Petrochemical industry, computer tools

Other computer models and analytical tools are used to predict how materials, systems, or personnel respond when exposed to fire conditions. Hazard-specific calculations are more widely used in the petrochemical industry, particularly as they apply to structural analysis and exposures to personnel. Explosion and vapor cloud hazard modeling has been addressed in other CCPS Guidelines (CCPS, 1994). Again, levels of sophistication range from hand calculations using closed-form equations to numerical techniques. 

The petrochemical industry is a fairly mature industry. Oils, kerosene, and gasoline have been processed since the 1800s. Many process improvements and much process knowledge have been accrued from the start of the industry. Even so, process improvements and safety enhancements are still possible and NIR spectroscopy is one tool that can be an aid. With the improvements in the instrumentation and computers, the ability to use NIR spectroscopy increases even more. Several papers, although by no means all inclusive, have been presented to demonstrate the wide range of applications in the petrochemical industry for which NIR spectroscopy is a useful tool. 

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