Smart approach to integrated seismic risk management in major hazard industrial plants

Abstract

Past and recent events outlined the relevance of the interactions between industrial and natural hazards (NaTech) particularly for what concerns seismic risk. EU regulation, namely Directive 2012/18/EU, explicitly requires risk analysis for NaTech events. The implementation of smart technologies (sensors, actuators, innovative systems for seismic protection) to the critical elements allows for a relevant reduction of major hazards and related consequences. The “smart” application of NaTech management technologies, from early warning to active protection, allows to upgrade the safety conditions of existing industrial plants implemented as a retrofit solution, avoiding heavy and expensive structural actions During an earthquake, damages to structural and non-structural elements can occur, and the non-structural elements are often the most involved in major accidents. In order to mitigate the consequences of a major accident, a monitoring system for management of the seismic risk can be installed, integrating new dedicated sensors into the existing monitoring network. The fiber optic sensors FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) and FSI (Fiber Segment Interferometry) are a robust, multifunctional and removable alternative to the sensors already in use in the industrial field. Furthermore, taking into account that the earthquake affects the entire plant and the safety systems (as extinguishing water supply and power lines) at the same time, smart technologies allow the simultaneous monitoring and control toward seismic events. Hence, it is evident that smart technologies can play a relevant role in NaTech management. Systems like EW and Active protection systems can be effectively used to reduce the NaTech risk and therefore to improve the resilience of a major hazard industrial plant. The object of this paper is to provide a clear descriptive overview of the implementation of smart technologies (sensors, actuators, innovative systems for seismic protection) for a relevant reduction of major hazards and related consequences.