Data collection chemical processing industry

Data Collection Practices in the Chemical Processing Industry... 

Process Scale and Scope. Within the chemical process industry, a typical operator console will collect 2000 to 5000 measurements every time increment, typically 1 minute or less. Despite this large amount of process data being generated, relatively few events occur at any single time. The data must be used to determine which, out of a typical range of 300 to 600 possible descriptions (process labels), reflect current conditions. In addition to these final process labels, many useful, intermediate labels may also... 

QRA practitioners can use to satisfy some QRA objectives. Also, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) has sponsored a project to expand and improve the quality of component failure data for chemical industry use. And many process facilities have considerable equipment operating experience in maintenance files, operating logs, and the minds of operators and maintenance personnel. These data can be collected and combined with industrywide data to help achieve reasonable QRA objectives. However, care must be exercised to select data most representative of your specific system from the wide range available from various sources. Even data from your own plant may have to be modified (sometimes by a factor of 10 or more) to reflect your plant s current operating environment and maintenance practices. 

As to existing chemicals, while much information has been collected, what is most important is realizing the need to be more selective and skillful in collecting and processing data. Section 8(e) has been a fertile source of information on substantial risks, but only recently has EPA recognized the need to respond to these risks. EPA s failure to use its authority to require industry to test selected chemicals is similarly... 

In chemistry, masses of data are obtained by measuring many variables on an ensemble of chemical samples or by recording many signals from an industrial process in order to track its behavior. A data collection task,... 

Most work discussed here regarding standard Antek on-line/at process analyzers, laboratory based equipment, and the High Speed Sulfur (HSS) on-line analyzer was carried out in the PAC Houston R D Laboratory and Production facility. Other data were collected from various industry and public sources and are so identified in the associated text and graphics. Various solvents, sulfur sources, and standard reference materials were used in association with both historical and new data. Solvents and chemicals, such as iso-octane, toluene, and dibutyl sulfide, were of typically reagent grade purity and were obtained from readily available commercial sources, such as Aldrich chemicals. When appropriate, these materials were analyzed before use. 

OSHA collects data on injuries and fatalities and does some inspections, but generally undertakes no analysis of the causes of fires and explosions in the process industries. It rather determines if federal laws were violated and issues a fine. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) undertakes similar functions for US OCS petroleum operations. In fact, there is no national or international governmental data bank available where fire and explosion incidents from the entire petroleum, chemical, or related industries are logged and analyzed. 

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