Protecting equipment against ethylene oxide decomposition - using baffles of specified height and cross section area

The parent patent describes a method for protecting equipment generating or processing ethylene oxide (I) against the effects of (I) decomposition by (a) incorporating at least one decomposition baffle; (b) making the equiment able to resist the max. pressure generated in a decomposition, and/or (c) being able to make reactor contents inert. In this addition, equations are given defining the height (H) and cross-section (F) of the baffle. H is S.v.t and F is v' times the square root of (p divided by 2 delta) times (x.Hdivided by d). (S is safety factor, at least 1.2; v is mean flame-front propagation speed at the baffle; t is time required to make reactor contents inert; v' is mean gas vol. flow, p is gas density under operating conditions; delta is the permissible pressure drop at the baffle under normal conditions, x is the resistance coefft. of the packing; and d is the characteristic measurement of the filling material). For Pall rings of size 15 by 15 by 0.4mm, made of V4-A stainless steel, x is 3.5-5.5 and d is 1.5 cm. Pref. S is 1.5 and v is typically 1-4 cm per sec. for (I) without internal water cooling, at pressure over 15 bar.