<scp>ISD</scp> (inherently safer design) considerations for blue ammonia projects

Abstract As the energy industry is exploring new opportunities in the blue ammonia productions, there is the need to increase awareness of the opportunity to incorporate inherently safer design (ISD) considerations particularly in the front end of the project development where there is the greatest opportunity to implement ISD measures. The hazards associated with each of these process modules may not always be well recognized. As a result, the pre‐FEED (front‐end engineering design) phase may miss the greatest opportunity to introduce corresponding ISD measures that will greatly reduce the required engineering barriers in the later project phases. The aim of this paper is to illustrate a risk‐based approach to this process, starting with hazard identification, followed by ISD goal identification and implementation. This paper will also highlight key lessons learned, including important ISD measures that may be missed by typical engineering contractors, and the key focus areas that process safety engineers should address in pre‐FEED to mitigate process safety risks in a typical integrated blue ammonia production facility.