Question

Eight gallons of turpentine are lost through evaporation because of a spill in an enclosed factory room. The room is 50ft long, 120ft wide, and 20ft high. Using a dilution factor of 3 for unequal mixing, determine if there is a danger of fire if all of the the turpentine evaporates.

Answer 1

Turpentine vapor density = 1.8

Turpentine specific gravity = 1

Volume of 1 gallon Vapor of Turpentine occupied = 111*Specific gravity/vapor density = 111*1/1.8 =61.66 ft3/gallon

Therefore, Volume occupied by whole turpentine = 8*61.66 = 493.28 ft^3

Room Volume = 50*120*20 = 120000 ft^3

Turpentine concentration = 493.28/120000 = 0.41%

Turpentine LFL = 0.7%

With dilution factor of 3, Turpentine LFL = 0.7/3 = 0.23%

Turpentine UFL>3%

Therefore, concentration of turpentine in the room is lying between LFL and UFL of turpentine. Therefore there is a danger of fire