Review article
ANALYSIS OF TECHNOLOGICAL RISKS IN AREAS ENDANGERED BY EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERES
Ivica Gavranić
orcid.org/0000-0003-1859-5447
; Agencija za prostore ugrožene eksplozivnom atmosferom (Ex-Agencija), Baštijanova bb, 10000 Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Risks caused by explosive atmospheres are unavoidable in many modern-day technologies and technological plants (such as oil and gas rigs, oil and gas refineries, chemical and food industries, etc.). Such plants are constantly being upgraded by new, up-to-date developments, but they are also becoming more and more endangered by possible nocuous and dangerous incidents (events) which can take place during the application of these technologies. Dangers and risks related to possible injuries and negative health and environmental effects are often found in such plants. The complexity of new plants on the one hand and the lack of maintenance (or poor maintenance) of old ones on the other can become serious sources of hazard and technological risk when these plants are operating in conditions of explosive atmosphere. Plants endangered by explosive atmospheres must meet high safety requirements, which often leads to limited implementation of up-to-date technologies and dramatically increases their running costs. The divergence between safety demands and technological demands can be more or less neutralized by conducting analyses of technological risks. Risk analyses and estimates must identify and analyze all hazardous events taking place in areas endangered by explosive atmospheres in order to prevent potential formation of ignition agents and/or explosive atmospheres which can eventually lead to an explosion. Analyses and risk estimates for areas endangered by explosive atmospheres must be studied together with the demands of the ATEX directives, which legally and technically regulate explosion protection in Europe.
Keywords
explosive atmosphere; explosion protection; safety level; risk analysis; ATEX directives
Hrčak ID:
50305
URI
Publication date:
6.4.2010.
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