SUPPRESSION OF INCENDIARY DISCHARGES OCCURRING BETWEEN ELECTRIFIED LIQUID AND EARTHED CONDUCTOR

The effectiveness of a safety device for suppressing incendiary discha rges between a rising electrified liquid surface and a protruded earth ed conductor inside a liquid storage tank was tested. The device consi sts of a Teflon disc and is installed by attaching its simple structur e to the conductor. Experiments were conducted using a laboratory scal e insulating tank containing charged kerosene and an overflow sensor w as used to mimic a protruded conductor. Discharges from the kerosene s urface to the overflow sensor with our device attached have their ince ndivity analysed by examining charge transfer, discharge current and i gnition experiment results. The device was found to be able to suppres s incendiary discharges better than a bare metal wire linking a protru ded conductor to the bottom of the tank which is known to be used in p ractice.