Article,
Lessons learned from fires and explosions involving pollution control systems.
Process Safety Progress, 24 (2): 120--125 (June 2005)
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/prs.10070
Abstract
Six case studies of fires or explosions involving air pollution control
(APC) systems are reviewed in this paper. These case studies have
been generalized from actual accident investigations performed by
the authors. The case studies cover the APC technologies of thermal
oxidation, catalytic oxidation, gas scrubbers, adsorption, and condensation.
Each of the technologies was used to control emissions of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). The accidents encompass a broad range of
industries, ignition sources, and circumstances. The causal factors
for these accidents are compared with applicable safety guidelines
and standards to show how safeguards could have prevented or mitigated
these accidents. The common theme that emerges from these accident
investigations is that APC systems should not be specified and installed
strictly by intuition or experience, but rather through careful engineering
design. The key findings of this study are: Characterize the waste
stream to be treated. Conduct a process hazard analysis for each
APC system, with particular emphasis on fire and explosion hazards.
Design the APC system using good engineering practices. Operate the
APC system within its design specifications. Periodically verify
that the APC system performance satisfies its technical and regulatory
objectives. Perform maintenance activities in accordance with manufacturer's
recommendations. Each of the accidents was the direct result of the
omission of one or more of these basic tenets.
Tags
- accidents;
- adsorption
- air
- compounds;
- control
- control;
- emission
- equipment;
- explosions;
- fires;
- organic
- oxidation;
- pollution
- reviews;
- scrubbers;
- volatile
