%K Distillation process; Drainage systems; Fire accident; Fire and explosion accidents; Flammability diagrams; Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; Gasphase; Hydrocarbon components; In-process; Initial stages; LFL; Liquid Phase; Liquid sample; Lower flammability limits; Mixture components; Mixture of hydrocarbons; Mole fraction; Oil and gas; Process industries; Raoult's law; Stoichiometric concentration; Theoretical aspects; UFL; Upper flammability limits, Chemical analysis; Distillation; Drainage; Fires; Flammability; Gas chromatography; Hydrocarbons; Mixtures; Refining, Liquids
%X The study of fire in process industries has displayed significant potential for further research in the oil and gas business. The aim of the study is to investigate the possibility for the occurrence of fire incidents due to the vaporization of hydrocarbon components above the wastewater flowing through a refinery's drain. The study covers both experimental and theoretical aspects. The experimental part is initiated by collecting the liquid sample from one of the refinery's drainage systems. The liquid sample contains mixture of hydrocarbon products and water. The liquid sample in the initial stage was subjected to undergo the distillation process to extract oil and remove water contents. Then, the oily liquid is analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to examine the compositions of the sample. The results obtained indicated that there are 77 hydrocarbon components ranging from C 9 to C 22. The mole fractions of the components in the liquid phase were obtained from the GC results. Whereas, the mole fractions of the components in the gas phase were calculated according to Raoult's law. The Lower Flammability Limits (LFLs) and Upper Flammability Limits (UFLs) for each mixture component were calculated using stoichiometric concentration method. The values were compared with others obtained from different literatures and database. The LFL and UFL for the mixture were calculated with accordance to Le Chatelier equations. LFL mix and UFL mix values were used to draw the flammability diagram and to examine if the mixture is flammable or not. The results of this study may contribute to minimizing the loss of properties, business and life due to fire accidents.
%D 2011
%L scholars1512
%J AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings
%O cited By 0; Conference of 2011 AIChE Spring Meeting and 7th Global Congress on Process Safety, 11AIChE ; Conference Date: 13 March 2011 Through 17 March 2011; Conference Code:89447
%C Chicago, IL
%A M. El-Harbawi
%A S.N.A.Bt. Shaaran
%A F. Ahmad
%A M.A.A. Wahi
%T An investigation of fire and explosion accident in the drainage system related to process industries