Ethylene is a colourless, slightly sweet-smelling gas that under normal conditions is lighter than air. It is not poisonous or toxic to water. Ethylene is transported in the feed pipeline as fluid, or in an intermediate state between gas and liquid.

Ethylene is non-toxic or hazardous to water. It is a colourless, slightly sweet-smelling gas that is lighter than air under normal conditions. Ethylene is highly flammable and burns in the air with a slightly sooty, luminous flame. In high concentrations, ethylene produces a narcotic effect.

It is a slightly sweet-smelling gas.

No, not always. Above-ground laid lockable pipe sections must be protected by suitable safety valves or equivalent safety devices against impermissible pressure increases due to thermal expansion. Safety valves must be tested and suitable for the specific application; their exhaust pipes must enable safe discharge. There are also underground piping systems. For example: After the construction of a pipeline system, an agricultural area has been recultivated and can fully used again for farming purposes because the pipeline has been laid at least 1.20 meters below the surface.

To ensure the safety of our pipelines, ARG needs from you as construction company, planning office, private investor, or resident, a detailed written report about your project in good time before work is started. On the basis of the documents submitted, we will assess whether any negative impact to our pipeline is incurred by the construction project and inform you of the findings. If we find that our pipelines are affected by your project, we will set down requirements and safety measures in a follow-up step together with you.

For information about pipelines, for Germany we recommend the BIL online portal. BIL is a nationwide information system for pipeline research in Germany that provides comprehensive information of our pipeline system in a very simple way. For more information, see www.bil-leitungsauskunft.de.

This service is free of charge!

Alternatively, you can send your request to us in writing by email or post. To ensure fast and reliable processing, your request should contain the following information and documents:

• Construction and project description, planned construction period, principal (if any)
• Maps/plans, location of the planned construction measures
• Phone number and address for any questions

For Belgium or the Netherlands please contact:

Petrochemical Pipeline Services B.V.
Sanderboutlaan 21
6181 DN Elsloo
Netherlands
Tel.: 0031/46 426 8140
Email: mailto:controlroom@pps-pipelines.com
Web: www.pps-pipelines.com

Ethylene is the basis for the production of a variety of plastics such as polyethylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride. Plastic bags, beverage bottles, packaging material, films of all kinds, vehicle fittings, floor coverings, insulation materials, washing and cleaning agents, and much more are produced from ethylene. The main customers are the plastics industry, the automotive industry and the chemical industry.

About 1.8 million tons per year.

The ARG Control Room is responsible for safety 365 days a year around the clock. In the unlikely event of a leak, shut-off stations make it possible to automatically interrupt the ethylene flow. The approximately 90 stations that are installed at intervals of approximately 3 to 18 kilometres along the route provide the relevant data and can shut off the section in a matter of seconds, significantly limiting the emission of ethylene.

In addition, regular inspections by foot, vehicle and helicopter are carried out to monitor the pipeline route.

Contact information can be found on a signpost in the direct vicinity.
You can also contact the PPS Control Room:
Control Room
Phone 0031/46 426 8140

and/or

Evonik
Technology & Infrastructure GmbH
Headquarters
Telefon 02365/49-01

Changing operating conditions make it difficult to define a specific flow direction. Given the variety of connected ethylene producers and consumers, a continuous, steady direction of flow cannot be determined. Depending on the needs of the connected businesses, the product can flow through the Ruhr area in the direction of the Ruhr area – but also from the Ruhr area in the direction of Antwerp.

Then please contact immediately our technical service providers.

Ethylene is also found in nature as a plant hormone. It plays a role in the ripening of fruits and in the processes of natural leaf drop. Especially apples, pears and citrus fruits, but also ripe tomatoes or peppers emit ethylene. You will notice this at home if you store bananas in a fruit basket with apples: the bananas get brown spots or go mushy very quickly.