An international specialty chemical company and one of the world’s largest lithium producers had previously collaborated with ioMosaic to safeguard a styrene storage tank against a runaway reaction during an external fire event. The ioMosaic team had sized the pressure safety valve (PSV) and rupture disc (RD) and recommended initial set pressures. The client now requested a critical re-evaluation. The challenge lay in performing a comprehensive sensitivity analysis on the tank, specifically for an external fire scenario, to determine the feasibility and implications of lowering the set pressure for both the PSV and RD, including their outlet considerations.
This re-evaluation request required the ioMosaic team to assess how a reduced set pressure impacted the protective capabilities of these devices under an external fire emergency. ioMosaic addressed the client's challenge by using its proprietary software Process Safety Office® SuperChems®.
Advanced Dynamic Modeling ioMosaic utilized the Vessel Containing Two Phases Dynamic model within SuperChems® to accurately simulate the complex behavior of the styrene tank. This model specifically accounted for the kinetics of the runaway polymerization of styrene inside the vessel, as well as any relief events occurring during the reaction. This allowed for a highly realistic assessment of the system's response under external fire conditions. Sensitivity Analysis and Solution Testing Through extensive simulations, ioMosaic tested a variety of solutions. This systematic approach enabled us to determine the most effective strategies for slowing down the reaction and, crucially, allowing the client to safely lower the set pressure of the relief devices. By leveraging advanced dynamic modeling and comprehensive scenario testing, ioMosaic provided data-driven insights to optimize the styrene tank's relief system for a lower set pressure while maintaining safety.
The ioMosaic team delivered significant value by providing the client with a variety of solutions specifically designed to mitigate the risk of fire-induced runaway reactions in their styrene tank. This multi-option approach empowered the client to:
Ultimately, this collaborative process didn't just solve the immediate problem; it equipped the client with the knowledge and confidence to implement better safety practices moving forward, leading to a more secure future for their operations.