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News from Abroad Special Report

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH Explosions of small LPG cylinders and their prevention
Wanhua launches Barcelona R&D Center

Background The government wants to make the ASHOK GUPTA
The Barcelona R&D Center of n India, “accidental” explosions of lives of urban and rural poor house- Email: k.ashok.g.@gmail.com
Wanhua Chemical has officially opened small domestic liquefi ed petroleum wives more comfortable through its
its doors as a pivotal move by the com- Igas (LPG) cylinders are frequently Ujjawla scheme of providing LPG in This author believes that most of
pany to advance its footprint in Europe reported. Most of these cause serious every home. Many such homes are just these “accidents” can be, and must
and beyond with a quicker response to damage to property and many lives are one room, including the kitchen, and often be, prevented. It will save hundreds of
the requirements of customers and bol- lost. We refer to an answer(1) to a Rajya have an inflammable thatched roof. lives every year and prevent damages
ster efforts in collaborative scientific Sabha question about LPG-related That may further increase the number to properties running into hundreds of
research and innovation. accidents by the Ministry of Petroleum & of LPG cylinder explosions. crores of rupees. As human lives are
Natural Gas (MoPNG). It gave the priceless, necessary safety measures
The Center will meet the needs of fi gures for the years 2016-17 and 2018-19. Purpose may be formulated and implemented by
downstream customers, offering expert Based on the figures quoted by The purpose of this document is to the concerned government authorities,
technical consultations on a range of MoPNG, we estimate approximate look at the possible causes of frequent as soon as possible.
topics, including product performance, annual accidents in India at about 2,000 domestic LPG cylinder explosions and
application methods, and raw material or about fi ve per day. The approximate measures for the prevention of these Science behind explosions
selection. It will customize solutions to compensation paid to victims of explosions. Explosions are caused by the sudden
address the specific needs and challen- domestic LPG explosion accidents was (within a few milliseconds) release of a
ges of its customers, facilitate the deve- Rs. 22-crore in 2016-17. This author believes that India has lot of energy. Some common types of
lopment and validation of new products, ignored the following two standard man-made explosions and their causes
provide timely technical support for When considered on a per million safety rules, which are globally fol- are listed below. All the following four
quality concerns, and keep pace with LPG users basis, the accidents, deaths lowed for all pressurized liquid gas cy- types of explosions lead to high-power
technological advancements in the R&D Center in Hungary focuses on such as coatings, adhesives and engi- and loss of property fi gures are dispro- linders (including propane and LPG): shockwaves, causing a loud sound and

industry through research and innovation. the polyurethane industry, while the neering plastics, as well as R&D coope- portionately high in India compared  Prohibit storage and use of all such severe damage to surrounding struc-
Barcelona center will concentrate more ration with local entities on renewable with other countries. cylinders indoors; and tures and people.
Barcelona is Wanhua’s second on business collaborations within the energy, carbon capture & recycling,  Provide a Pressure Relief Valve
R&D center in Europe. The Gödöllő fine chemicals and materials industries, biosynthesis, and bio-based materials. The explanation given for these (PRV) to prevent the build-up of any Explosions may be caused due to
“accidents” is “LPG leakage as the pri- dangerously high internal pressure. excessive internal pressure inside a
BIOPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT mary cause”. This has been the offi cial tank, like in the case of steam boilers.
Merck invests in new life science research centre stand since the 1960s when LPG was If India also follows these two When the internal overpressure exceeds
the bursting pressure, the envelope
fi rst introduced in India as a clean and basic safety rules for small LPG cylin-
in Germany convenient cooking fuel. However, this ders, most of these “explosions” will explodes violently. Remember that these
author thinks otherwise.
be eliminated. Presently, these are explosions are caused only by force
kept indoors, usually under the kitchen exerted by the internal pressure of the
Merck, a leading science and tech- medicines,” said Belén Garijo, Chair Let us consider the data(2) on home platform. In case of any fi re inside the fl uid inside. This mechanical effect is
nology company, is investing more of the Executive Board and CEO of fi res in 2017 in India as given by the kitchen or indoors due to any reason, independent of the nature of the fl uid
than €300-mn in a new research centre Merck. Govt. of India. It shows that the including any leakage of LPG, that may inside. Therefore, even water, steam,
at its global headquarters in Darmstadt, total number of home fi res in 2017 was heat the LPG cylinder. This will cause air, and even any inert gas at any tem-
Germany. In the Advanced Research The Advanced Research Center 7,660, killing 7,614 people. It implies the LPG cylinder to explode, like an perature but suffi ciently high pressure
Center, the Life Science business sector brings together research on key tech- that if one excludes the ~2,000 LPG Improvised Explosive Device (IED). will lead to this type of explosion and
will research solutions for manufactur- nologies of the Life Science business explosion-related fi res in one year, damage due to a catastrophic mechanical
ing antibodies, mRNA applications and sector of Merck. These include raw as mentioned in the fi rst answer by At present more than 400-mn small failure of the envelope.
additional products required for bio- materials and processes for researching MoPNG, approximately 5,660 home LPG cylinders are in circulation. Most
technological production, among other and manufacturing antibodies, recom- fi res in that year were not related to of these are kept and used in kitchens Explosions may be caused due to
things. As of the start of 2027, it will binant proteins and viral vectors. The LPG cylinder explosions. Had there or indoors in India. With nearly 8,000 a fast exothermic chemical chain reac-
provide space for around 550 emplo- company also researches cell culture been any LPG cylinders in these ~5,660 home fi res reported every year in India, tion; e.g., when an explosive mixture
yees. are strengthening the leading position media and pharmaceutical formulation homes and if these were exposed to the the potential danger of LPG cylinder of any fuel and oxidizer (air) is trig-
of Merck in key technologies for the and purification aids as well as digital heat of the home fi re, many of those explosions and resulting loss of lives gered by any spark or hot surface, as in
“With this strategic investment, we development and manufacture of novel reference materials. cylinders may have also exploded. and property is huge. the case of gunpowder, TNT, or LPG.

166 Chemical Weekly May 7, 2024 Chemical Weekly May 7, 2024 167

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