Practices Play An Important Role in US-OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard
Practices Play An Important Role in US-OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard
ESD is used for safety applications, it's all based on manufacturing techniques
and specifications that will affect finally the MTF (mean time of failures) and
the PFD (Probabilty of Failure on demands).Higher SIL rating loops (3 and up)
will most likely require an ESD system to perform it, while normal controlling
loops (SIL1 &2) can be achieved easily by a normal process controllers.
Although the MTF and the PFD of a DCS has been decreased, and safety loops
can be achieved on some DCS systems, designers still prefer to use special
ESD systems.
In the process plan protection layer, the basic process control system (BPCS) is
part of second protection layer while ESD is the fourth layer of protection layer.
Any upset condition of the process will be re-conditioned by BPCS. The BPCS
includes operator, HMI alarms, monitoring system, etc within operator
supervision. If the upset is escalated then safety instrumented system will take
action to prevent the plant, man, machine and process from damage.. in case
(which we dont want to) the upset is continued.. then mitigation steps shall be
in-place... this is the fourth layer and ESD is part of it.
An Example... tank pressure is slightly above the set point.. then HMI alarm
will be activated allows operator to take action.. however the operator is
sleeping and the automatic function is also not functionin... then the pressure is
tend to increase more and more then already out-of-control.. it means the BPCS
have failed to protect. Next, there is pressure relief valve shall open in such
circumstance... but.. somehow it is not open... then the process shall be turned
down by ESD to prevent damage.