Aprioristic Integration of Process Operations and Risk Analysis: Definition of the Weighted F&EI-Based Concept and Application to AG2S Technology

The definition of process operations and risk analysis is two mandatory steps in the basic/detailed engineering phases of chemical plants. Both steps are usually performed with interdisciplinary tasks but in segregated ways and within converging iterative procedures where the output of the one is feeding the other step and vice versa. This work aims to propose a different, integrated approach to implement process and risk analysis aprioristically at the conceptualization stage of a process and to compare quantitatively emerging technologies in terms of intrinsic safety. In doing so, an extension of the Fire Explosion Index (FEI) is formulated in order to link it to the operational conditions of the plant directly. It is implemented for the first time in AspenHysys to dynamically assess the impact of optimal operating process conditions on the FEI. Acid Gas dynamically to Syngas (AG2S) technology for converting H2S and CO2 into syngas is selected as a case study.