(51b) The Role Of Sequential Automation In Improving Process Safety

Abstract for AIChE Process Safety Symposium 2014        

The Role of Sequential Automation in Process Safety     

The ISA106 Committee has released the first technical report
for this standard dealing with Sequential Automation for Continuous Process
Operations (TR106.00.01). The application of sequential control to continuous
processes can have many benefits because it eliminates variability in operator
responses to changing plant conditions and improves the operator's
effectiveness in dealing with abnormal situations leading to improvements in
overall process safety. Procedural control can be used to automatically manage
alarm setpoints, alarm suppression or availability to prevent overloading
operators with inappropriate alarm information. Responses to abnormal
conditions can be codified to ensure proper responses and eliminate operator
response errors due to inexperience or other factors that may lead to
inappropriate decisions in critical situations. Response time to process
conditions can be orders of magnitudes faster by automation than by humans and
can be used to safely and quickly move processes between valid operating states.
Sequential control can be applied across the entire operating range of
continuous process from startup, throughout normal operation, and for
controlled shutdowns to improve process safety.