(67d) A Six Sigma Approach to Operational Safety Issues Related with Nitrogen Oxides in the Cold Separation Section of Ethylene Units
AIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process Safety
2006
2006 Spring Meeting & 2nd Global Congress on Process Safety
Ethylene Producers Conference
Plant Safety
Monday, April 24, 2006 - 4:20pm to 4:55pm
During the 2003 turnaround of a Dow naphtha cracker, ammonium nitrite (NH4NO2) was found in the cold separation section. Ammonium nitrite is a thermodynamically unstable component, both thermally and shock sensitive, and is a risk to the safe operation of ethylene plants. Although occurrence of NOx salts in olefin unit cold boxes is a known phenomenon since the early 1980's and several ethylene producing companies have reported finding deposits of these salts, none of Dow units had ever experienced presence of NOx components.
Dow initiated a project using Six Sigma methodology to merge both plant process knowledge and chemistry knowledge to generate hypotheses on the hazard qualification of ammonium nitrite and develop control measures.
This presentation reports the key details regarding the location and form of the deposit. It includes unique photographs of the deposition of the ammonium nitrite inside the equipment. The novel hypotheses will be discussed and participants challenged to test these against historical or company specific knowledge in order to come closer to a solution for this issue.
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Pricing
Individuals
2006 Spring Meeting & 2nd Global Congress on Process Safety
AIChE Pro Members | $150.00 |
AIChE Graduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Undergraduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Explorer Members | $225.00 |
Non-Members | $225.00 |
Ethylene Producers Conference only
AIChE Pro Members | $100.00 |
Fuels and Petrochemicals Division Members | Free |
AIChE Graduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Undergraduate Student Members | Free |
AIChE Explorer Members | $150.00 |
Non-Members | $150.00 |