Research

There is a growing recognition that ammonia has potential as a renewable energy carrier within the country and for export as both a fertiliser and energy carrier. However, there is a lack of compiled data on risks and especially consequences for cross-country ammonia pipelines. This project will review ammonia toxicity and dispersion behaviour based on failure modes using information from past incidents, release experiments and modelling (including model validation) and how this relates it to acceptable limits for human and environmental exposure. It will review regulations and legislation for design of ammonia pipelines to prevent leaks and ruptures and minimise consequences.

The literature review will lead to a description of types of mitigation strategies to be considered for reduction of risk for cross-country ammonia pipelines, such as location relative to population, isolation valve spacing and automation, leak detection requirements and emergency response. The project will provide and an assessment of the whether risks are manageable for cross-country ammonia pipelines and describe inputs that could be used for a safety case.

The literature review will bring together an understanding of the main threats to public safety and its current regulatory frameworks. It will include a review of:

• Regulations and legislation for design to prevent leaks and ruptures and minimise consequences
• Ammonia toxicity
• Ammonia dispersion behaviour based on failure modes using information from past incidents, release experiments and modelling (including model validation) and how this relates it to acceptable limits for human and environmental exposure

The literature review will lead to a description of types of mitigation strategies to be considered for reduction of risk in a new industry, such as location relative to population, isolation valve spacing and automation, leak detection requirements and emergency response. Suggestions on how to apply AS(/NZS) 2885.6 for the safety management of ammonia pipelines will be systematically described.

Douglas Proud

Research & Utilisation Program Coordinator

douglas.proud@futurefuelscrc.com