Safety Analysis and Review System for Coal Utilization Technology Development

摘要

Among the alternative sources and technologies are those being developed by the US Department of Energy's Fossil Energy Program. They include coal liquefaction, coal gasification, fluidized-bed combustion, enhanced oil and gas recovery, underground coal gasification, coalbed methane drainage, oil shale extraction, and others. Developing these technologies requires comprehensive, advanced planning to control safety and health hazards, environmental impacts, and property damage incidents. To control them, the Department of Energy has developed a Safety Analysis and Review System which has been augmented by the DOE Office of Fossil Energy Occupational Safety and Health Manual. These require that, for each technology development project, the associated hazards and their controls be determined and the resultant risks to employees, the public, the environment and property be acceptable before the project is given authorization to proceed. This article describes both the safety analysis techniques being developed to determine the risks, and the report on and independent review of the analysis required before authorization to proceed is given at the Morgantown Energy Technology Center. This center, one of five technology development centers operated by the Office of Fossil Energy of DOE, has responsibilities focusing on coal utilization technology development. (ERA citation 05:025283)