This paper presents a new approach, defined as hazard process stream index (HPSI). This index intends to improve hazard identification in the early stages of a process design project. The main objective was to intensify biofuels and bioproducts’ production processes, which involve handling flammable aqueous mixtures and combustible materials. The information to estimate this index was obtained from simulation software and public database. The index calculated the hazard of every single process stream using as input data the pressure, molar flow, density, heat of combustion, and flash point. Two case studies validated the reliability of HPSI. The first one was the supercritical biodiesel production process, and the second one was an intensified purification train from a biobutanol production process. The case studies were analyzed through HPSI and process stream index (PSI). The HPSI efficiently identifies the hazardous process streams in both case studies.

本文提出了一种新方法，定义为危害过程流指数（HPSI）。该指数旨在改善过程设计项目早期的危害识别。主要目标是加强生物燃料和生物产品的生产过程，其中涉及处理易燃的水性混合物和可燃材料。可以从模拟软件和公共数据库中获得估计该指标的信息。该指数使用压力，摩尔流量，密度，燃烧热和闪点作为输入数据来计算每个工艺流程的危害。两个案例研究验证了HPSI的可靠性。第一个是超临界生物柴油生产工艺，第二个是从生物丁醇生产工艺中强化的纯化工艺。通过HPSI和过程流指数（PSI）分析了案例研究。在两个案例研究中，HPSI都能有效地识别危险过程流。