Risk analysis of furnace operation in distillation column using Hazop procedures

Increasing technological complexity with social and legal pressures has made it necessary to improve safety systems. This need is particularly strong in the design and operation of chemical plants. Hazard and Operability study (Hazop) is a method of systematically identifying every conceivable process deviation, its abnormal causes and adverse hazardous consequences in a chemical plant. Distillation unit, one of the important parts of the studied petroleum refinery, was built in 1992. Although a need for improving distillation unit’s safety system has been recognized, there were less systematical attempts for preventing dangerous accidents. The furnace that is a reboiler of distillation column and heater for the produced diesel is the most important and dangerous part of the unit. This paper presents a safety analysis for furnace using Hazop procedure. Useful recommendation is presented to reduce ecological, personnel and asset risk ranking.