(74c) Using Process FLOW Diagrams and Material & Energy Balance Sheets to Identify Potential Loss of Containment Events by Classification of GAS, Liquid and Two-PHASE Discharges

A basic document describing the roadmap of any Chemical Process is the Process Flow Diagram (PFD´s) and the distribution of material and energy in the process is defined by the Material & Energy Balance. Important information about unit operations involved in the process, flow paths, inventories handled and distributed in the process equipment, as well as the compositions, the phase and the energy contained by the streams of the process can be obtained from these documents.

Information from the Process Flow Diagrams and the Material & Energy Balance sheets is normally used to develop the consequences analysis of any loss of containment event - leak or rupture, previously identified by a hazard analysis technique such as HAZOP or What-if? Analysis.

Using Process Flow Diagram (PFD´s) and the Material & Energy Balance under a new approach of managing the consequence scenarios, is proposed. First, a general classification of gas, liquid or two-phase discharges is obtained by the process equipment and / or the process streams. With this classification, a list of several potential scenarios of release or accidental discharges to the environment can be defined, showing other potential loss of containment events that the traditional approach of HAZOP or What-if? Analysis could not identify directly. This approach can be used to complete a hazard review and establish more practical strategies of analysis about the potential points of release that can be presented in the Lay Out of the Plant, defining the potential damaged areas from fire or explosions and establishing guidelines to prevent or to mitigate the effects from these consequences.