Include HAZOP analysis in process development

Chemical engineers typically participate in hazard and operability (Hazop) studies as a means to help ensure safety in a plant. HAZOP analysis not only plays an important role in helping to ensure safety during process development, but opens up the process to new ideas. In its simplest form, HAZOP analysis investigates all possible deviations from the way a design is expected to work, and the hazards associated with these deviations. This method uses guidewords to point the way toward the deviations. By using guidewords, each step of the design can be scrutinized for potential problems. The guidewords help to ensure that the questions explore every possible deviation from the designer's intentions. The guidewords used in process development (PD) appear in a table. While PD steps span a range of activities, applying a HAZOP analysis is the same no matter what activity is being worked on. Here, the authors show how the guidewords used for HAZOP studies in commercial plants can be adapted for process development. The sidebar shows how using guidewords helps to improve a catalytic reaction.