PROCESS ENGINEERING AND SAFETY

INTRODUCTION

Carbon conversion technologies need to be scaled up via a testbedding facility to evaluate the technology in real world conditions in order to attract investments and scale up. These industrial-scale tests typically involve substantial infrastructure, specialised equipment and dedicated facilities to generate data over a 12-to-18-month period. The PES division helps industries and agencies derisk scale-up, demonstration, piloting of innovative technologies for deployment, and understand the safety considerations of carbon conversion technologies.  

RESEARCH FOCUS

PROCESS SAFETY

In the area of process safety, the division is working on developing the hardware to collect data for safety evaluation, especially with the growing importance of hydrogen and ammonia in the transition to use clean fuel.

ISCE2 is building a dispersion flow chamber and a shock tube facility that could simulate an accidental H2 and NH3 leakage/ deflagration and the effectiveness of the various mitigation measures such as gas detectors, water spray curtains, etc.

The results, coupled with a digital twin approach via Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling would assist the different government agencies in evaluating the risk of construction and operation of these installations with large inventories in Singapore where land is limited and support in evidence-based decision / policy making. 

LOW-CARBON TECHNOLOGY TRANSLATIONAL TESTBED (LCT3)

The Low-Carbon Technology Translational Testbed (LCT3) is a national test bedding platform for the translation of Carbon Capture and, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) and hydrogen technologies. For the first phase, Carbon Utilisation processes (e.g. thermos-catalytic processes for CO2 conversion to methanol/higher alcohol/olefin) and H2 (e.g. ammonia cracking) are prioritised in response to the demand of the ecosystem. The LCT3 facility can be expanded readily in subsequent phases to include Carbon Capture operations via a container park when the need arises. 

The facility would also be the world’s first modularised R&D pilot-scale testing setup that is designed based on the concept of “Plug-and-Play” assembly of assets. This concept also allows physical flexibility of the assets to be readily re-used and adapted for future test bedding campaigns. 

When completed in end 2026, the facility can conduct piloting under industry relevant conditions for process data collection. Combining the infrastructure capabilities with the approach to develop a digital twin model of the processes, we would be able to  

Accelerate the development of emerging low-carbon technology pathways that could be commercially deployed locally or internationally by Singapore companies in support of the net-zero target.

Capture economic value from either commercialising and/or production of low-carbon or sustainable products in Singapore.

HIGHLIGHTS

A/Prof. Shaik Salim conducted a technical investigation into the incident at Stars Engineering Pte Ltd to determine the cause of the fires and explosion that resulted in 3 fatalities and 7 injuries. The root cause of the accident was determined and experimental as well as modelling results were provided as supporting evidence of a primary deflagration with overpressures that was followed by up to three secondary flash fires occurring over an approximately 3-minute period. A report to recommend measures to prevent future accidents of this type was provided.  

Outcome: The recommended measures were accepted and implemented through the gazetting of a new Singapore Standard (SS667 – combustible dust), amended current standard (SS537 – machine safety) and amended WSH regulations.