Question 1396 Deck General

70% to pass

You are cleaning the tanks after carrying a cargo of crude oil. Which statement is TRUE?

A The principal hazard with steaming cargo tanks is raising the ambient temperature above the flame point of the cargo residue.
B Steam cleaning and water washing are both capable of generating electrostatic charges within a tank.
C Washing water should be re-circulated if possible because it has the same electric potential as the cargo tank being cleaned.
D The hoses to portable cleaning machines should be disconnected before the machines are removed from the tank.
AI Explanation

The correct answer is B) Steam cleaning and water washing are both capable of generating electrostatic charges within a tank. This is correct because during tank cleaning operations, the agitation of the liquid and vapor can generate static electricity. Both steam cleaning and water washing can create these electrostatic charges, which can potentially ignite any flammable vapors present in the tank. This is an important safety consideration when cleaning cargo tanks that have contained flammable substances like crude oil. The other answer choices are incorrect because: A) The flame point is not the main hazard, it's the potential for static discharge ignition. C) Recirculating the washing water does not eliminate the static charge hazard. D) Disconnecting the hoses is not the key safety factor, it's the potential for static buildup during the cleaning process.

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