Electrical and Instrumentation Safety for Chemical Processes

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Richard J. Buschart

   Pages 1-8

3. Characterization of Process Units for Electrical and Process Control Safety

   • Richard J. Buschart

   Pages 9-13

4. Hazardous (Classified) Locations: Area Classification

   • Richard J. Buschart

   Pages 14-34

5. Electrical Equipment in Class I Locations

   • Richard J. Buschart

   Pages 35-60

6. Dust Electrical Safety in Chemical-Processing Facilities

   • Richard J. Buschart

   Pages 61-70

7. Electrical Safety in Chemical Processes

   • Richard J. Buschart

   Pages 71-147

8. Measurement and Final Control Elements

   • Richard J. Buschart

   Pages 148-158

9. Process Control Safety

   • Richard J. Buschart

   Pages 159-179

10. Electrical and Process Control Safety Standards for Chemical Processes

    • Richard J. Buschart

    Pages 180-193

11. Safety in Maintenance

    • Richard J. Buschart

    Pages 194-200

12. Safety in Work Practices

    • Richard J. Buschart

    Pages 201-206

13. Back Matter

    Pages 207-241

    PDF

This text is about electrical and instrumentation safety for chemical proc­ esses. It covers a wide area of electrical and electronic phenomena and how they have and can significantly affect the safety of chemical processes. The importance of the subject is well known to anyone involved in the operation of chemical processes. Lightning strikes can explode storage tanks, shut down electrical power systems, and shut down or damage computer and instrument systems. Static electricity can ignite flammable materials and damage sensitive elec­ tronic process control equipment. Electrical power system failures or inter­ ruptions can produce unsafe process conditions. Chemical processes use flammable and combustible vapors, gases, or dusts that can be exploded by electrical equipment and wiring. Even low-energy equipment like flashlights can ignite a flammable vapor. Interlock and equipment protection systems can cause safety problems. How important is electrical and process control safety? A survey on "How Safe is Your Plant?", in the April 1988 issue of Chemical Engineer­ ing magazine, provided some answers. Among the results of this survey of chemical processes, it was found that over 800 respondents believed instru­ mentation and controls, shutdown systems, equipment interlocks, and other protection systems to be the least safe aspect of chemical industries. The survey also indicated that complying with OSHA and other regula­ tions, process control software security, inspections, audits, and safety training are important safety issues.

• computer
• electricity
• energy
• power systems
• software

[the book] gives an overview of the current state of the art of electrical engineering in this subject area... [it] makes good reading for the uninformed, and there is a lot of general knowledge that will lift the lay person's awareness of what is... a very difficult subject... - The CHemical Engineer; [the book] gives an overview of the current state of the art of electrical engineering in this subject area... [it] makes good reading for the uninformed, and there is a lot of general knowledge that will lift the lay person's awareness of what is... a very difficult subject... - The CHemical Engineer; [the book] gives an overview of the current state of the art of electrical engineering in this subject area... [it] makes good reading for the uninformed, and there is a lot of general knowledge that will lift the lay person's awareness of what is... a very difficult subject... - The CHemical Engineer

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