Best Location for a Hazard Source Based On Risk of Financial Loss Inside An Industrial Site

In this paper, it is presented a study with the use of risk analysis tools and criteria to help in the decision to determine the best position of a large (3000 m3) storage sphere of ethylene in an industrial chemical plant. During the early phase of a project for a new unit, in an existing chemical plant, there were three alternative positions to locate the ethylene storage sphere. In case of accident, the possible damage to the existing plant equipment varies with the position of the sphere and the associated pipes between process and storage areas. Using the Software Phast Financial (DNV), a study was carried out to evaluate the expected financial losses associated to the three different positions, with the use of a set of representative accident scenarios, calculation of their expected frequencies and potential financial losses. From the curves Fx$ (cumulative frequency of financial loss above a given value versus loss value) it was possible to determine which position had the least largest expected accidental potential financial loss. Results for the values of expected maximum financial losses ranged from US$1.31E+09 to US$1.58E+09.