Study On Rectisol Process Safety Assessment

Rectisol technology has many advantages, such as it’s high degree of gaspurification, absorption selectivity, low methanol price. Thus it has highlycompetitive in the domestic gas purification process. Methanol is toxic andflammable liquids. Besides, process gas contains flammable and explosive gas indevice such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide. Once these hazardouschemicals leak, it will possibly cause a fire and explosion accident, environmentpollution, and cause damage to property and staff, which has a huge impact on thesociety. Therefore, to carry out hazard analysis and study safety countermeasures onrectisol process has practical significance.Based on the introduction of the rectisol production process and the risk analysisof the gas purification technology, this paper further did HAZOP analysis on rectisolprocess device, and the analysis results show the main problems among the process,such as high moisture content of methanol, pipeline jam explosion, high systemtemperature and high alcohol consumption and fire and explosion accidents caused byleakage. Certain safety facilities should be adopted in the technology process: installsafety valves along the gas import and export pipeline of the washing tower; set up agas detector; install temperature, pressure and flow alarm facilities; install checkvalve along the methanol inlet pipeline; install emergency relief valve on tanks; set upfire dike and fixed water spray system around the tanks; set up fire alarm systemaround the factory. HAZOP analysis can both improve the process design andenhance the level of the safety technology. For enterprises, they can improvetechnology process and safety facilities and make appropriate safety operationprocedures based on the analysis.To calculate the harmful consequences during the production processtheoretically, the leakage model of the methanol tank was established using thePHAST software, through the calculation, the leak rate of the methanol and thehazard scope of the spraying fire formed due to the leakage after it was lit were got. From the methanol leaking to the pool fire accident occurred after the fire dike was lit,the accident influence scope was made directly on the factory floor plan. UsingPHAST software to simulate and calculate the spraying fire, flash fire and vaporcloud explosion accident may occurred after the purifying gas leakage, and then gotthe accident hazard scope. The calculation results can provide a reference basis forthe enterprise to do staff safety training and formulate emergency rescue plans.Through the safety research of production process of the purification process ofthe rectisol in this paper, it has a guiding significance for the enterprises which use ofrectisol purification process in domestic and abroad fertilizer production, methanolproduction, coal chemical industry, etc. To choose safety facilities, develop safetyoperation procedures, make accident emergency plan and improve the level of safetymanagement in the future. It also provide scientific basis for the safety managementdepartment in the project review.