(97b) Safety Immersion Education Using Vanderbilt's Chemical Process Innovation Center

Process and product safety are of increasing importance in the design and operation of chemical engineering processes.  In general, a number of chemical process and product failures have been the result of design deficiencies such as the improper selection of materials of construction for the intended end use, the improper processing and/or fabrication of these materials into the end product and the improper maintenance of the chemical process and/or product, in addition to other factors.  Furthermore, failure analysis of several chemical plant accidents has also resulted in the identification of numerous process design deficiencies.  Scientific methodologies and tools used for identifying the potential mode of failures for polymer products and chemical processes including, but not limited to, what-if analysis, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and hazard and operability analysis (HAZOP).  Proper instruction and application of these methodologies, in addition to the use of case studies, are essential elements of the undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum.  Specifically, efforts have been underway over the past two years to incorporate safety methodologies and a safety culture into the chemical engineering undergraduate laboratory courses and senior design courses.  Using our newly renovated Chemical Process Innovation Center has further expanded safety education for chemical engineering students.  Experience and lessons learned in applying and reinforcing safety in these courses will be presented along with a description of the Chemical Process Innovation Center.