In: Chemistry
Solvent vessels must be purged before maintenance personnel enter in order to ensure that: (1) sufficient oxygen is available for breathing; (2) vapor concentrations are below the flash point; (3) vapor concentrations are below the Occupational Safetey and Health Administration (OSHA) limits if breathing apparatus is not to be used. Assuming that a 8 m^3 fixed-roof solvent tank has just been drained of all liquid and that the vapor phase is initially saturated at 22 degrees celsius, estimate the length of purge necessary with 2 m^3/min of gas at 0.1 MPa and 22 degrees celsius to reach the OSHA 8-hr exposure limit.
(a) Choloroform 50 ppm