The Possible vs. The Probable

Overhead view of the Arkema plant in Corsby, Texas.
Image from United States Chemcial Safety Board 

Process stakeholders have concerns and responsibilities regarding operational safety, environmental impact, profitability, and more. At almost every level, the risk of loss, damage, or disaster is scrutinized and evaluated. Steps may be taken to prevent or reduce the impact of some negative event. Other risk reduction methods might be put into play to provide relief from losses suffered. Whatever the case, it is safe to say that much industrial effort is invested in predicting a broad range of "what if" scenarios.

The recent events at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, Texas bring to light the limitations we, as process operators of any type, may put on our own thinking and actions. Though investment was made, and was ongoing, to improve aspects of the plant, the operation was still brought to a standstill and a fire ensued that brought the involvement of the US Chemical Safety Board. This resulted because natural events that were likely deemed impossible became reality, with insufficient contingency operations in place to handle the situation.

What is important about the event is what we can all learn from it, what we can use to modify and improve our own methods of evaluating risk and implementing protections to prevent loss and damage. Essentially, the plant was overwhelmed by storm induced flooding that was unprecedented. Grid and backup power sources were rendered inoperable and material that required refrigeration to maintain a safe condition no longer was provided with the needed cold storage environment.

Timeline of events related to a fire at the Arkema chemical plant in Crosby, TX
Image is from US Chemical Safety Board 

The relationships between an operation and its surrounding environment are not static. The probability of any event occurring is never zero. When probabilities are perceived as being very small, they might be ignored, but low probability events can and do eventually become part of the plant environment. Developing strong contingency plans and incorporating design elements into an operation that account for events that seem impossible, but are actually of very low probability, is a good industrial practice that hardens the process or facility against disaster.

Share and discuss your concerns and plans with process instrumentation and control specialists, leveraging your own knowledge and experience with their resources to develop a better solution.

Gas and Flame Detectors for Industrial Installations

Flame detector and fixed hazardous gas monitoring units
Image courtesy SMC (Sierra Monitor Corporation)

The demand for increased levels of safety in the workplace continues to expand, with calls for better protection for workers, the plant, the environment, and surrounding communities all weighing on operators to look for ways to reduce risk. Industrial plants, especially those employing hazardous or flammable materials, can have very high risk levels. Reducing the probability of accident or failure can bring a very substantial benefit for long term operation.

Sierra Monitor Corporation manufactures hazardous gas and flame detection equipment for application in commercial and industrial environments. Their sensors and stations enable continuous monitoring of plant conditions and early warning of potentially dangerous conditions. The application possibilities range through every industry.

The document included below provides an overview of the company's products and their potential application. Share your hazardous gas and flame detection monitoring challenges with process measurement specialists, leveraging your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop a safer solution for your facility.

Fire and Gas Detection for Industrial and Commercial Installations from MSJacobs-Cali

Differential Pressure Gauge for Level Indication on Liquefied Gas Tanks

A differential pressure gauge can be used to
indicate liquid level in tanks of liquefied gas
Image courtesy Wika

Wika, globally recognized leader and innovator in the design and manufacture of pressure and temperature gauges, provides an enormous number of variants and models of its basic pressure gauge. Many of the gauges are targeted at specific applications, and incorporate a range of design and operational features to accommodate the needs of those applications.

The Cryo Gauge is designed to provide indication of the level of liquid in liquefied gas tanks, but can also serve in some other related applications. For cryo tank applications, several available measuring cells provide operating ranges that cover the most commonly used tank sizes and gas types. An optional manifold with a separate pressure gauge provides connectivity and an indication of working pressure, all in one compact station. Options for analog output, level switches, and remote data transfer are part of the flexible configuration.

More detail on the Cryo Gauge is provided in the datasheet included below. Whatever the application, share your pressure measurement challenges with process measurement experts, leveraging your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

Process Differential Pressure Gauge from MSJacobs-Cali

Award Winning Flow Measurement Instrument

Flexim F704 Ultrasonic Flow Meter
Image Courtesy Flexim

Flow Control Magazine, which targets solutions for fluid movement, measurement and containment, handed out its annual Innovation Awards recently. Among those receiving honorable mention was Flexim Americas Corporation, for the Fluxus Cryo that provides noninvasive measurement of cryogenic fluids. Special design adaptations prevent ice build up on the measurement apparatus that that can plague other technologies.

Ultrasonic flow measurement offers some distinct advantages over other available methods, with high accuracy, no intrusion into the media, and no moving parts. While the award was specifically for a cryogenic application, Flexim ultrasonic flow measurement instruments are available for an extensive array of applications.

For more information, share your flow measurement requirements and challenges with process instrumentation experts, leveraging your own process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

Simple Tech Drives Reliable Remote Power Unit

The Qnergy remote power unit utilizes a simple
Stirling engine to generate electric power.
Image courtesy Qnergy

M.S. Jacobs and Associates handles the Qnergy line of remote power units, providing electric power to off-grid locations or standing as a backup power source for critical operations. Wherever backup or independent source electric power is needed, Qnergy remote power units can serve as a reliable and economical power source, requiring little to no maintenance.

The technology under the hood in the Qnergy power units is a Stirling engine, adapted and improved by decades of innovation. The engine derives energy input via external combustion, enabling the use of a variety of fuels.

• Natural gas
• Propane
• Ethane
• Biogas
• And others

The Stirling engine utilizes a floating piston with no contact points to wear. The system requires no lubrication or regular maintenance, very positive attributes for a remote power unit. Share your project requirements and challenges with application specialists, combining your own knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

Qnergy Remote Power Generators from MSJacobs-Cali

Bag Filter Housings For Liquid Filtration

Filtration is a common processing step in many liquid based industrial operations. Applying the right degree of filtration or particle capture helps assure a predictable level of output quality. Selecting a bag filtration unit should incorporate a number of factors to meet the goal of good performance with a minimized personnel commitment to maintenance.

• Materials of construction must be compatible with the process liquid, as well as providing resistance to the effects of their surrounding environment.
• Connection size and type should be adequate for anticipated flow rate and compatible with the connected piping system.
• Installation location should permit all around access for service, including clearance for opening the unit for filter bag changes.
• Pressure rating of the housing must meet any applicable requirements of the process, jurisdiction or industry standards.
• Provide an adequate arrangement to isolate the filtration unit from the fluid system, perhaps with a bypass loop, to allow for in-place access.

The short video illustrates some of the salient features of bag filtration housings that accommodate multiple filter bags. Share your filtration requirements and challenges with processing specialists, leveraging your own processing knowledge and experience with their product application expertise.

Pressure and Vacuum Sealed Feedthrough Fittings

Several versions of vacuum chamber feedthrough fittings.
Image courtesy of Spectite, Inc.

The passage of sensor tubes, electrical conductors, or similar items through the wall of a pressure vessel requires the use of a special fitting that accommodates the physical passage through the vessel wall without compromising the vessel performance. The provision of the right connectors, mounting fitting, and sealant assure simple and effective installation of the feedthrough fitting. Vacuum and pressure feedthroughs are an important part of the physical signal path and the vessel barrier wall, maintaining the integrity of the vessel or chamber containment while facilitating the passage or placement of power, sensors, or other items.

There are countless applications for feedthroughs, resulting in a broad offering of body styles, sealants, connections, and customized arrangements to meet any challenge. Spectite manufactures a broad range of vacuum and pressure feedthroughs, any of which can be customized to meet an application challenge. Share your project requirements with a product specialist, leveraging your own process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop an effective solution.

Sealed Vacuum and Pressure Feedthrough Fittings from MSJacobs-Cali