A study of electrical discharges in a charged water aerosol

Abstract

The electrical and atmospheric conditions found within very large crude carriers during tank-washing operations have been reproduced in the laboratory. Two sources of electrical discharge which are likely to be present in a ship's tank are studied in detail - with particular emphasis on their incendivity. A corona-type discharge was found to occur wherever water dripping was present, for example from any protrusion into the tank structure such as a walkway, stairway or strengthening structure. With an isolated `slug' of water or metal arranged to glance the same protrusion, a much more intense discharge occurred between the protrusion and the `slug'.