TORAP--a new tool for conducting rapid risk assessment in petroleum refineries and petrochemical industries

摘要

The use of a new computer-automated tool TORAP (TOol for Rapid risk Assessment in Petroleum refinery and petrochemical industries) is demonstrated through a rapid and quantitative risk assessment of a typical petroleum refinery. The package hasbeen applied for an appraisal of the risks of accidents (fires, explosions, toxic release) posed by different units of the refinery, and to identify steps to prevent/manage accidents. The studies reveal that TORAP enables a user to quickly focus on theaccidents likely to occur, and enables forecasting the nature and impacts of such accidents. This information is directly utilisable in identifying "soft" spots and in taking appropriate remedial measures to prevent or control accidents. The specialattributes of TORAP are: (a) a wide range of applications -- achieved by incorporating models capable of handling all types of industrial fires and explosions, (b) sophistication -- brought about by including state-of-the-art models developed by theseauthors and others, (c) user-friendliness -- achieved by incorporating on-line help, graphics, carefully formatted output, and, above all, an automatic module with which even a lay user can conduct risk assessment. The entire package, especially itsautomatic module, is supported by an extensive knowledge-base built into the software.