Process Equipment Failure Mode Analysis in a Chemical Industry

Prevention of potential accidents and safety promotion in chemical processes requires systematic safety management in them. The main objective of this study was analysis of important process equipment components failure modes and effects in H2S and CO2 isolation from extracted natural gas process. This study was done in sweetening unit of an Iranian gas refinery. Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) used for identification of process equipments failures. Totally 30 failures identified and evaluated using FMEA. P-1 blower's blade breaking and sour gas pressure control valve bearing tight moving had maximum risk Priority number (RPN), P-1 body corrosion and increasing plug lower side angle of reach DEAlevel control valve in tower - 1 were minimum calculated RPN. By providing a reliable documentation system for equipment failures and incidents recording, maintaining of basic information for later safety assessments would be possible. Also, the probability of failures and effects could be minimized by conducting preventive maintenance.