High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems
HIPPS is an independent and reliable Safety Instrumented System (SIS) designed to prevent an unsafe condition caused by overpressure, to protect downstream plant from potential damages.
Design is based on standards IEC 61508 and IEC 61511. Since HIPPS system is a safety equipment, calculation of PFD and SIL level for the specific safety loop is performed, in order to achieve required SIL level. Third party certification is granted for SIL, up to SIL3 and even SIL4 level.
Main advantages:
- Fast shutdown within two/three seconds
- High reliability, certified by third party for each component
- Removing the need for flare systems to relief pressure, reducing the emission by flaring
- No capital cost for relief system (PSV, flare, etc.)
- Compliance with environmental constraint against discharges
- Production piping down-rating, giving potential cost benefits
A HIPPS is a closed functional loop, composed by following elements:
- Initiators: they are the elements installed to detect the overpressure in the line, to start the shutdown process. For electronic HIPPS, they are electronic pressure transmitters for electronic HIPPS (in order to guarantee the systems reliability in accordance to SIL 3 requirements, 3 sensors are installed in parallel). For mechanical HIPPS, they are mechanical initiators.
- Logic solver (only for electronic HIPPS): it is the element which processes the input signals from the initiators and gives output the activation instruction to the solenoid valves of the final elements to shutdown the line. It could be solid state wired-logic type or programmable PLC.
- Final elements: they are the elements which physically perform the fast shutdown of the line once received the signal from the Logic solver or mechanical initiators, achieving the safe condition for downstream plant. They are on-off valves with hydraulic or pneumatic actuators.
| Valves design | Ball side entry / top entry or Slab gate |
| Pressure rating | API 6D: ANSI 150 to 2500 API 6A: API 2,000 to 20,000 psi |
| Temperature | -100°C to + 200°C |
| Bore sizes | API 6D: 2” to 48” API 6A: 1.13/16” to 9” |
| Material options | Carbon and low alloy steels, stainless steel, duplex and super duplex steels, CRAs |
| Actuation | Hydraulic and pneumatic (spring return), self-contained for mechanical HIPPS |
| Quality certifications and approvals | API 6A, API 6D, Fire safe API 6FA, PED 2014/68/UE, ATEX |
Breda Energia can offers 2 different solutions of HIPPS, electronic type or mechanical type.
Mechanical HIPPS
A system with hydraulic or pneumatic pressure pilot sensors as initiators that can be set to a maximum pressure, over which they close starting the fast shutdown process.
Electronic HIPPS
A system with electronic Pressure Transmitter as initiators that upon request may be installed within an Interlock Manifold, so that to prevent disconnection of more than one line instrument.
