Thread: 56 tonne bomb

Originally Posted by robbotd5

Ok, so, if it needs to be transported by road then the safety factor needs to bumped up to another level. Think front and rear escorts in direct radio contact with the truck that travel with the truck at all times. To warn of issues ahead. And a set speed limit must be set (60km/h). It is amazing that some innocent persons were not killed just touring our magnificent country.
Regards
Robbo

You forgot someone walking in front waving a red flag and ringing a bell

AM

As Brian points out, this is the second similar accident in Queensland, but considering the time between them, the risk would seem to be fairly small. I am pretty certain the the one he referred to was closer to fifty years ago, and I seem to remember that at the time it was thought that they had been carrying spare drummed fuel on top of the load, and that the vehicle had actually stopped because of a fire. But there were no witnesses, and very little evidence left.

Ammonium nitrate is probably the most widely used industrial explosive, and is considered to be safe to handle "Pure, compact AN is stable and very difficult to initiate" (Wikipedia). However, mixed with combustible material it has caused disasters on a number of occasions since it started being widely used about a century ago. (always either when mixed with combustible material and exposed to fire or when detonated by high explosives)

In most of the areas it is used in Australia there is little alternative to road transport, but it should be noted that for nearly a hundred years it was a popular fertiliser, and was transported all over this and many other countries with very little thought to the fact that it was also an explosive, and almost no accidents.

It has not been available as a fertiliser in Australia since 2005, but this is because of its potential for IEDs rather than any danger from bulk handling. Unless mixed with a combustible material, and exposed to intense heat, or unless it is detonated with high explosives, it will not explode.

John

Any accident, particularly one like this is never good.
The people injured are going to have long stint of recovery.


A few thoughts on rail/road.
How do we get this product to and from a train?
Are people happy for Dangerous Goods to go through suburban stations and sit in sidings over night?
How close to the end user is the rail line?
Have you seen the pictures from derailed trains?
If a derailed train caries this product what happens then could be far worse.


Ree escorting the load with 2 cars at 60Km/h.
This has just at least tripled the cost of transport.
At 60Km/h there is a 40km/h difference on rural roads.
With safe escorting distances between the 3 vehicles there is now well over 400 meters.
Given peoples inability for patience on the roads how many unsafe overtaking maneuverers will happen before someone else is killed.


Cheers, Kyle.

From Workplace Health and Safety Qld

Stability and explosion

Ammonium nitrate is stable in solid, molten or in solution. However, it can become less resistant to detonation/initiation due to the presence of contaminants or on exposure to high temperatures (e.g. fire or radiant heat).
The following can cause ammonium nitrate to become less stable and at greater risk of detonation:

• exposure to contaminants including:
  
  • chlorides
  • metals such as chromium, copper, cobalt, and nickel
  
  
• a decrease in pH (increased acidity)
• if bubbles are permitted to form in molten ammonium nitrate or solutions of ammonium nitrate.

Once ammonium nitrate becomes molten (particularly if confined) the risk of an explosion increases. This risk increases dramatically if the pH of molten ammonium nitrate falls or if it comes into contact with oxidisable material for instance organics such as oil, diesel, paper, rag, or straw.
Ammonium nitrate may explode due to the following factors:

• exposure to strong shocks (e.g. from shock waves of nearby explosions
• exposure to high temperatures under confinement (e.g. in a closed pipe)
• a smaller detonation can trigger an explosion in larger quantities stored nearby.

Heat, fire and combustion

Ammonium nitrate does not burn. However, it will support and increase the rate of combustion in the presence of flammable or combustible materials even in the absence of oxygen.
When heated it will melt, decompose and release toxic gases including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ammonia gas (NH3). When heated excessively (e.g. as in a fire) it can cause an explosion in an enclosed space and closed containers or vessels may rupture violently.

Martyn

Originally Posted by JDNSW

As Brian points out, this is the second similar accident in Queensland, but considering the time between them, the risk would seem to be fairly small. I am pretty certain the the one he referred to was closer to fifty years ago, and I seem to remember that at the time it was thought that they had been carrying spare drummed fuel on top of the load, and that the vehicle had actually stopped because of a fire. But there were no witnesses, and very little evidence left.

Ammonium nitrate is probably the most widely used industrial explosive, and is considered to be safe to handle "Pure, compact AN is stable and very difficult to initiate" (Wikipedia). However, mixed with combustible material it has caused disasters on a number of occasions since it started being widely used about a century ago. (always either when mixed with combustible material and exposed to fire or when detonated by high explosives)

In most of the areas it is used in Australia there is little alternative to road transport, but it should be noted that for nearly a hundred years it was a popular fertiliser, and was transported all over this and many other countries with very little thought to the fact that it was also an explosive, and almost no accidents.

It has not been available as a fertiliser in Australia since 2005, but this is because of its potential for IEDs rather than any danger from bulk handling. Unless mixed with a combustible material, and exposed to intense heat, or unless it is detonated with high explosives, it will not explode.

John

John,I will have to take your word that ammonium nitrate hasnt been available as a fertilizer since 2005,that was just afterthe end of my sodbusters assistant career.We used to buy "off-spec" amonium nitrate(not suitable for the mines) cheaper than urea was available for.2 roadtrains full late winter every year.
There is no restriction on urea,I think you will find its just as capable of forming an explosive mix.
Andrew

Originally Posted by JDNSW

As Brian points out, this is the second similar accident in Queensland, but considering the time between them, the risk would seem to be fairly small. I am pretty certain the the one he referred to was closer to fifty years ago, and I seem to remember that at the time it was thought that they had been carrying spare drummed fuel on top of the load, and that the vehicle had actually stopped because of a fire. But there were no witnesses, and very little evidence left.

Ammonium nitrate is probably the most widely used industrial explosive, and is considered to be safe to handle "Pure, compact AN is stable and very difficult to initiate" (Wikipedia). However, mixed with combustible material it has caused disasters on a number of occasions since it started being widely used about a century ago. (always either when mixed with combustible material and exposed to fire or when detonated by high explosives)

In most of the areas it is used in Australia there is little alternative to road transport, but it should be noted that for nearly a hundred years it was a popular fertiliser, and was transported all over this and many other countries with very little thought to the fact that it was also an explosive, and almost no accidents.

It has not been available as a fertiliser in Australia since 2005, but this is because of its potential for IEDs rather than any danger from bulk handling. Unless mixed with a combustible material, and exposed to intense heat, or unless it is detonated with high explosives, it will not explode.

John

In 1972 Ronald John Holzberger, Evan Parker Becker and Douglas Thomas Becker were killed when a semi-trailer carrying ammonium nitrate exploded on Fitzroy Development Rd. The explosion destroyed the prime mover and trailer, leaving a crater in the road two metres deep, five metres wide, 20 metres long and left two families reeling.

Parts of the truck and trailer were scattered up to two kilometres away. The explosion was heard and shook houses 88km away in Moura and 55km away in Theodore.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

In 1972 Ronald John Holzberger, Evan Parker Becker and Douglas Thomas Becker were killed when a semi-trailer carrying ammonium nitrate exploded on Fitzroy Development Rd. The explosion destroyed the prime mover and trailer, leaving a crater in the road two metres deep, five metres wide, 20 metres long and left two families reeling.

Parts of the truck and trailer were scattered up to two kilometres away. The explosion was heard and shook houses 88km away in Moura and 55km away in Theodore.

I thought it was earlier than that, but I have not thought about it for many years.

John

No concerns over road transport of chemicals: fire chief

Assistant Commissioner Wilson dismissed concerns that such a volatile material was being carried in trucks.

"Not so much a worry; this product - and trucks like this very same truck - travel these roads every day," he said.

"Every day they're out there and they don't go bang.

"Something's happened to bring this truck in a situation, which has possibly mixed the product on the back of the truck - maybe with the diesel fuel, the impact of the initial when it goes off the road - so those circumstances have had more of a connection to the end result.

"You'd be surprised - there's a lot of these trucks - they do it very safely and very effectively."