Remembering Flixboro: part 2

摘要

Last month's column attempted to make the point that reliability professionals must search for answers to questions as to why equipment failed.It related when one of six cyclohexane oxidation reactors at the infamous Flixboro(UK)plant had developed a crack,it was bypassed by constructing a 20-in.bellows line.The bypass failed immediately after being put into operation in 1974.Tons of inventory were released and a vapor cloud formed.The ensuing explosion was equivalent to an estimated 15 tons of TNT.It totally destroyed the plant and many nearby houses.The control room collapsed and 28 operators were killed and 89 operators and neighbors were injured.