Atomized Aluminum

[maltomeel]

I am looking to haul a few loads of atomized aluminum in May. The shipper will fill the tank with nitrogen as to ensure the quality of the material. This makes opening the relief valve impossible according tonthe shipper. Is this possible? Couldn't this cause some dangerous conditions for the driver? Does anyone have any insight? Thank you so much.

[karhaulr]

if the tank is pressurized with nitrogen, then I would guess it will be an air(nitrogen) off delivery. Probably hooked up to a nitrogen line at delivery, and no need to open the relief valve.

when you are empty, vent trailer, but dont stand in the area near blow off, as I recall, nitrogen is heavier than air, and can envelope you, and suffocate you. Nitrogen fills your lungs, and air cant get in.....

check with someone current with nitrogen. it has been yrs since I hauled tanks.
Iam no expert, but wanted to tell you about the nitrogen before you haul a load.
hopefully someone knowledgable speaks up, and we can both learn.

[wis bang]

Looking at the MSDS on-line from Alcoa, this is a dry granular powder that has a dust hazard for fire/explosion and inhallation problems. The FD is advised not to use water but dry powder or a dry granular material [sand] to smother the burning material.

Having the blow down valve closed will not present a problem BUT unless all the gaskets are new and the dome dogs adjusted, I doubt a pnumatic trailer will maintain the N2 pressure.

Since most pressure relief valves pop at 15PSIG they won't be able to put much pressure on the tank anyway.

[Johnny99]

Nitrogen is used to unload when compressed air can't be used. Compressed air has moisture and static electricity in it, nitrogen doesn't. If they unload with nitrogen make sure the tank wash knows before they clean the trailer. They should put a tag on that says "caution, nitrogen blanket" when you are empty.

[wis bang]

Nitrogen is used to unload when compressed air can't be used. Compressed air has moisture and static electricity in it, nitrogen doesn't. If they unload with nitrogen make sure the tank wash knows before they clean the trailer. They should put a tag on that says "caution, nitrogen blanket" when you are empty.

I have never unloaded a bulker w/ N2. It will take a heck of alot of Nitrogen to pressurize and blow off granualr aluminum!

[pathfinder1361]

I have never unloaded a bulker w/ N2. It will take a heck of alot of Nitrogen to pressurize and blow off granualr aluminum!

is that even possible? i think they are gonna need cryo tankers on stand-by!

[aiwiron]

I was reading this thread and decided to Google it, here is the link from Alcoa.

http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/envir...oadMSDS=152294

[Johnny99]

I have never unloaded a bulker w/ N2. It will take a heck of alot of Nitrogen to pressurize and blow off granualr aluminum!

Thats what I get for assuming it was a liquid. I have never heard of atomized aluminum. My bad and I apologize.

[maltomeel]

Thank you all so much. Doing a tank inspection this week to see if we can all agree to the safety concerns. It is a dry product and will be offloaded with the nitro flowing. Looks like it may be a sweet deal for the carrier. Your input was really helpful and insightful.

[wesland24]

i pull dry and liquid tanks , we regularly have a nitrogen blanket on liquid loads but i have never heard of using it to unload dry bulk please keep up updated on how this goes very interesting