A dynamic HAZOP case study using the Texas City refinery explosion

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. The catastrophic explosion that occurred at Texas City on 23 March 2005 during the start-up of the raffinate splitter resulted in an estimated 15 deaths and 180 injuries. Since the incident, several studies have investigated the root causes of the disaster. Some contributing factors to the incident include wider organisational, process safety management, and human elements. There have also been some attempts to model the sequence of events before the incident, and the consequences of the resulting fires and explosions. This study provides a dynamic model of the sequence of events leading up to the incident and replicates the reported process variables during the isomerisation unit start-up on the day of the incident. The resulting simulation model is used as the framework for a dynamic hazard and operability (HAZOP) study

New Year\u27s Come

Why chime the bells so merrilyWhy seem ye all so gay?Is it because the New Year\u27s comeAnd the old has pass\u27d away?Oh! Can ye look upon the pastAnd feel no sorrow nowThat thus ye sing so joyouslyAnd smiles light ev\u27ry brow?Oh! If ye can be blithe and gayThe song, troul gaily onAnd the burden be the New Year\u27s come and the Old Year\u27s gone. And the burden be the New Year\u27s come and the Old Year\u27s gone. The old man gazes on your mirthHe smiles not like the restHe sits in silence by the hearthAnd seems with grief oppress\u27dHe sees not in the merry throngThe child who was his prideHe listens for her joyous songShe is not by his side!But scarce a twelvemonth she was thereAnd now he is aloneYet still ye sing the New Year\u27s come and the Old Year\u27s gone. Yet still ye sing the New Year\u27s come and the Old Year\u27s gone. Dance on! dance on! be blithe and gayNor pause to think the whileThat ere this year has pass\u27d awayYe to may cease to smileFor time in his resistless flightBrings changes sad and drearThe sunny hopes of youth to blightWith ev\u27ry coming yearBut still be happy while ye mayAnd let the dance go onStill gaily sing the New Year\u27s come and the Old Year\u27s gone!Still gaily sing the New Year\u27s come and the Old Year\u27s gone

The Inverse-Compton And Extragalactic Components Of The Diffuse Gamma-Ray Emission

We present spectra of the inverse-Compton and extragalactic components of the high-energy gamma-radiation based on an analysis of the emission at high galactic latitudes ($\vert$b$\vert$ $\geq$ $30\deg$). We correlate the gamma-ray intensity with a model consisting of an isotropic component, a component proportional to the 408 MHz synchrotron radiation, and a component proportional to atomic hydrogen (H I) column density with different emissivities in eight galactic octants. The spectrum of gamma-radiation that is correlated with the H I column density indicates that this component originates in cosmic-ray/matter interactions. The cosmic-ray electrons which produce the 408 MHz radio continuum emission also produce gamma-radiation through inverse-Compton interactions with interstellar photons. By correlating the gamma-radiation with the 408 MHz continuum, we measure the spectrum and absolute intensity of the IC emission. The isotropic component gives us the spectrum and intensity of the extragalactic gamma-radiation. We discuss interpretation of the extragalactic spectrum.Comment: 21 page Postscript file, 10 Postscript figure

Modularity, Vertical Integration, and Open Access Policies: Towards A Convergence of Antitrust and Regulation In The Internet Age

This article aims to help regulators and commentators incorporate both Chicago School and post-Chicago School arguments in assessing whether regulation should mandate open access to information platforms. The authors outline three alternative models that the FCC could adopt to guide its regulation of information platforms in the future and facilitate a true convergence between antitrust and regulatory policy.

Excitation of interfacial waves via near---resonant surface---interfacial wave interactions

We consider interactions between surface and interfacial waves in the two layer system. Our approach is based on the Hamiltonian structure of the equations of motion, and includes the general procedure for diagonalization of the quadratic part of the Hamiltonian. Such diagonalization allows us to derive the interaction crossection between surface and interfacial waves and to derive the coupled kinetic equations describing spectral energy transfers in this system. Our kinetic equation allows resonant and near resonant interactions. We find that the energy transfers are dominated by the class III resonances of \cite{Alam}. We apply our formalism to calculate the rate of growth for interfacial waves for different values of the wind velocity. Using our kinetic equation, we also consider the energy transfer from the wind generated surface waves to interfacial waves for the case when the spectrum of the surface waves is given by the JONSWAP spectrum and interfacial waves are initially absent. We find that such energy transfer can occur along a timescale of hours; there is a range of wind speeds for the most effective energy transfer at approximately the wind speed corresponding to white capping of the sea. Furthermore, interfacial waves oblique to the direction of the wind are also generated

Panel Estimation of the Impact of Uncertainty on Investment in the Industrial Countries

There is growing interest in economic uncertainty and its long run impact on investment. In previous work the authors established clear evidence of the negative impact of exchange rate uncertainty on investment in the G7, measured using a GARCH approach, and Pooled Mean Group Panel Estimation. In this paper we assess the impact on investment of temporary and permanent components of exchange rate uncertainty derived using a components GARCH model. For a poolable subsample of EU countries, results suggest that it is the transitory and not the permanent component which adversely affects investment.investment, uncertainty, exchange rates, non stationary panel estimation