Prevention of Brittle Fracture Scenarios in Olefins Plants

Brittle fracture due to auto-refrigeration or process upset is one of the main process hazards in olefin facilities. This is especially true for brittle fracture scenarios where “Operating Discipline” is the most important line of defense. Several significant incidents have occurred in the industry due to auto-refrigeration or process upset. This paper is intended to raise awareness about brittle fracture and ways to prevent these incidents from happening.