Application of Human Factors Evaluation in Engineering Design and Safe Operation of Dense Phase Ethylene Treaters

PresentationEthylene treaters are widely used in the petrochemical industry to remove impurities from ethylene feedstock imported from pipeline networks or storage caverns. The safety concerns of dense phase ethylene treaters due to the reactive and highly flammable nature of ethylene are well known and studied. Under certain conditions, ethylene may self-polymerize and decompose violently with heat release. If vented too fast, ethylene will auto-refrigerate generating cold liquids that may cause potential brittle fracture hazards. Due to these safety concerns, it is a challenge to select the appropriate engineering design options for dense phase ethylene treaters and the associated regeneration facilities. Totally automated treater regeneration systems add complexity and instrument maintenance requirements and manually operated systems rely heavily on operator training and procedures. This paper presents a risk assessment method to evaluate the engineering design and safe operation options for dense phase ethylene treaters. The proposed risk assessment method integrates human factor analysis into the traditional HAZOP, LOPA and fault tree analysis to allow evaluation of automated, manual and hybrid approaches with a goal of selecting and optimizing design options to ensure plant safety

SRP engineering and design history, Vol III, 200 F and H Areas

This volume combines the record of events relating to the development of design for both the 200-F and H Areas. Chronologically, the definition of plant facilities was first established for the 200-F Area. The second area, 200-H, was projected initially to be a supplementary plutonium separations facility. This history explains the differences in character and capacity of the manufacturing facilities in both areas as production requirements and experience with separations processes advanced

Exploring the Future of Friesenhahn Cave

Friesenhahn Cave in San Antonio, Texas, offers a wealth of paleontological artifacts. The cave is owned by Concordia University and is primarily managed by Dr. Laurence Meissner, professor of biology at Concordia. Since its discovery in the early twentieth century, researchers have discovered numerous Pleistocene fossils; aside from the La Brea Tar Pits in California, Friesenhahn Cave is the most Pleistocene fossil-rich site in the United States. Recently, little research has been conducted in the cave, though it is believed that many fossils remain to be discovered. We propose the establishment of the Friesenhahn Cave Foundation, a non-profit organization whose purpose would be to promote research, education and conservation regarding the cave. We analyze comparative models to help develop an effective framework for the Friesenhahn Cave Foundation, which would be governed by a nine-member board. It would be the responsibility of the board to accomplish Foundation goals. We include a mission statement in an effort to help the board achieve these goals. Moreover, we outline board member duties, explore funding possibilities and discuss effective outreach methods

Structural Health Determination and Model Refinement for a Deployable Composite Boom

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77171/1/AIAA-2009-2373-948.pd

The system indium-mercury

M.S.William M. Spice