40,000 Southern Californians ordered to evacuate amid threat of chemical explosion

[Melon]

15. In another thread it was reported that the temperature

Of the tank had dropped 40c already.
During polymerization, a run away reaction can occur as quickly as an hour and when the tank is roughly 20% involved.

If the tank is showing a drop in temperature and we are many many hours into this, they maybe past the runaway stage and a majority of the tank MMA has already polymerized. In that case, continuing water cooling plus the pressure relief valve and the tank will cool and lose pressure. Like a pressure cooker. In short, if there’s room in the tank and the temp is dropping, they are on the backside of the reaction already.

This type of reaction is not unknown. There is a safety hotline specifically for chemicals and these types of issues. I’m sure it happens multiple times a year. There are experts without the chief inventing new techniques outside of grandstanding.

1. Cool the tank.
2. Relieve pressure
3. Add inhibitor to stop the reaction

The third option is dangerous because the tank is hot and pressurized