Anaerobic digestion plants

There are many important health and safety issues to consider and potential risks to mitigate when operating a biogas plant such as explosion, fire, poisoning and surface water leakages.

A by-product of one of the main stages of anaerobic digestion is ammonia. Upon contact with the skin ammonia is corrosive and requires flushing of the area with a large amount of water for at least 15 minutes, at a temperature of between 25-30°C. Emergency safety showers must be installed in this environment within 15 metres of the hazard to provide immediate relief in the event of an accident. The Hughes temperature-controlled emergency safety shower is ideal where ammonia is present as it is able to maintain the water within this temperature range and can also be used to supply heated water to another safety shower in the vicinity.

Biogas produced by anaerobic digestion is extremely corrosive due to its composition of combustible gases. When specifying emergency safety showers for these plants choose a safety shower with stainless-steel pipework for improved corrosion resistance and durability. In addition, ensure the safety shower is suitable for hazardous areas and is ATEX certified. Hughes products can be configured to meet ATEX and IECEx requirements ensuring they are suitable for use in environments where there is the potential risk of explosions. The company's CompEx certified electricians are supported by qualified electrical design engineers providing you with complete peace of mind that Hughes products meet the rigorous safety and electrical standards needed.

All the safety showers in the Hughes range are offered with the choice of galvanised mild steel or 316L stainless steel pipework. This includes the freeze-protected range for environments where there is the risk of the water inside the pipes freezing due to external ambient conditions along with the PPE Decontamination range.

The PPE decontamination showers not only provide effective health and safety measures for the individual that are compliant to current legislation, they also preserve and prolong the effective lifetime use of costly personal protective equipment workers may need to wear. The walk-through two stage decontamination showers feature a detergent inducing venturi feeding an overhead shower and hose brush plus ten shower nozzles for the secondary wash down, particularly effective for those subjected to the chemicals, oils and waste prevalent on anaerobic digestion sites. 

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