Open AccessSafe Oxidation Reactions. Development of an Explosion Protection System from Process Development Lab to Large Scale Production Plant
Author(s) -
Myriam Kuppinger,
Iris OBERMüLLER,
Bruno Peterhans
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.387
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/000942905777675994
Subject(s) - decoupling (probability) , risk analysis (engineering) , process engineering , production (economics) , biochemical engineering , computer science , process (computing) , scale (ratio) , environmental science , reliability engineering , engineering , business , control engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , economics , macroeconomics , operating system
The systematic development of an explosion protection system for an oxidation reaction in pure oxygen following a thorough risk analysis is described. By evaluating both probability and consequences of all risks identified it could be shown that an explosion in the investigated system cannot be prevented completely. Therefore the emphasis of the system was to protect humans and the environment from the consequences of this residual risk. Several design alternatives were considered. Only an explosion decoupling system, consisting of a combination of a flame interrupter and a fast-acting valve can fulfill this task. The successful start-up and running production process up to now confirm the chosen path.