Gas Freezing Purging Following Inspection

or Maintenance
When a vessel or pipework system has been opened up, it shall be purged with nitrogen to remove
the oxygen prior to re-introducing hydrocarbons.
As with the purging for removal of hydrocarbons, the purging for removal of oxygen can use any, or
a combination, of the methods described in: Purging for Gas Freeing
The main difference is that the sampling is for a different gas and to ensure that the vent lines are
not discharging an explosive mixture.
WARNING: THE INTRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS INTO A SYSTEM THAT HAS NOT
BEEN INERTED SHALL BE RISK ASSESSED. CALCULATIONS SHALL BE CARRIED TO
ENSURE THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE OXYGEN CONTENT TO REMAIN ABOVE 2%
AFTER HYDROCARBONS HAVE BEEN REINTRODUCED. WHERE IT IS NOT POSSIBLE
TO GUARANTEE THIS THE SYSTEM WILL BE N
2
PURGED.
1.1 Sampling
When purging hydrocarbons using nitrogen, it should be noted that the detector used must be
capable of measuring a hydrocarbon gas in an inert atmosphere. The MSA Tankscope and
Neotronics Digiflamm are examples of detectors that can be used.
For both flowing and cyclic purges the checks should be made at not only the recognised vents
but also at any dead legs in the system.
When purging the nitrogen out of the system with air, it is equally important that representative
checks are carried out. If the vessel or system is going to be entered, conditions for the entry are
as defined in PR-1148 Confined Space Entry.
The recommended criteria to give safe conditions when purging a mixture of hydrocarbon gases
with nitrogen are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 - Recommended Criteria Hydrocarbon / Nitrogen Purge
Mode O2 Level Hydrocarbon Level N2 Level
HC to Inert - <_ 4 % >t 96%
Air to Inert <_ 4% - >t 96%

For specific criteria when purging individual hydrocarbon components with nitrogen, refer to
Table2.
Table 2 - Inert Gas End Points for Purging Equipment Out of Service
Purge Medium Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen Nitrogen
Combustible Percentage Inert Gas
required to render
mixtures non-
flammable when air is
added in any amount
Purging end points
with 20% Safety
Factor
Percent of
Combustible below
which no mixture is
flammable when air is
added in any amount
Purging end points
with 20% Safety
Factor
Hydrogen 95 96 5 4
Carbon
Monoxide
81 85 19 15
Methane 86 89 14 11
Ethane 93 95 7 5
Propane 94 95 6 5
Butane 95 96 5 4
Iso-butane 95 96 5 4
Pentane 97 98 3 2
Hexane 97 98 3 2
Gasoline 96 97 4 3
Ethylene 94 95 6 5
Propylene 96 97 4 3
Benzene 96 97 4 3