Section 215.65  Transfer of Liquids

a)         If it is found necessary to dispose of anhydrous ammonia, it shall be discharged into a vessel containing water sufficient to absorb it.  Sufficient water shall be at least ten parts of water per one part anhydrous ammonia.  The anhydrous ammonia shall be injected into the water as near the bottom of the vessel as practical.

b)         A competent attendant shall supervise the transfer of liquids from the time the connections are first made until the rail car is finally disconnected or the transport truck is completely unloaded and finally disconnected.  Any time the site is unattended, the tank car shall not be connected to the unloading riser.  During the transfer operations of the transport, chock blocks shall be so placed as to prevent rolling of the vehicle.

c)         Containers shall be filled or used only upon authorization of owners.

d)         Containers shall be gauged and charged only in the open air or in a building especially provided for that purpose.

e)         Pumps used for transferring anhydrous ammonia shall be recommended for anhydrous ammonia service by the manufacturer or documented for such service by the owner/operator using recognized and accepted good engineering methods.

1)         Liquid pumps may be piston, rotary, centrifugal or regenerative type for 250 psig working pressure.

2)         Positive displacement pumps shall be equipped with a pressure actuated by-pass valve on the discharge side of the pump.  This valve shall operate to limit the pressure developed by the pump to the maximum for which the pump is rated.   Piping or tubing sized to carry the full capacity of the pump at the actuation pressure of this valve shall connect the discharge of this valve with the container from which ammonia is being pumped.  If this line is capable of being closed off by a valve, an additional by-pass device shall be incorporated in the pump to by-pass back to the suction port.  The pressure actuated by-pass valve and the return piping or tubing shall be installed in accordance with the pump manufacturer’s recommendations or documented for such service by the owner/operator using recognized and generally accepted good engineering methods.

3)         A pressure gauge graduated from at least 0 to 400 psig shall be installed before the relief valve line on the discharge side of the pump.

4)         Centrifugal or regenerative pumps do not require a bypass valve, but the installation shall incorporate a line from the discharge side of the pump to the vapor space of the supplying tank and a shutoff valve shall be installed in this line.

f)          Plant piping shall contain shutoff valves located as close as practical to the pump connections.

g)         Compressors used for transferring or refrigerating ammonia shall be recommended for ammonia service by the manufacturer or documented for such service by the owner/operator using recognized and generally accepted good engineering methods. 

1)         Compressors, except those used for refrigeration, shall be designed for at least 250 psig working pressure.  Crank cases of compressors not designed to withstand system pressure shall be protected with a suitable pressure relief valve.

2)         Plant piping shall contain shutoff valves located as close as practical to compressor connections.

3)         A relief valve large enough to discharge the full capacity of the compressor shall be connected to the discharge before any shutoff valve.  The discharging pressure of this valve shall not exceed 300 psig and shall be installed so that it will be vented in a safe location if discharged.

4)         Compressors, except those used in refrigeration, shall have pressure gauges graduated from 0-400 psig at suction and discharge.

5)         Adequate means, such as a drainable liquid trap, shall be provided on the compressor suction to minimize the entry of the liquid into the compressor.

h)         Loading and unloading systems shall be protected by backflow check valves or properly rated excess flow valves to prevent the emptying of the storage containers in the event of severance of the hose.

i)          Transport trucks shall not be utilized for bulk storage of anhydrous ammonia.  It must be transferred into permanent storage of a capacity equal to or greater than the transport truck.

j)          Railway tank cars must be transferred into permanent storage of a capacity equal to 50% of the railway tank car.

k)         All storage tank system liquid and vapor valves must be closed and locked during the time the plant is unattended.  Either hose end lock boxes or locking caps or chains may be used on the risers.  In lieu of locking the valves, a security fence with two gates on opposite sides shall be installed and kept locked during the time the plant is unattended.

l)          The transfer of anhydrous ammonia from a tank car or transport to any other unit for the purpose of converting anhydrous ammonia to aqueous ammonia shall only be done upon a railway spur owned or leased to the operator of the transferring facility where the railway tank car can be retained for an indefinite period and where an aqueous converter is installed at a site.  The transfer must be done in one continuous operation.  The requirements of Section 215.30 must be met before the site and facility will be approved by the Department.  Approved anhydrous ammonia installations designed for converting aqueous ammonia must have sufficient permanent storage to permit continuous and uninterrupted unloading from railway tank cars or trucks.

m)        Provision must be made to prevent bleeding of transport and rail car liquid lines or hoses into the atmosphere when disconnecting.  This shall be done through the use of a wet hose with a shutoff valve at each end of the hose, by bleeding into water at no greater rate than one gallon of anhydrous ammonia to ten gallons of ammonia-free water to prevent discharge of fumes into the atmosphere, or with an approved recovery vapor system.

n)         A certified statement shall be filed on forms furnished by the Department stating that all the requirements of this Section, safety equipment, and requirements of this Part have been met.  This statement must be filed with the Department before final approval of the facility will be given by the Department.  No operation shall begin until final approval has been issued.

o)         The filling of mobile containers with a capacity of 3,000 gallons or less with anhydrous ammonia is permissible only at a permanent storage facility approved by the Department for this purpose.  Anhydrous ammonia may be transferred from a cargo tank motor vehicle with a maximum capacity of 6,000 gallons into containers of 3,000 gallons capacity or less mounted on farm vehicles or containers of 6,000 gallons mounted on motor-driven applicators.  This transfer operation is limited to rural areas and only on the premises of the consignee.  This transfer operation must meet all safety requirements of Section 215.20.  Department approved anhydrous ammonia meters or on board scales shall be employed for this operation.   Meters or on board scales shall conform with the Weights and Measures Act  [225 ILCS 470] and 8 Ill. Adm. Code 600.  The selling price quotation, actual billing, and reporting to the Department shall be done in pounds or tons.

p)         Meters used for the measurement of liquid anhydrous ammonia shall be recommended for ammonia service by the manufacturer and approved by the Department.  When dual purpose meters are used and when changing from LPG to anhydrous ammonia or vice versa, it is necessary to adjust the coefficient of the expansion scale to the proper setting for the product being metered.  This adjustment will require the removal of the Illinois Weights and Measures Seal.  Section 42 of the Weights and Measures Act requires that the person who breaks such seal be registered pursuant to that Act.

q)         Liquid meters shall be designed for a minimum working pressure of 250 psig.

r)          The metering system shall incorporate devices that will prevent the inadvertent measurement of vapor.

s)         Transferring of anhydrous ammonia from a DOT cargo tank motor vehicle must comply with Sections 177.834(a) to (j) and 177.840 of the Illinois Hazardous Materials Transportation Regulations.

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 9922, effective July 1, 2003)