11 - Emergency Shutdown

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview on emergency shutdown. An emergency shutdown (ESD) system is a method to rapidly cease the operation of a process and isolate it from incoming and outgoing connections or flows to reduce the likelihood of an unwanted event from occurring, continuing, or escalating. The aim of the ESD system is to protect personnel, afford protection to the facility, and prevent the occurrence of an environmental impact from a process event. Emergency shutdown capability is provided at all process facilities, be it a manual process, remotely operated, or automatic. Inherent safety practices rely on ESD capability as a prime facet in achieving a low-risk facility. Without adequate shutdown capabilities, a facility cannot be controlled during a major incident. The ESD system is distinguished from other facility safety systems that it responds to a hazard situation, which affects the overall safety of the entire facility. It is, therefore, considered one of the prime safety systems that can be provided for any facility. Without an ESD system, an incident at a process facility is provided with “unlimited” fuel supplies that can destroy an entire facility.