Int. J. Emerg. Sci., 1(4), 607-614, December 2011
ISSN: 2222-4254
© IJES
607
Computer Simulation of Passive Device for
Elimination of Static Electricity
Nikola Dragović, Mićo Gaćanović
University of Banja Luka, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Patre 5, 78000 Banja Luka,
Bosnia and Herzegovina
dzonsa@yahoo.com , bilchy@blic.net
Abstract. The paper describes conducted computer simulation of the passive
device for elimination of static electricity, using example of pouring
petroleum and petroleum products. The principled scheme of specified
equipment is used, which is under international patent protection. Computer
simulation of here proposed static electricity elimination device is made with
software package MATLAB/Simulink v7.6 (R2010b). Finally, a conclusion
with the comment on obtained results of the simulation is given.
Keywords: Static electricity, Petroleum industry, Elimination of static
electricity.
1 INTRODUCTION
Elimination of static electricity in loading and refilling operations of oil and oil
products and gas into the metal storage tanks and tank trucks is a very complex
problem. Commonly used solution for the elimination of static electricity by
grounding of metal tanks is proved to be incorrect and very dangerous, since it
provides condition for a cumulative discharge from the surface of oil or oil product
and gas also, to wall of metal grounded tank.
Result of the described cumulative discharge is occurrence of a spark with
ignition energy which is greater than minimum ignition energy (MIE) of
combustible mixture in vapor space of a tank. In this way, an ignition of explosible
mixture will occur and there will be an explosion and fire.
Thus, it was necessary to propose an approach for the controlled elimination of
static electricity (controlled redistribution of generated charge), as suggested above-
mentioned passive device for elimination of static electricity. So, the main role of
the device is controlled transmission of generated electrostatic energy (generated by
superimposing of volume and surface charge on the surface of the considered liquid
or gas phase condition) from vapor space of tank to a grounding system.
In this paper, we conduct a computer simulation of the operation of proposed
passive device for elimination of static electricity in software package
MATLAB/Simulink v7.6 (R2010b).