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Shortstopping runaway reactions
Author(s) -
Balasubramanian Santhana G.,
Dakshinamoorthy Duraivelan,
Louvar Joseph F.
Publication year - 2003
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.680220413
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , key (lock) , process (computing) , state (computer science) , risk analysis (engineering) , fluent , engineering , biochemical engineering , computer science , forensic engineering , computer security , simulation , artificial intelligence , business , computer simulation , algorithm , operating system
Runaway reactions continue to be a problem in the chemical industry. A recent study showed that 26.5% of our major chemical plant accidents are due to runaways. This article reviews the (a) historical perspective of runaways, (b) state of our knowledge of how to detect potential runaways, since detection is a key element of a successful inhibition process, and (c) state of our knowledge on how to shortstop, or inhibit, reaction. The objective of the research is to improve our plants safety performance in (a) identifying methods for successfully inhibiting runaway reactions under adverse conditions, and (b) highlighting future problems and limitations, as reactions are faster and reactors more complex. Computational Fluid Dynamics (Fluent) is the tool used in this study.