Despite best efforts, every process within or outside the chemical engineering industry has inherent risks. The team independently executed an incident investigation for an over-pressurization that occurred in Goddard Laboratories on February 3rd of 2016. This investigation involved interviews, analysis of the evidence, and examination of possible causes to the over-pressurization. The team concluded that small fractures in the bottom of a 250 mL Pyrex® glass sampling vessel were most likely present at the time of operation, weakening the strength of the vessel, causing it to shatter upon the relatively minor pressures that would be experienced under normal operation. The team developed a list of implementable corrective actions that would minimize the possibility of recurrence.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Healey, Shannon Cait
• Jackson, Luke A

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-030217-170742

Advisor

• Timko, Michael T.
• Kmiotek, Stephen J.

Year

• 2017

Center

• Shanghai, China Project Center - MQP

Date created

• 2017-03-02

Location

• Shanghai

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright