Regarding the choice between the practicality and safety of interlocks, process package patent holders, design institutes, owners, HAZOP analysis, SI...
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Regarding the choice between the practicality and safety of interlocks, as well as the relationships and trade-offs among the process package patent holders, design agencies, project owners, Hazop analyses, and SIL analyses: As the title suggests, there is always debate regarding interlocks in every project, between practicality and safety. The patent holders and design agencies believe that shutting down the facility – even on an emergency basis – is the only safe option; being shut down is considered a safe state； It’s best to be fully armed and wear bulletproof vests whenever going out. However, the owners place more emphasis on practicality; they believe that frequent shutdowns, especially those caused by faulty instruments, are already risks, and resuming operations also presents risks. Being fully armed makes it difficult to eat properly, and wearing bulletproof vests makes it hard to walk. Therefore, their perspectives are different. Question: 1. How can people find a balance and seek common ground while respecting differences? 2. During HAZOP analysis and SIL analysis, how do people resolve these differences? To prevent repetition during detailed design?
1. For the key sections, Party A organizes experts, the process package provider, the design institute, and the HAZOP lead* to discuss together and reach a consensus. 2. Following the HAZOP analysis comes the SIL classification. Generally, the HAZOP analysis is conducted after the preliminary design is completed, and the SIL classification is determined based on the results of that analysis. By referring to relevant standards and taking into account practical production experience, it is still necessary for all parties to reach an agreement, providing sufficient justification for their decisions.
As the last line of defense for a device, the interlock system is, in my opinion, extremely important as it helps to minimize potential safety hazards. Of course, this is under the condition that the interlocking system is well-developed.
Just a personal opinion: Interlocks are primarily used to ensure the safety of the equipment; for example, when the liquid level in a tank is high, the interlock reduces the opening degree of the feed valve, thereby avoiding the risk of overflow. When such problems occur, the device does not stop operating; instead, it **increases the safety of the device** and also **reduces the workload on the operators**. An emergency stop or SIS is a protection system that operates independently of interlocks; in other words, it is a system that enables the equipment to protect itself automatically when serious problems or emergencies occur, without the need for human intervention. This approach helps to minimize losses and prevents accidents such as equipment damage or fires and explosions. As for the malfunction of the instrument mentioned by the poster, this is a quality issue with the product. When it comes to home renovations, one knows that you get what you pay for; this is even more true when buying instruments from a factory