5 replies to this topic

[fjmartin]

You must review some incidents related to packed columns, because of cleaning of the columns is very difficult exists some fire / explosion incidents reported.

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•  8.12_Process_Safety_Incident_Compilation.doc   37.5KB   596 downloads

[JEBradley]

First of all you need to collect some information about the column. For example (and this is NOT an exhaustive list)

• Function of Column - Distillation/Absorber/...?
• Dimensions of Column
• Materials of Construction? (Both of column and Packing)
• Stream flowrates?
• Obtain details of chemistry of all Species
• Watch out for trace elements - They sometimes get ignored but can often accumulate in a bed
• Maximum/Minimum/Operating Temperatures
• Maximum/Minimum/Operating Pressures
• et cetera.....

Armed with this information you can then proceed to tackle the HAZOP as you would any other. i.e. More Flow, Less Flow, No Flow, Reverse flow, Fluctuating Flow, No Pressure (always wonder about that one), Less Pressure... and so on. U should break it down according to chemical too - e.g. more flow (vapour) more flow (liquid) more flow (overall).

I'd like to add a footnote though - a HAZOP is a means of conducting a risk analysis which is very very important. It's impossible to tell you how to do the HAZOP because we know nothing of the system and even then it would be irresponsible. Is this for a design project or an actual plant. If for an actual plant then you will be a part of a HAZOP team and perhaps the best advice I can give would be for you to speak with them.

[Art Montemayor]

If the subject at hand is about organizing and carrying out a HaZop on a packed column operation, then the first and foremost thing that should be done and confirmed is: obtain a certified, As-Built Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID). This is the basic, primary, and most important Document of Record in any HaZop. You cannot, in my opinion, hazop a process without an accurate, complete, and As-Built P&ID.

Unfortunately, this has not even been mentioned so far in this thread.

[Padmakar Katre]

Dear,
Addition to the documents needed for HAZOP is as follows,

1. Process design package (PDP)
2. Utility flow diagram (UFD)
3. Material safety data sheets(MSDSs)
4. Material Balance/Steam Balance
5. Process Description
6. Process data sheets
7. PSV data sheets
8. Draft operating procedure(Information on operation steps)
9. Emergency Shutdown & Blow down philosophy
10.Process Design basis including Design Margin
11.Equipment & system sparing philosophy
12. Logic diagram (or cause & effect Matrix)
13.DCS Alarm summary
14. Piping Classification
15. General plot plan & area plot plans
16. Hazardous area Classification
17. Fire & Gas detector Layout(or concept)
18. Safety shower/Eye Washer Layout (or concept)
19.History/Database of Major incidents/accidents


Regards,
Padmakar Katre

[Dr.Process]

Dear Padmakar,

Could you share an example of ESD logic diagram, blowdown philosophy, and Fire&gas detector layout for typical offshore platform

Thanks

Dear,
Addition to the documents needed for HAZOP is as follows,

1. Process design package (PDP)
2. Utility flow diagram (UFD)
3. Material safety data sheets(MSDSs)
4. Material Balance/Steam Balance
5. Process Description
6. Process data sheets
7. PSV data sheets
8. Draft operating procedure(Information on operation steps)
9. Emergency Shutdown & Blow down philosophy
10.Process Design basis including Design Margin
11.Equipment & system sparing philosophy
12. Logic diagram (or cause & effect Matrix)
13.DCS Alarm summary
14. Piping Classification
15. General plot plan & area plot plans
16. Hazardous area Classification
17. Fire & Gas detector Layout(or concept)
18. Safety shower/Eye Washer Layout (or concept)
19.History/Database of Major incidents/accidents


Regards,
Padmakar Katre