3 replies to this topic

[aliadnan]

Hi

In our Ammonia, Urea and DAP complex use of mobile is prohibited in operating area and in control room. The reason for this ban is stated to be that since we have highly combustible Hydrogen gas so any static charge produced during the use of cell phone in the operating area may lead to an explosion, and due to the same static charge the DCS system is effected (controlling may not be proper) so cell phone is also prohibited in the control room.

We have a Motorola system within the complex for interplant communication. I was thinking that this Motorola system should'nt effect the operation of the plant and DCS system as the cell phones?

I would like to have comments of different people and also like to if there are other problems associated with the use of cell phone and motorola system?

(I am an young chemical engineer graduated early this year and only have a 5 month Ammoina plant experience.)

Regards

[Milutin]

I work in refinery, we have identical situation like you regarding cell phones and Motorola system. Motorola have necessary certificate for safe use in plant environment, cell phones no.

[jom]

Do you know the mechanism by which the cell phone can interfere with the DCS? I realise it involves static, but just how would the DCS be effected?

If this was a genuine concern, then cell phones would have to be banned from an enormous number of installations, not just in the chemical industry.

J.

[Adriaan]

We (using a Motorola system) had a problem with main boiler #3; using a communicator near it caused some instruments to throw up errors that shut the boiler down! Solved now by grounding and shielding of instrumentation, but it just goes to show that it is a real (potential) problem.

It makes perfect sense to ban the use of cellphones "out in the field" on ANY production plant; not just because of electromagnetic radiation but also because the phone demands attention which people then do not pay to their surroundings.