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The Most Comprehensive Yet Simple Guide of Static Electricity

Static electricity is kind of big deal on tankers. If you think it is just a hypothetical term, you would be wrong. Shipping history has witnessed many incidents related to static electricity. For example, a cargo tank of the vessel Fiona exploded when surveyor was manually measuring the temperature of the cargo. In the NTSB investigation, the reason for the explosion was found to be static electricity. There are many other such incidents. So what exactly is static electricity and why this is so big deal ? Let us discuss. But before we do that we need to refresh some basic science. Some basic science To understand static electricity, we need to refresh some basic science. Knowledge of the basic science would help when we talk about relatively bigger terms. But don't worry, this will be just basic science and I won't bore you with high dose of science. What are atoms ? All the matters in this world are made of atoms. Atoms consists of three things. Negatively charged electron, positively charged protons and neutral neutrons. atom-structure-static-electricity

An atom has equal number of protons and ...

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Comments (34)

Comment.

2/o September 16, 2016

Its a standard tanker practice to use UTI for topping off. In a situation when vessel is loading static cargo in a non inert atmosphere, how can u top off using a UTI as u r supposed to wait 30 mins UPON COMPLETION! There is no practical way out if ur remote gauging system is unreliable! U will have to use UTI. U either risk explosion or an overflow!

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Rajeev Jassal September 16, 2016

The point you made is very much valid but no matter what UTI is not to be used. UTI can be used if there is full depth sounding pipe fitted. If that is not fitted, there are other ways we use to ensure there is no overflow. Sighting glass (counting the steps to see the level if loading close to 98%), ensuring high level alarms are working, very slow loading rate for top up etc are the few ways to ensure that. If remote gauging is unreliable, we must not load these tanks to 98%, we should only load these tanks to 95% so when we hear 95% alarm, we stop the cargo.

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Rajeev Jassal September 16, 2016

There can be number of ways only if we make it a point that we will not follow an unsafe practice. If remote gauging is not reliable we must take the help of shore staff to get it rectified.

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ashish acharya October 11, 2016

Sir, can u elaborate on insulation at manifold. At some terminals I have observed they place bonding cable on deck on bare metal, while at some terminal they don't.

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Rajeev Jassal October 16, 2016

This was a vetting requirement earlier but it is not a requirement anymore. But some terminal still follow this requirement.

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Rohin Batra November 23, 2016

Excellent article, very well written Capt.Rajeev

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Rajeev Jassal January 13, 2017

Glad you liked it Rohin..

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Vishal July 26, 2017

Sir, sorry to notify you but the formula used for flow rate is wrong. Its pi*r2*h not pi*r/h. Nice explanation!

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Ercan Altay January 10, 2018

Thanks

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Capt. Parvinder Singh Bhatia February 18, 2018

You have mentioned that "Conductors have tendency to lose electrons. Inductors have tendency to accept electrons. Kindly note that Inductors and Insulators are different. When a conducting wire(a wire which is made of a substance that can pass electricity like copper. aluminium etc) is coiled around an iron core and a current is passed through it the setup gives rise to a magnetic field. This magnetic field if brought into proximity of another conductor has the ability to induce current into the second conductor. This effect is known as electromagnetic inductance and any arrangement which causes such inductance is termed as an inductor. An insulator simply means a substance which does not allow electricity to pass through it.

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Baldev Choudhary December 15, 2018

Very informative topic and well explained .Even non tanker guys can understand by reading 2-3 times. Thanks.

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Durul Topaktas November 8, 2019

Good Day. As per the formula pi*r2*h*3600, some of the 1 m3/hr loading rates match but some does not. ie 200mm(8 inches) = 116 , 305mm(12 inches) = 262 but 410mm(16 inches) = 466 but written as 424, 510mm(20 inches) = 729 but written as 676 and 610mm(24 inches) = 1050 but written as 987. Am i missing something?

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static charge removal systems December 3, 2019

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Najmul Hossain mondal January 21, 2020

Sir your writing is so systematic that a non Mariner can understand.thank you

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Diilesh Chander Rameschandrra April 9, 2020

Good Sharing

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JHON September 28, 2020

This is amazing your article fir the comprehensive electricity for huge amount of supplier intensive publicity phenomenon and creditable.Risk Nucleus!

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Ashwin Shetty March 19, 2021

Thanks a lot for explaining in simple words. Appreciate and respect.

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Nishant Jadon March 26, 2021

Best explanation... sir can you please write on ULLAGING, DIPPING, OPEN AND CLOSED SAMPLING as given in ISGOTT

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ANAND SSJ October 20, 2021

Sir, In this article some places u mentioned inductor will receive electrons, and some places insulator will receive electrons. Both are not same but I can't understand.

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Oscar December 17, 2021

Hello , I have a electrostatic problem it would be really helpfull if some one can clear this doubts that i have. So im filling a 10,000 liters politylene high density tank with ethanol 96% , pumped with a double diaphrgam pump of polipropilene (PP) and drived throught polopropilene random (PPR) pipe system. how can i neutralize or dishcarge the electrostatic accumulated in the pipeline and the tank ?

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Realfind Trading December 17, 2021

Great Post!! I've read your blog, its very informative. I am so impressed to read this blog. thanks for sharing. More info https://www.realfindtrading.com

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mrmamun March 24, 2022

This is very informative also attractive topics. it is help use electric products.electric

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Mariner March 24, 2022

Hello sir, Nicely explained. I had one doubt regarding half cut drum used at manifold during connection and disconnection. Should this be a Plastic or metal drum.

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bensonhu May 20, 2022

Have any device to reduce the electrostatic in the pipeline transfertation? such as a tube static eliminator for oil pipeline?

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talks July 20, 2022

Well we really like to visit this site, many useful information we can get here. Talks

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Joginder Singh September 23, 2022

Hey, Really it was an great article to read,Waiting for another one till that get more information about ,Keep it up!steam iron

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aslam October 5, 2022

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reyhan February 19, 2023

thanks alot of information goodjobs.. keren

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About Capt Rajeev Jassal

Capt. Rajeev Jassal has sailed for over 24 years mainly on crude oil, product and chemical tankers. He holds MBA in shipping & Logistics degree from London. He has done extensive research on quantitatively measuring Safety culture onboard and safety climate ashore which he believes is the most important element for safer shipping.