Addressing the challenges of implementing safety instrumented systems in multi-product batch processes

Adapting the requirements of IEC 61511 to a batch system can be frustrating, particularly for multi-product units. While a Safety Instrumented System (SIS) for continuous operation is often a straightforward detect-decide-act loop, implementing a SIS for a batch system may involve multiple safety functions, time- or state-dependence, intricate calculations, or complex installations. Relationships between the SIS elements and the basic process control system (BPCS) must be tightly managed, providing both for the safety of the unit and its ability to operate without spurious trips or other hindrances. These issues are further complicated when multiple products requiring different functions or setpoints are produced in the same SIS-protected batch unit.This paper will discuss the challenges particular to the design, operation, and maintenance of a SIS in multi-product batch operations and present practical options for successfully resolving the concerns. A key insight into successful adaptation is treating the batch SIS as a “permission” system for the BPCS to operate. Although many items can be addressed through clever engineering practices, sustainable success relies on proactive, robust management of the safety lifecycle.     

Effect of ignition position on vented hydrogen–air deflagration in a 1 m3 vessel

This study investigates the effect of the ignition position on vented hydrogen-air deflagration in a 1 m³ vessel and evaluates the performance of the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code FLACS in simulating the vented explosion of hydrogen-air mixtures. First, the differences in the measured pressure-time histories for various ignition locations are presented, and the mechanisms responsible for the generation of different pressure peaks are explained, along with the flame behavior. Secondly, the CFD software FLACS is assessed against the experimental data. The characteristic phenomena of vented explosion are observed for hydrogen-air mixtures ignited at different ignition positions, such as Helmholtz oscillation for front ignition, the interaction between external explosion and combustion inside the vessel for central ignition, and the wall effect for back-wall ignition. Flame-acoustic interaction are observed in all cases, particularly in those of front ignition and very lean hydrogen-air mixtures. The predicted flame behavior agree well with the experimental data in general while the simulated maximum overpressures are larger than the experimental values by a factor of 1.5–2, which is conservative then would lead to a safe design of explosion panels for instance. Not only the flame development during the deflagration was well-simulated for the different ignition locations, but also the correspondence between the pressure transients and flame behavior was also accurately calculated. The comparison of the predicted results with the experimental data shows the performance of FLACS to model vented mixtures of hydrogen with air ignited in a lab scale vessel. However, the experimental scale is often smaller than that used in practical scenarios, such as hydrogen refueling installations. Thus, future large-scale experiments are necessary to assess the performance of FLACS in practical use.     

Thermal runaway reaction for highly exothermic material in safe storage temperature

Highly exothermic materials have caused many serious accidents involving storage and transportation, due to being thermally reactive. The safe storage and management of these materials is still a critical problem in many countries. Our aim was to study the thermal hazard of thermal reactive materials, such as a propellant, by employing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) non-isothermal tests and isothermal tests, and then comparing the kinetic parameters by isothermal and non-isothermal of kinetics. The chosen approach was to obtain reliable thermal decomposition by a safe and effective method, which acquired the kinetic and safety parameters of storage conditions that could be applied as highly exothermic materials' reduction of loss prevention and energy potential for safer design during storage transport and processing operations.     

Gas explosion analysis of safety gap effect on the innovating FLNG vessel with a cylindrical platform

After investigating gas dispersion on a cylindrical Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) platform (Li et al, 2016), this second article focuses on assessment of gas explosion by using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Gas explosion simulations are carried out to evaluate the explosion overpressure mitigating effect of safety gap. The Data-dump technique, which is an effective tool in resetting turbulence length scale in gas explosion overpressure calculation, is applied to ensure simulation accuracy for the congestion scenario with safety gap. Two sets of different safety gaps are designed to investigate the safety gap on the cylindrical FLNG platform, the overall results indicate that the safety gap is effective in reducing overpressure in two adjacent congestions. However, for the explosion scenario where the flame is propagating through several safety gaps to the far field congestion, the safety gap mitigates overpressure only in certain explosion protecting targets. Two series of artificial configurations are modeled to further investigate the explosion scenarios with more than two safety gaps in one direction. It is concluded that the optimal safety gap design in overpressure mitigation for the cylindrical FLNG platform is to balance the safety gap distance ratio in the congested regions.     

生态文明下城市复合生态管理模式与对策

党的"十八大"明确了以资源节约利用、生态环境保护为基础的生态文明建设的原则,该研究正是基于生态文明的理念下,从城市规划、产业结构、资源政策、环境承载力以及公众参与等5个方面对城市生态管理模式进行了多维性思考,指出只有坚持规划先行、优化升级产业结构、提高资源的政策调控、增强环保意识、探索多元化的公众参与模式,才是实现我国城市生态建设协调健康发展的基础,同时也指出城市复合生态管理才是我国未来城市生态建设的发展趋势,是我国城市生态管理模式发展的现实需求。该研究期望能够正确把握生态文明下城市生态管理的本质内涵,为日益市场化的城市提供高水平的城市生态管理范本,也为实现长久、稳定的可持续发展提供理论依据和指导思想。     

构建海洋石油开采溢油危机防控体系之我见

随着海洋石油勘探开发的迅速发展,海上溢油事故屡有发生。针对我国现行管理体制设计上的弊端,提出了在构建海洋石油勘探开发溢油危机防控管理体系的实践中,必须着力健全完善溢油事故宏观防控、溢油问题科技保障、溢油风险预测评估、溢油危机应急处置4个方面工作机制的对策。     

地下水脆弱性评价和污染风险管理

地下水脆弱性评价和风险评估是地下水污染防治的有用工具和工作步骤,是地下水资源管理和地下水污染修复的重要依据。文章对地下水脆弱性评价和污染风险评价的研究背景和进展进行了简要综述,提出了目前地下水脆弱性评价研究中存在的问题,并对今后基于风险管理的地下污染环境修复及其总体思路进行了展望。     

环境损害评估中修复方案的费用效益分析

土壤、地下水和地表水等污染治理成本通常较高,但修复后会带来众多直接和间接效益,因此,在进行修复决策和环境损害评估时应当予以综合考虑。文章对环境修复成本效益分析的定义、目的和方法进行了阐述,并结合具体案例解释了环境修复成本效益分析的具体过程。修复成本通常依据价格指南、费用估算模型/软件、类似工程经验、承包商报价等进行估算,修复效益可采用享乐价格法,根据个人意愿为环境支付的费用,进行计算。案例研究结果表明,环境修复效益及其受益方并不是单一的,在进行较大规模的环境修复决策时,应由政府进行干预,并积极寻求各利益相关方的配合,综合评估其经济可行性。在环境损害评估中,也应形成多方协调机制,科学合理地评价修复方案的费用和效益,合理确定赔偿数额。     

基于云模型的页岩气开发环境影响评价

从大气环境、噪声与土壤环境、水环境和生态、安全与可持续4个方面构建页岩气开发环境影响指标体系,并建立基于熵权法和云模型评价法的页岩气环境影响评价模型。针对四川省某国家级页岩气示范区进行实证分析,结果表明:该地区页岩气开发环境影响处于中等程度。页岩气开发对水环境影响最大,其次是对大气环境的影响,再次是对噪声与土壤环境,对生态、安全与可持续方面影响相对最小。该模型的评价结果与页岩气开发环境影响现状相符,最后根据评价结果提出相关政策建议。     

节能灯、白炽灯和卤钨灯全生命周期评估对比

采用全生命周期分析(LCA)的评估研究方法,全面、科学地对比分析了节能灯、白炽灯以及卤钨灯全生命周期过程中所造成的环境、资源影响,评估结果表明节能灯相对于白炽灯和卤钨灯显著降低了对环境的生态毒性影响,由于照明产品自身环境影响的特点,节能灯其突出的节电效果将显著降低白炽灯和卤钨灯对环境的各种影响。