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A comprehensive program for preventing cyclohexane oxidation process piping failures
Author(s) -
Sadler Donald L.,
Matusz Brian T.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
process safety progress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.378
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1547-5913
pISSN - 1066-8527
DOI - 10.1002/prs.680130119
Subject(s) - piping , hazard and operability study , cyclohexane , engineering , flexibility (engineering) , process (computing) , operability , forensic engineering , oxidation process , waste management , environmental science , risk analysis (engineering) , reliability engineering , computer science , mechanical engineering , business , chemistry , pulp and paper industry , statistics , mathematics , organic chemistry , operating system
In 1971, the Cyclohexane Oxidation Unit at the Monsanto Plant at Pensacola, Florida, suffered a pipe rupture that resulted in the formation of a cyclohexane vapor cloud of major proportions and disastrous potential. Catastrophe was averted because there was no ignition of the cloud. The incident, plus past and present piping system remediation programs undertaken to prevent future occurrences as described in this article. The current program involves a comprehensive survey of critical piping systems utilizing flexibility analysis, acoustic emission testing, radiographic and ultrasonic inspection, HazOp safety studies, and distributed process controls to properly maintain and operate the critical piping systems.