40,000 Southern Californians ordered to evacuate amid threat of chemical explosion

[Eugene]

40,000 Southern Californians ordered to evacuate amid threat of chemical explosion (NBC News)

Authorities in Orange County say they’re unable to control the valves on a tank that contains methyl methacrylate, a chemical used in the manufacture of Plexiglass.

An estimated 40,000 people in Orange County, California, have been ordered to evacuate the area over fears that a tank containing a toxic chemical may explode, officials said Friday.

Authorities in Orange County said they’re unable to control the valves on a tank at an aerospace manufacturing facility in Garden Grove.

“It fails or it blows up,” said Craig Coby, the Orange County Fire Authority incident commander at the scene.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/california-evacuation-chemical-explosion-rcna346582

[Klarkashton]

1. This is pretty astounding

This is maybe 200 yards from where I used to work.
They make the canopies for military jets and stuff like that.

Small world.

[PufPuf23]

7. Could the emergency be from sabotage?

What would cause the failure, deliberate or happenstance?

How hard to sabotage? There must be security in that type of facility.

Maybe not a small world if a time a war for the products you mention.

Probably shit just happens.

[canetoad]

9. Possible

But I'd be inclined to say it's a result of poor maintenance or safety checks.

[PufPuf23]

10. The USA is crumbling in so many directs, war or no war.

I do think you are likely correct.

[Melon]

16. No and yes. Maybe not enough inhibitor was added

To the material. Maybe the MMA was contaminated with something else in the tank. Maybe the material was old.

This used to happen much more frequently when VAM, vinyl acetate monomer was used more frequently in paint.

This happens every year. You are not aware because most manufacturing used to be away from populace areas. Also most of these events, as well as likely this one, end before reaching some dramatic conclusion.

[Klarkashton]

12. I really doubt it. It's a pretty laid back area there.

No security just a bunch of dimwits overworked and underpaid.

[niyad]

2. Frightening!

[LuvLoogie]

3. Valves failed or the valve controller failed?

I mean how does that happen? Did they neglect preventive maintenance/inspections?

[Cherokee100]

4. There are

There are no rules anymore. I used to work at a chemical plant. They don't care about safety. It"s all about profits.

[LuvLoogie]

18. You'd think there'd be redundant systems in place

at critical fail points.

[applegrove]

5. I so hope it doesn't blow. Terrifying.

[Cha]

6. Best of Good Luck🍀for the Californians

who "have to evacuate their homes"! ☮️💙🌈🌸🍀

[Initech]

8. Isn't living in a deregulated capitalist society so great?

[C Moon]

11. It sounded pretty hopeless at the news briefing.

From what I picked up on, they are hoping it will start to leak, but they suspect it may explode, and they can't control the weather and wind direction (as the fire chief said), so they have to remove everyone around the area.

[Melon]

13. I don't think it's that bleak. The volumes the chief is using at least at face value is showing a tank

1/4 full. If they can get a handle on the heat with water cooling, and the pressure relief valve is functional, you may just end up with a relatively minor air release or low volume leak. The tank is in a cement containment tub with a drain, so there are plenty of very mild outcomes possible. Guessing…12 hours…the reaction will consume itself and calm down.

[Brother Buzz]

14. Jeez Louise, they're spitballing here and going with "Outside-the-box" ideas.

Craig Covey, the Orange County Fire Authority incident commander at the scene, said Friday that experts from around the country have submitted “outside-the-box” ideas, some of which fire personnel hope to try out overnight, to prevent a potential disaster.

[Melon]

15. In another thread it was reported that the temperature

Of the tank had dropped 40c already.
During polymerization, a run away reaction can occur as quickly as an hour and when the tank is roughly 20% involved.

If the tank is showing a drop in temperature and we are many many hours into this, they maybe past the runaway stage and a majority of the tank MMA has already polymerized. In that case, continuing water cooling plus the pressure relief valve and the tank will cool and lose pressure. Like a pressure cooker. In short, if there’s room in the tank and the temp is dropping, they are on the backside of the reaction already.

This type of reaction is not unknown. There is a safety hotline specifically for chemicals and these types of issues. I’m sure it happens multiple times a year. There are experts without the chief inventing new techniques outside of grandstanding.

1. Cool the tank.
2. Relieve pressure
3. Add inhibitor to stop the reaction

The third option is dangerous because the tank is hot and pressurized