Process Plant Equipment – Types And Safety Measures
                     Process Plant Equipment – Types And 
Safety Measures
Neel Rao
Writes on Reitzindia PA fan & Reitzindia
 Industrial centrifugal fan
Process plant equipment basically refers to the various equipment which the 
processing industries use. This type of equipment has varied applications. They are 
used for storage purposes, to control flow, and to contain chemical reactions. 
Process plant equipment can be classified into two major varieties, namely, fixed 
equipment and rotating equipment.
What Is The Fixed Equipment?
Any type of equipment in the processing industry which doesn’t move is usually 
referred to as fixed equipment. Often, they are also called static equipment. Some of 
the popular fixed equipment are:
Storage Tanks
Boilers
Furnaces/Heaters
Pressure Relieving Devices
Pipelines
Piping
Valves
Heat Exchangers
Fixed equipment is generally associated with higher risks than other types of 
equipment. In fact, a major portion of accidents in the processing industry is related 
to fixed equipment. In several cases, such accidents caused a loss of assets and 
injuries. A sizable portion of the maintenance/capital cost in a petrochemical facility 
or any typical refinery is associated with issues related to fixed equipment. This is 
mainly due to the large quantity of fluid usually stored using fixed equipment.
What Is The Rotating Equipment?
The most common application of rotating equipment in the processing industry is 
driving various types of fluid. Any equipment which rotates or moves is known as 
rotating equipment. This type of equipment finds considerable application in the oil 
and gas processing industries. The most common types of rotating equipment are:
Engines
Gearboxes
Compressors
Pumps
Turbines
However, there are also several other rotating types of equipment that are used 
widely in various industries. The maintenance, design, and inspection requirements 
of rotating equipment are much different from those of fixed equipment.
What are the main applications of process equipment?
Depending on the industry where it is being used, process equipment finds varied 
applications. These include transportation of materials, heating up fluids, disposal of 
saltwater, generation of power from steam, water treatment, and more. Every type 
of process equipment is crucial and has its own role in the industry.
What are the necessary safety measures and why should they be taken?
The process plants are growing more and more complex over time. Along with the 
complexity, the risks are rising too. Every year, a number of accidents occur, some of 
which are catastrophic in nature. Such accidents cause severe issues such as plant 
shutdowns and equipment failures, causing losses to the industry. This is because in 
several cases refineries and other processing plants need to deal with explosive, 
toxic, or inflammable materials.
The best way to prevent such accidents is to design the equipment in such a way 
that it is resistant to damage mechanisms and corrosion. For this, the environment 
where the equipment would be used needs to be considered. The equipment must 
be inspected regularly and the necessary maintenance activities carried out. In case 
of any sort of disturbance appears, the problem must be addressed immediately. 
These would help to maintain safety and prevent issues with product quality.
Conclusion
Therefore, the importance of processing equipment in the industries is quite evident 
and so is the necessity of safety measures. It is crucial to pick the right equipment 
for your processing plant to maintain safety and efficiency. Even if quality equipment 
costs a little higher, it would benefit you more in the long run.
About REITZINDIA
Reitz India has set a benchmark to deliver high quality fans for heavy duty industries 
which can work at precise operating conditions like high temperatures and pressures. 
Reitz offer idealistic Centrifugal Fan and Centrifugal blower design that can be used in 
all large scale process industries like cement, iron & steel, power plants, fertilizers/ 
chemicals and more.
Thank you for spending your precious time in reading this article!