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- Title
Can process intensification improve process safety?
- Authors
Kavanagh, Thomas; Sparks, Bradley; Patel, Manthan; Khunda, Deema; Flores, Elosie
- Abstract
In 2007 T2 Laboratories Inc. suffered a temperature excursion during the batch manufacture of the fuel additive MCMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl). The relief valve operated but proved to be inadequate. Subsequently, the 3000-gallon (11 m³) reactor burst and the highly flammable contents exploded. Four people died and 32 were injured, including 28 members of the public. The plant was destroyed with damage to neighboring property within 400m. Causes of the accident included: * a lack of understanding of the thermochemistry and hazards associated with the runaway reaction * absence of 'Management of Change' procedures * design deficiencies within cooling, venting systems etc. A more detailed discussion of T2 Laboratories Inc., its process development, the manufacturing process, the accident, and its causes with some lessons learned are given elsewhere1. Herein, the safety-related advantages of innovative process engineering technologies developed under the title of process intensification are described and a potential alternative reactor called the spinning disc reactor is discussed.
- Subjects
RELIEF valves; FUEL additives; PRODUCTION engineering; MANUFACTURING processes; THERMOCHEMISTRY
- Publication
Loss Prevention Bulletin, 2019, Issue 269, p7
- ISSN
0260-9576
- Publication type
Article