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Refinery Asphalt Pump Seal Failure and Fire

A small refinery that produced asphalt and ink oil experienced a serious fire under the atmospheric and vacuum bottoms tower. No injuries were suffered, but the fire caused extensive damage to the plant and resulted in one year of business interruption. An investigation by the refinery pointed toward the accidental ignition of light oil that was spraying out from a leaking pump shaft sealing device. A series of unexplained pump seizures was also included in the accident scenario. Working for the refinery, APTECH analyzed the design and materials of the pump shaft sealing system (metal bellows, dynamic type), and evaluated the fitness-for-purpose of the type of asphalt pump that was supplied by the manufacturer.

Satish Almaula		Plant failure and root cause analysis; process and design engineering analysis; process technology development and testing; plant engineering, operations, maintenance and safety management; plant and process control system management.

Richard Schreiber, P.E.		Failure analysis, heat transfer & thermodynamics, process plant equipment failures & explosions, fuel science, combustion, industrial fires and explosions.

Kimble Clark, Ph.D.		Thermal system engineering, failure analysis, fire and explosion origin/cause

Eric Sullivan, P.E.		Metallurgy, welding, failure analysis, fire and explosion investigations, equipment, piping.