Traditional engineering fundamentals

Since many industrial accidents are plant and/or process related, this chapter is devoted to process fundamentals. The material is presented in the traditional engineering format, but without specific references to accidents and emergencies. The last tlu-ee chapters of Part II are primarily concerned with plant-related accidents. 

The next assumption, No. 11, may be considered as an extension of the previous one. However, it is much more general and represents a fundamental departure from traditional engineering philosophy. The core of this philosophy is the use of rational or deductive thinking, which usually results in feasible solutions that are everything but ridiculous or meaningless and are usually complete. 

Reflecting on the findings by Aven, it is found that the traditional engineering definitions (Cl and C6) and the definitions of decision analysts (Cl) are the predominant views on risk, (Aven 2012b). Aven in (2012b) claims that the risk definitions of category C8 (R = C U), where uncertainty rather than probability is seen as a fundamental component of risk, have recently replaced probability-based conceptualizations in the engineering fields. From our analysis, it is seen that this is not the case for the maritime transportation application area. In fact, such a view on risk is not found. 

Approaches to the fundamental need to shift from fossil to renewable feedstocks for chemicals production wiU range from modifications to, and developments of, traditional chemical, engineering and biotechnological methods (that maybe implemented on a relatively short timescale, say, 10-15 years) to much more radical processes (such as direct capture of solar energy, through artificial photosynthesis), requiring longer time to implement (say 15-30 years). 

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