The Role of a Disturbance Analysis and Surveillance System for the Operation and Management of Complex Plants

The correctness of human action, especially in a complex situation, has very often proved to be a critical point, just like the correctness and unambiguousness of the information which is made available. This consideration led to the development of Disturbance Analysis and Surveillance Systems aimed at assisting the operator in decision-making, having regard to the operation or management of plants.Unfortunately, the D.A.S.S’ s developed so far are not capable of foreseeing the potential dynamic behaviour of transients or accidents under surveillance. The studies conducted by Snamprogetti have led to the conclusion that it may be possible to achieve D.A.S.S.’ s able to give at the same time: information tools based on ergonomic criteria making it possible to know in advance the probable development and outcome of transients and accidents, hence the potential impact on the site and the environment;tools for integrated Reliability, Availability and Safety analyses;tools for computer-based collection and management of the data coming from the plant, arranged in a Reliability, Availability, Mantainability Data Bank.