Activity

  • Reducing Emergency Response Times

    Jim Cahill
    This week at the EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety) Seminar in Galveston, Texas, Emerson’s Michael Machuca had two presentations to give. In today’s post, I’ll cover the first, Digital Solutions to Reduce Emergency Response Time. He opened by noting how response time is critical in an emergency. Injuries are reduced the quicker people are out of harm’s way. Location awareness mustering digital technology can help…

  • Guide for Interpreting Hazardous Area Electrical Requirements

    Jim Cahill
    For U.S. manufacturers and producers, the National Electric Code (NEC) governs how the installation of electrical components in hazardous areas needs to be performed. Here is the history of the NEC from the National Fire Protection Association. In 1897, NFPA 70 , National Electrical Code (NEC ) , set the foundation for—and remains the world’s leading authority on—electrical safety in residential, commercial, and industrial…

  • Managing and Protecting Storage Tanks

    Jim Cahill
    At the 4C Health, Safety & Environmental Conference , Emerson’s Dean Barnes and Mo Fazl presented How to Control and Reduce Tank Vent Fugitive Emissions and Maintenance Costs and Quantify Releases Through Proper Product Selection and Remote Monitoring. Here is his session abstract: Tank venting equipment such as blanketing regulators, thief hatches, pressure/vacuum relief valves and emergency vents are needed to safely…

  • Safety Shower and Location Awareness Wireless Monitoring

    Jim Cahill
    In an earlier post, How Digital Transformation Can Impact Compliance for Environmental and Safety Regulation , I shared some safety examples. Emerson’s Marcio Donnangelo explored specific examples more deeply in his 2023 4C HSE conference presentation, Safety Showers and Location Awareness – Improving Safety with Wireless Monitoring. Marcio opened describing three ways to help create a safe environment for all plant…

  • Reducing Personnel Emergency Response Times

    Jim Cahill
    In an earlier post, Connecting with Experts in the Spring Event Season , I highlighted one of Greg McMillan ’s presentations at the 2023 Spring AIChE & Congress on Process Safety meeting . Today I’ll recap a few things from Jacob Tardoni ’s presentation that he shared this week. Jacob’s presentation, Mapping an Evacuation in Real-Time—Digital Mustering with Wireless Personnel Location Technology, explored barriers to…

  • Two-Solenoid Safety Instrumented Functions

    Jim Cahill
    The practice of process safety has its own language, including concepts such as PFDavg, 1oo2 (one out of two), 2oo2, 2oo3, etc. A whitepaper, Doubling Up On Safety (signup required for download), explores a two-solenoid safety methodology that lets you exercise your solenoid valve online—protecting your plant, improving uptime, and enabling you to better adhere to functional safety requirements. The solenoid valves…

  • Simplifying Safety Valve Installation and Maintenance

    Jim Cahill
    Emerson Portfolio Manager Kurtis Jensen and Product Manager Lura Parrent recently published an article in the Jan 2023 issue of Hydrocarbon Processing . It is titled “ Simplifying Safety Valve Installation and Maintenance ” and it discusses new technologies on how to simplify safety valve installations while improving performance and reliability. The article is summarized below. Hazardous materials and dangerous reactions…

  • Expert Advice for Alarm Management

    Jim Cahill
    Many factors, both internal and external to a process, can contribute to alarms. Effective alarms are one of the most important elements of a safe plant. However, setting up an effective process alarm solution is a stumbling point for many teams. There are ways to create better alarm management, but they aren’t always intuitive. Fortunately, experts like Emerson’s Asad Malik and David Lee are ready to help, as they…

  • Expert Advice for Alarm Management

    Jim Cahill
    Many factors, both internal and external to a process, can contribute to alarms. Effective alarms are one of the most important elements of a safe plant. However, setting up an effective process alarm solution is a stumbling point for many teams. There are ways to create better alarm management, but they aren’t always intuitive. Fortunately, experts like Emerson’s Asad Malik and David Lee are ready to help, as they…

  • Actuation Solutions for Constrained Spaces

    Jim Cahill
    I recently had an article published in the August 2022 issue of Hydrocarbon Processing. It is titled “Why Compact Actuation Solutions are Ideal for Constrained Space Installations,” and it discusses how a vertical profile actuator is providing new opportunities for space-constrained applications. A summary of the article follows. Space constraints are common in the oil and gas industry. However floating production,…

  • Streamlining Proof Testing Procedures

    Jim Cahill
    Click to enlarge Safety instrumented systems (SISs) require periodic proof testing of all of their safety instrumented functions (safety loops) which include the sensor, logic solver, and final element. An out-of-the-box proof testing solution from Emerson, ProofCheck , is available to provide all the aspects of proper SIS testing in a single solution, including field devices, wiring, signal conditioners, safety logic…

  • Driving Safety Improvements Through Location Monitoring

    Jim Cahill
    Location monitoring technology is part of some manufacturers’ and producers’ safety programs. In the event of a safety incident, this technology enables the safety management team to know which people are in the affected area and which are not. The Location Awareness system provides you with relevant-time, safety-focused monitoring of your most valued resource – your people. Enabled by WirelessHART Anchors and battery…

  • Control Valves in Safety Instrumented Functions

    Jim Cahill
    A reader of this blog came upon the post, When is a SIL Suitability Rating Required for Final Control Elements? The reader sent an email to the blog post author, Emerson’s Riyaz Ali , asking (of which I’ll paraphrase): When is it possible to use control valves like final elements for SIS [safety instrumented system] application? I am looking for other useful documents and technical requirements when it is possible to…

  • Control Valves in Safety Instrumented Functions

    Jim Cahill
    A reader of this blog came upon the post, When is a SIL Suitability Rating Required for Final Control Elements? The reader sent an email to the blog post author, Emerson’s Riyaz Ali , asking (of which I’ll paraphrase): When is it possible to use control valves like final elements for SIS [safety instrumented system] application? I am looking for other useful documents and technical requirements when it is possible to…

  • The Benefits of Continuous Corrosion Monitoring Over Periodic Manual Inspection

    Jim Cahill
    Whilst manual inspection remains a valuable tool for measuring the plant health, this blog post explains the benefits of continuous monitoring over periodic inspection.  Turning corrosion and erosion data to into true process insights Uncontrolled corrosion and material degradation undeniably leads to hefty safety, environmental, reliability, and operational consequences. Standards, developed by the American Petroleum…

  • The Benefits of Continuous Corrosion Monitoring Over Periodic Manual Inspection

    Jim Cahill
    Whilst manual inspection remains a valuable tool for measuring the plant health, this blog post explains the benefits of continuous monitoring over periodic inspection.  Turning corrosion and erosion data to into true process insights Uncontrolled corrosion and material degradation undeniably leads to hefty safety, environmental, reliability, and operational consequences. Standards, developed by the American Petroleum…

  • Safety Loop Redundant Solenoids for Exercise and Testing

    Jim Cahill
    Solenoid valves are often found in safety instrumented functions (SIFs) to release pneumatic pressure holding safety valves open or open depending on the application. Redundancy of these valves enables greater reliability and online proof testing. In a Process Industry Informer article, Redundant Solenoid Valve Architecture Improves Safety and Reliability , Emerson’s Mike Howells describes the importance of these valves…

  • Safety Loop Redundant Solenoids for Exercise and Testing

    Jim Cahill
    Solenoid valves are often found in safety instrumented functions (SIFs) to release pneumatic pressure holding safety valves open or open depending on the application. Redundancy of these valves enables greater reliability and online proof testing. In a Process Industry Informer article, Redundant Solenoid Valve Architecture Improves Safety and Reliability , Emerson’s Mike Howells describes the importance of these valves…

  • Valve Reliability in Safety Instrumented Functions

    Jim Cahill
    The three key components in a safety instrumented function (SIF)—sensor, logic solver and final element—each have their own probabilities of how they will perform, or not perform, when called upon to bring the process to a safe state. Of these three components, the final element is more like to fail on demand due to its role in touching the process and mechanically operating. In a Hydrocarbon Engineering article, Improving…

  • Valve Reliability in Safety Instrumented Functions

    Jim Cahill
    The three key components in a safety instrumented function (SIF)—sensor, logic solver and final element—each have their own probabilities of how they will perform, or not perform, when called upon to bring the process to a safe state. Of these three components, the final element is more like to fail on demand due to its role in touching the process and mechanically operating. In a Hydrocarbon Engineering article, Improving…

  • How Industrial Facilities Are Prioritizing Safety with Advanced Location Technology

    Jim Cahill
    Safety has always been a top priority for industrial facilities, but varying safety regulations, personnel training obstacles, and high implementation costs have presented challenges in creating more encompassing safety programs. From housing complex process equipment to hazardous materials, industrial facilities present unique challenges and more barriers to implementation, preventing these facilities from advancing…

  • How Industrial Facilities Are Prioritizing Safety with Advanced Location Technology

    Jim Cahill
    Safety has always been a top priority for industrial facilities, but varying safety regulations, personnel training obstacles, and high implementation costs have presented challenges in creating more encompassing safety programs. From housing complex process equipment to hazardous materials, industrial facilities present unique challenges and more barriers to implementation, preventing these facilities from advancing…

  • Chemical Industry Solutions for Safety Performance Improvements

    Jim Cahill
    We often highlight how advancements in technology enable digital transformation initiatives to drive improvements in production, reliability and sustainability. But what about safety? In an AIChE recorded webinar, Digital Innovations for Improving Safety in Chemical Plants , Emerson’s Michael Machuca and Marty McDonough highlight was to drive safety improvements for this important industry. Michael and Marty discussed…

  • Understanding API 2350 for Storage Tank Overfill Prevention

    Jim Cahill
    Storage tanks are critical assets in the hydrocarbon supply chain and require great care in operating safely and reliably. In a Tank Storage article, Overfill Prevention , Emerson’s Richard Ireland shares updates about the API 2350 standard 5 th edition (published September 1, 2000) which addresses overfill prevention in these storage tanks. Rich opens describing the API 2350 standard . API 2350 is the standard (of…

  • Advanced Sensor Technology in Safety Instrumented Functions

    Jim Cahill
    The safety instrumented function, or safety loop, is comprised of a sensor, logic solver and final element. Sensing the shutdown condition requires highly reliable sensors. In a Process Engineering article, Improve the reliability of safety instrumented systems with advanced measurement technologies , Emerson’s Julie Valentine and Meha Jha share how technology advancements combined with best practices helps drive process…

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