Could an expert please explain why a shutdown of the chlorine compressor leads to a cascade shutdown of the entire plant?
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Why does a shutdown of the chlorine compressor cause a cascade shutdown of the entire plant?
What industry? The chlor-alkali industry? So, after the chlorine compressor stops operating, the chlorine gas produced by the electrolyzer cannot be pressurized and condensed; therefore, it’s necessary to shut down the entire plant
The chlorine compressor cell did not stop, resulting in a large amount of chlorine leaking into the atmosphere and causing environmental pollution
The chlorine compressor is the key component of a chlor-alkali plant. The chlorine system is generally under negative pressure; after a tripping occurs, if the electrolyzer continues to produce large amounts of chlorine, leaks can occur easily due to the high load. Even if it is not triggered by the chlorine compressor interlock, the pressure difference across the membrane will also trigger an automatic shutdown to protect the membrane. :)
This post was last edited by pzhhuagong on 2019-10-24 at 15:48. The chlorine compressor plays a pivotal role in the process; if it fails, the chlorine gas produced by the electrolyzers has no place to go, and the pressure difference in the electrolyzers cannot be maintained； Exhaust gases should be removed promptly; high volumes can lead to saturation, resulting in serious equipment failures and safety accidents. This is also a requirement mandated by regulations on key hazardous chemical processes.
After the chlorine compressor tripped, the pressure difference between chlorine and hydrogen in the electrolyzer exceeded the allowable limit instantly, which triggered the protection mechanism of the electrolyzer; as a result, the core equipment related to the electrolyzer stopped operating, and consequently the entire plant shut down in a cascade