the transfer operation is completed by disconnecting capping and storing The Fill line and a grounding lead is disconnected this liquid oxygen can now be delivered to the launch site at the launch site a second transfer will be made into the operational storage tank this area too has been designed and constructed for maximum safety locks must always be drained or allowed to blow only in open areas there must be wash down facilities here too the liquid oxygen storage tank itself may be above or underground in either case a typical operational storage tank consists of an inner and an outer container separated by this annular space and having the following major components a pressure gauge to indicate internal tank pressure a gauge showing how much is in the tank and a vacuum gauge calibrated in microns the tank will also be vented of course and since locks will vaporize or boil off like this escaping through the vent all storage tanks must be refilled at regular intervals from Transporters like the one we have just seen receiving locks from the generating plant here the second transfer is made but first the driver of the transporter must deliver a purity certificate for that load to the propellant technician at the launch site now the transfer can begin and the trailer is grounded the transfer hose has been purged and connected and the flow is started once again it should be remembered that all precautions are taken here all directives and Sops quickly follow all equipment free from any hazardous contamination when the load has been transferred the fill drain valve on the transporter is closed the supp and the transfer H liquid drain valve is open but be careful for although pressure has been released the transfer hose still contains lots and is still a hazard to Personnel don't touch it without gloves and should any of the liquid drain into the area it must be washed away with plenty of water then only after the transfer hose has been kept and properly stored and all valves properly set is the operation complete now periodically during storage and sometimes before a transfer may be made liquid oxygen samples must be taken and various tests made to be sure that the locks meets necessary use limits and specifications it is because of the possible buildup of contaminants within any liquid oxygen system that these regular quality control samplings continue as long as the locks is held in storage the sample is taken in an insulated container similar to a thermos bottle care should be taken to avoid breaking the container or splattering the locks the container is first filled then rinsed with a product EMP and refilled again with the sample for the test the cover is vented to prevent pressure from building up inside the container and in this way the lock sample is delivered to the lab at the lab there are tests for hydrocarbons and acyline using devices similar to this one for hydrocarbons the total number of parts per million by volume is indicated and the acline must be less than5 parts per million by volume the sample is also tested for Purity with an orat and checked with an electrolytic hygrometer for a Duo reading giving its water content it must be tested for solids too this milipore filter assembly is used to separate the solids from the liquid and any solid contaminants found must be weighed on a chain omatic Balance size and type of solids are determined by use of a microscope now what if the sample does not pass these tests what if it falls below the standards or specification set when liquid oxygen does not meet specifications it is the responsibility of propellant Personnel to transfer it from the operational storage tank to a transporter for disposal here again the equipment must first be properly grounded and once again all safety precautions taken as transfer procedures carefully follow the book and Sops the transfer then continues with the pressurization of the storage tank which forces the locks into the transporter upon completion of transfer the storage tank is vented later it will be purged so that it can be refilled with pure locks now however the contaminated locks must be disposed of and the trailer is driven away from the launch site to the disposal area which might be open depression like this or even a stream which is free of combustible material into which the contaminated locks can be dump so that it will evaporate to the atmosphere the contaminated transporter like the contaminated storage tank must then be carefully purged with hot dry nitrogen refilled with locks or nitrogen and samples again taken if the samples meet specifications it can then be returned to service and used again to transport locks from the supply source to the operational storage tank at the launch and placement wherever and whenever you work with locks remember all the rules stay on your toes and be careful know and follow standard operating procedures that's the only way you can do your job effectively protecting not only yourself but every other member of your [Music] team for