AUTOMATION OF QUANTITATIVE SAFETY EVALUATION IN CHEMICAL PROCESSES

A method to automate hazard analysis of chemical plants is proposed in this paper. The proposed system is composed of three knowledge bases - unit knowledge base, organizational knowledge base and material knowledge base, and three hazard analysis algorithms - deviation, malfunction and accident analysis algorithm. Hazard analysis inference procedure is developed based on the actual hazard analysis procedures and accident development sequence. The proposed algorithm can perform hazard analysis in two methods and represent all conceivable types of accidents using accident analysis algorithm. In addition, it provides intermediate steps in the accident propagation, and enables the analysis result to give a useful information to hazard assessment. The proposed method is successfully demonstrated by being applied to diammonium phosphate manufacturing process. A system to automate hazard analysis is developed by using the suggested method. The developed system is expected to be useful in finding the propagation path of a fault or the cause of a malfunction as it is capable to approach causes of faults and malfunctions simultaneously.