September 2024 | AIChE

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September 2024

Fail-Safe Control

A system of remote control for preventing improper operation of the controlled function in event of circuit failure.

Fail-Safe

A feature incorporated for automatically counteracting the effect of an anticipated possible source of failure. A system is fail-safe if failure of a component, signal, or utility, initiates action that return the system to a safe condition.

Facility

The physical location where a management system activity is performed. In early life-cycle stages, a facility may be the company's central research laboratory, pilot plant, or the engineering offices of a technology vendor. In later stages, the facility may be a typical chemical plant, storage...

External Event

Event caused by (1) a natural hazard-earthquake, flood, tornado, extreme temperature, lighting, etc.; or (2) man-induced events-aircraft crash, missile, nearby industrial activity, sabotage, etc., or (3) an interruption of facilities such as electric power or process air.

Explosive

A chemical that causes a sudden, almost instantaneous release of pressure, gas, and heat when subjected to sudden shock, pressure, or high temperature. OSHA 1994

Explosions

A release of energy that causes a pressure discontinuity or blast wave.

Explosion Vent

An intentionally weakly supported panel in the wall of an enclosure designed to give way in the event of an explosion in order to reduce the explosion overpressures and thereby protect the rest of the structure.

Explosion Overpressure

Any pressure above atmospheric caused by a blast.

Explosion Efficiency, e

The ratio of the mechanical energy released in an explosion to the heat of combustion times the flammable mass in a vapor cloud (net efficiency). Alternately, the ratio of the mechanical energy released in an explosion to the heat of combustion times the total mass of fuel in a vapor cloud (gross...

Explosion (NFPA)

The bursting or rupture of an enclosure or container due to the development of internal pressure from a deflagration.

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