Hazop

A hazard and operability study (HAZOP) is a structured and systematic examination of a complex planned or existing process or operation in order to identify and evaluate problems that may represent risks to personnel or equipment. The intention of performing a HAZOP is to review the design to pick up design and engineering issues that may otherwise not have been found. The technique is based on breaking the overall complex design of the process into a number of simpler sections called 'nodes' which are then individually reviewed. It is carried out by a suitably experienced multi-disciplinary team (HAZOP) during a series of meetings. The HAZOP technique is qualitative, and aims to stimulate the imagination of participants to identify potential hazards and operability problems. Structure and direction are given to the review process by applying standardized guide-word prompts to the review of each node.

In the chemical plant, for example, a pipe is designed to deliver sulfuric acid at a concentration of 96% and a temperature of 20 ° C at a mass flow rate of 2.3 kg / s from the pump to the heat exchanger The design intent is to raise the sulfuric acid concentration to 96% at a mass flow rate of 2.3 kg / s, from 20 ° C to 80 ° C. The HAZOP team wants to find out the most likely significant deviations, probable causes and effects of each intention. It can be used to judge whether existing security is adequate or to add other actions to reduce the risk below the allowable level. HAZOP meetings are generally planned three to four hours a day. There are about 1,200 equipment and pipelines in a medium-sized chemical plant. It takes approximately 40 HAZOP meetings to confirm all the projects.