Optimal layout of process equipment for enhanced inherent safety

V diplomskem delu smo proučevali najbolj ugodno postavitev procesnih enot, za zagotovitev čim višje stopnje inherentne varnosti in hkrati nizke stroške postavitve ocevja v prostorski shemi procesa. Prikazana je simulacija različnih odklonskih dogodkov oziroma poškodb procesnih naprav v postopku pridobivanja metanola. Pri tem smo obravnavali dve procesni enoti v kontinuirnem procesu, in sicer reaktor ter separator. Namen naloge je izboljšanje inherentne varnost s optimalno prostorsko razporeditvijo naprav, pri čemer upoštevamo stroške ocevja. Na podlagi distribucijskega modela smo določili obsega eksplozije posamezne komponente prisotne v reakciji (vodik, ogljikov monoksid, metanol in metan). Pridobljene podatke smo uporabili pri optimiranju postavitve naprav v prostorsko mrežo tako, da je minimiral stroške ocevja, pri čemer smo omejili dovoljeno toleranco za inherentno varnost. Tako smo dobili pareto krivuljo rešitev. Pri izračunu tveganja smo upoštevali tudi nevarnost vzajemne eksplozije obeh procesnih naprav. Kot se je izkazalo ima model superstrukture, kjer predstavljamo lokacije s prostorsko mrežo tudi nekaj slabosti, kot je zanemarjanje vpliva naprave izven prostorske mreže, vendar kljub temu nazorno prikaže povezavo med razdaljo tj. stroški ocevja ter inherentnim tveganjem. Zaključimo lahko, da s pravilno postavitvijo naprav lahko znatno izboljšamo inherentno varnost procesov ob nekoliko višjih stroških ocevja.In the thesis we examined the most optimal distribution of process equipement in hope of achieving highest possible inherent safety while keeping the cost at its lowest. We simulated various defects of selected process units in the process of methanol synthesis. The two examined units in a continuous process were reactor and flash separator. The purpose of our work was enhancing inherent safety by positioning the two process units with respect to the costs of piping installation. By gathering information from simulated scenarios we created a distribution model of explosion radius for every component present in the process (hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methanol and methane). Using this model, we minimized the costs by setting the margins of inherent safety index. Hence we got the first solution, which is drawn in a graph. When calculating the risk in the process, we also included the danger of mutual explosion of both process units. The superstructured model, which presents process equipement\u27s location in space matrix, has its weaknesses, for instance neglecting the influence of process unit outside of the selected area. Nevertheless, it clearly enough presents us with the correlation data between inherent safety and the distance. In conclusion, the right placement of the process units can greatly improve process safety, for a price of somewhat higher expenses in the instalation of piping