Excellence in safety is the key to address the increasing complexity of industrial production processes and the increase of rules and regulations both in Europe and internationally.
Experts in the field of plant operation give an overview of new methodologies and techniques to improve process safety in the chemical industry and related sectors. The 33rd European joint AIChE / Delta Process Academy Seminar is an effective platform for interacting and sharing insights with industry leaders and professionals.
Catalytic processes and process safety requirements, Geert Vercruysse, BASF
On June 3, 2014, two major explosions and subsequently a fire occurred at a SM/PO plant in the Netherlands. The investigation report showed that the root cause of the incident was an unexpected reaction of the catalyst with ethylbenzene. This reaction happened during the commissioning phase of the in-situ activation of the catalyst.
This explosion may have been a trigger to review the commissioning and start up procedures to see if a similar incident could happen. The results of a review (inclusive other catalyst related incidents) will be shown and used as a basis for discussion.
Presentation file here
Smart tag technology, Mathieu Westerweele, Operating Training Solutions
Ideally, in terms of safety and good operation, every valve in a plant or tank terminal should have a position indication that is available in the Control Room. It is, however, common practice that only very few hand valves have an actual position notifier. Mathieu presents a new “Smart Tag Technology” (originally intended for Operator Training) that turned out to be a highly effective and low cost(!) solution to minimize operational risks, by having an overview of the actual valve positions of all (important) hand valves.
Presentation file here
Operational Technology (OT) security, a technical or an organizational challenge? Marcel Kelder, Yokogawa Europe B.V.
Cyber security has become a significant factor in the overall risk management for industrial installations, process plants and other critical assets. With the advent of new technologies such as IIoT Industry 4.0 in the plant automation domain, and the increased interconnectedness of plants, networks and equipment, cyber security vulnerabilities pose real risk for safety and business continuity. Although there is awareness, companies are struggling with implementing a proper cyber security program for the Operational Technology (OT) domain. Is OT security more a technical or an organizational challenge. This is the central question of the presentation plus how to overcome certain barriers.
Presentation file here
Risk management - Practical approach towards safety management, Kristin Boogaerts, Jacobs
Risk management is a key factor in Designing for Safe Operation. Driven by the Seveso Directive and the associated emphasis on prevention of loss of containment, the implementation of an all capping Safety Management system is essential. Both in new design and in assessment of Safety Management in existing installations; a robust analysis and structured project type approach can help to identify and mitigate the risks.
Key success factors in this process is the collaboration of all stakeholders and the continuous maintenance of the systems with special emphasis on Management of Change. We will provide case studies executed by JACOBS where we implemented our tailor-made approach towards Safety Management.
Presentation file here
Excellence in safety is the key to address the increasing complexity of industrial production processes and the increase of rules and regulations both in Europe and internationally.
Ageing infrastructure in process manufacturing industries and changes in operating regimes can adversely affect equipment integrity and reliability. Experts in the field of plant operation will give an overview of new methodologies and techniques to improve process safety in the chemical industry and related sectors.
The 34th European AIChE seminar is an effective platform for interacting and sharing insights
Ageing and Corrosion - Arjen Reinders, McDermott
Many petrochemical plants are past their original design lifetime but are still being operated for many years to come. Whilst these plants are inspected and maintained in various ways, this may impose risks. Depending upon the applicable process conditions involved it may result in specific damage mechanisms. The plant design is based on the damage mechanisms and design life but several damage mechanisms are time dependent and therefore in the light of lifetime extension, it is important to assess the current situation of these plants and to make estimates of residual lifetime. For more than 25 years McDermott has developed and successfully applied a specific methodology called ”Plant Life Expectancy Study”, which is assessing the current situation of a plant asset and evaluating the possibility to extend lifetime. This presentation will outline the plant life expectancy study and the underlying principles as provided by McDermott as a support for investment decisions or future plant operation.
Presentation file here
Normalization of Deviation - Tijs Koerts, Operation Director of the European Process Safety Centre
Many large industrial accidents with hazardous chemicals have in the root cause a contribution from human involvement. Sometimes people deviate for very good reasons from a developed procedure, while not fully understanding the hazard and while not being corrected by pears or leaders. A famous example is the Texas City refinery incident (see the CSB film Anatomy of a Disaster – available on YouTube). This phenomena has obtained its own name: “Normalization of Deviation”. Some examples will be discussed as well as manners how to recognise these and improve behaviour.
Presentation file here
Ageing Operators: Is the best yet to come? - Prof. Dr. Jop Groeneweg, Leiden University
In this presentation various apspects of the influence of ageing on cognitive performance are discussed. In general it is believed that ageing has only negative effects. In this presentation a more nuanced picture is presented.
Presentation file here
By Jelle Gerard Wijnja, Technology Manager Ethylene Furnaces, TechnipFMC
TechnipFMC is a world leader in designing steam crackers, from concept stage through construction and commissioning for both grassroots plants (including mega-crackers) and plant expansions using its proprietary technologies. TechnipFMC provides a wide range of services to the ethylene industry.
TechnipFMC has innovated its cracking furnace design, in which the chemical cracking reactions take place. Some of these innovations that improve the cracking process like the three-lane radiant coil, Swirl Flow Tube (SFT®) and the Large Scale Vortex (LSV®) burner have been applied in both new furnaces and/or cracking furnace revamps.
Presentation file here
By Herman van Roost, Business Development Manager Recycling, Total Refining & Petrochemicals
With the circular economy at everyone’s attention and with the EC’s Plastics Strategy published, the plastics sector is entering a new era. A lot of innovation effort is focused on sorting and recycling technology, even more since China shuts its borders for most plastic waste.
But why are plastics less mature in terms of circularity compared to paper, glass and other commodities ?
Is our recycling technology up to the task ? How to steer innovation ? Is there a role for the virgin resin industry ?
How are fundamental scientific principles interfering with ‘design for recycling ‘?
A need for engineers to step in!
Presentation file here
By Maurice Korpelshoek, Technology Marketing Director, CB&I
Alkylate product remains one of the most favored octane blending components in the refining industry. CB&I and Albemarle have developed and commercially proven a unique solid acid alkylation process, called AlkyClean®, which is the most environmentally advanced and safest processing option to produce alkylate, and an excellent alternative to retrofit existing HF alkylation units. After several years of process development and pilot plant testing, this novel alkylation process was licensed to Shandong Wonfull Petrochemical Group in China. This unique technology is the only demonstrated technology for solid acid alkylation. The results of more than a year of successful operation, together with application of this technology in existing refineries will be discussed.
Alkylate continues to be preferred gasoline blendstock for refiners.
First commercial demonstration of solid acid alkylation technology!
AlkyClean technology is innovative and proven solution for solid acid alkylate production.
Presentation file here
- Vertical integration and information sharing - IT/OT integration, integrated product management system
- Safety seminar 2015 Excellence in Process Safety, Consequences for design, engineering, commissioning and operation
- Mobatec - Model-based technology, Construction and Application of Dynamic Models
- The Antwerp-Rotterdam Rhein Ruhr Chemical Megacluster - in transition toward a Smart Specialisation