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Papers by Francesco Giacobbe
Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2009
The development and use of nanomaterials has grown widely in the last years. Hence, it is necessa... more The development and use of nanomaterials has grown widely in the last years. Hence, it is necessary to carry out a careful and aimed risk assessment for the safety of the workers. The objective of this research is a specific assessment model finalized to the workplaces where the personnel work manipulating nanoparticles. This model mainly takes into account the number of exposed workers, the dimensions of particles, the information found in the safety data sheets and the uncertainties about the danger level coming from the exposition to nanomaterials. The evaluation algorithm considers the normal work conditions, the abnormal (e.g. breakdown air filter) and emergency situations (e.g. package cracking). It has been necessary to define several risk conditions in order to quantify the risk by increasing levels (low, middle and high level). Each level includes appropriate behavioural procedures. In particular for the high level, it is advisable that the user carries out urgent interventions finalized to reduce the risk level (e.g. the utilization of vacuum box for the manipulation, high efficiency protection PPE, etc). The model has been implemented in a research laboratory where titanium dioxide and carbon nanotubes are used. The outcomes taken out from such specific evaluation gave a risk level equal to middle.
Human & Experimental Toxicology, 2009
Recent development of nanotechnology allows precise assessment of the risks workers are exposed t... more Recent development of nanotechnology allows precise assessment of the risks workers are exposed to. To assess the risks, a specific risk assessment model has been developed with reference to workplaces where nanoparticles are present. This model allows identification and quantification of the health hazards for workers. The use of nanomaterials presents some uncertainties regarding effective level of danger, and risk assessment takes this into consideration with the help of an appropriate index. An evaluation algorithm considers both normal work conditions and abnormal/emergency situations. Evaluation outcome consists of several risk levels with several subdivisions. For each single level, it is possible to develop specific behavioral guidelines. The present evaluation model has been implemented in research laboratories. The results are middle to high-level risks.
This paper deals with requirements for service safety conditions of pressure devices and lifting ... more This paper deals with requirements for service safety conditions of pressure devices and lifting equipments, according to the European and Italian Standards. Periodic controls and inspections are necessary to check corrosion damage and determine residual life, as showed for some significant case histories. As concern as pressure device, hydrogen induced cracking phenomena in steel walls of a demister, utilized to enhance the liquid droplets removal in a vapor stream, were detected by ultrasound measurements. The measured defect sizes were put in comparison with the required limits to verify if this device can be maintained in service. About lifting equipments, two different corrosion mechanisms were examined by detecting defects and measuring residual plate thickness: crevice, due to aggressive environment, at the interstitial of steel plates overlap in a welded and bolted joint of a gantry crane; lastly, crevice and corrosion fatigue of steel rail and plate in a double girder shipy...
Degradation of pressure equipment is becoming an important issue due to increasing asset service ... more Degradation of pressure equipment is becoming an important issue due to increasing asset service time in process and power plants across Europe. For this reason it is important to assess life consumption of these assets to avoid catastrophic failures. Therefore it is necessary to refer to national/international normative on this subject. At present time the Italian thermotechnical committee (CTI) has drawn up a comprehensive set of norms which help the user to set up an inspection plan to investigate and assess degradation of pressure vessels and boilers. In the first part of this paper creep damage of Steam Generators is analyzed. For this purpose results of INAIL (Istituto Nazionale per l’ Assicurazione contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro) database of steam boilers with 100’000 service hours or more is illustrated. Critical components are identified with reference to materials, geometry and operating parameters (pressure, temperature and time). At the end of the design life cycle, components of pressure equipment operated in creep regime must subjected to specific checks to estimate their residual life and the suitability for further use in safety conditions. The procedure allows to define reinspection intervals keeping acceptable the risk associated with the further use of the component related to creep even in evidence of defects in progress. The first check must be performed after 100,000 hours of effective use. Then, residual life evaluations must be repeated according to period of time that are defined as function of the results of all the checks carried out. In the second part of this paper boiler degradation is discussed with reference to NDT results and in-field inspection campaigns which are carried out traditionally after 45 years of service time, to minimize the risk of pressure components failures. In this paper results of different case studies are discussed with reference to degradation mechanisms and applicable standards.
Proceedings of the 30th European Safety and Reliability Conference and 15th Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Management Conference, 2020
Chemical engineering transactions, 2020
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health concern and travel restrictions have significantly aff... more Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health concern and travel restrictions have significantly affected conformity assessment activities in the scope of the 2014/68/UE directive (PED) Certification Bodies can anyway introduce alternative arrangements to conduct assessments e g remotely by using information and communication technologies (ICT) To this end, according to the International Accreditation Forum documents a feasibility analysis is required The analysis must demonstrate the remote assessment could assure the same effectiveness of an on-site visit, otherwise it is not allowed The present work illustrates the result of the feasibility analysis carried out by the Notified Body (NB) INAIL 0100 and the operative instruction it is implementing in its Quality System (QS) compliant with ISO 17065 standard, to define the operating mode for each phase of the smart conformity assessment, the documental examination and the final product inspection and testing The feasibility analysis wa...
The coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) at the beginning of 2020 has affected also the standard ope... more The coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) at the beginning of 2020 has affected also the standard operation for the manufacture of pressure equipment: it dictates audit on the manufacturer that are currently hindered by the safety procedures for the reduction of the contagion. In the present work, the experience coming from an alternative audit method are reported in the case of quality modules, with particular attention to technological and procedural aspects. Criticalities will be shown, together with limits, opportunities, methodology potential and possible development areas. The preparation activities for the audit plan, for the final review, and for the certification decision committee have been conducted by designated figures through webinars, and this has allowed for the optimization of communications and of documentation sharing. Given the positive impact, this mode has been confirmed in internal procedures. The adopted method allowed the notified body to comply with its duties ...
The current needs of the industrial market, such as the increasing production capacity, the conse... more The current needs of the industrial market, such as the increasing production capacity, the conservation of the plant property, the reduction of the probability of plant shutdown, strongly lead to the discipline of Maintenance Engineering. As part of the pressure equipment, such as pressure vessels, piping, and tanks, the maintenance processes must be managed with a risk management logic. Through, Fitness For Service (FFS) method, pressure equipment presenting a structural degradation can be maintained in operation, with close monitoring. This study illustrates the application of the design code for FFS according to API RP 579 and BS 7910 in the case of a longitudinal defect (crack-like flaw) on a pipe in pressure conditions. The comparison is carried outusing both codes in order to assess the stability of the defect. The calculation shows that the defect is stable, if the pipe is stressed with a steady load equal to the maximum admissible load in operation. The most conservative re...
The technical work here presented is a remote survey experimental procedure designed by INAIL res... more The technical work here presented is a remote survey experimental procedure designed by INAIL research team to adapt the inspection methods usually applied on pressure equipment undeferrable survey to the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 emergency context that limit activities on site. The procedure is designed for those inspection and certification activities assigned to INAIL (Italian State Institute assigned the survey on pressure equipment) and presupposes the requesting user/owner formal agreement. It should be applied in emergency contexts (like COVID-19 pandemic outbreak) that suggests to reduce/avoid direct access to the equipment, allowing anyway the full inspection of the equipment itself and without any lack in survey. The experimental nature of the procedure does not affect the validity of the test results, but identifies and arranges the requirements to perform survey using the remote methodology with augmented/immersive reality devices. In particular, the document p...
Engineering Failure Analysis, 2010
Reformer furnaces are used in petrochemical industry to produce hydrogen. Their most critical com... more Reformer furnaces are used in petrochemical industry to produce hydrogen. Their most critical components are radiant tubes, where extreme temperature and pressure conditions required the deployment of high alloyed austenitic HP grade steels, owing to their superior strength to creep rupture and good corrosion resistance. Nevertheless, these high strength alloys undergo damage when process conditions allow coke deposition and maintenance
Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2009
The development and use of nanomaterials has grown widely in the last years. Hence, it is necessa... more The development and use of nanomaterials has grown widely in the last years. Hence, it is necessary to carry out a careful and aimed risk assessment for the safety of the workers. The objective of this research is a specific assessment model finalized to the workplaces where the personnel work manipulating nanoparticles. This model mainly takes into account the number of exposed workers, the dimensions of particles, the information found in the safety data sheets and the uncertainties about the danger level coming from the exposition to nanomaterials. The evaluation algorithm considers the normal work conditions, the abnormal (e.g. breakdown air filter) and emergency situations (e.g. package cracking). It has been necessary to define several risk conditions in order to quantify the risk by increasing levels (low, middle and high level). Each level includes appropriate behavioural procedures. In particular for the high level, it is advisable that the user carries out urgent interventions finalized to reduce the risk level (e.g. the utilization of vacuum box for the manipulation, high efficiency protection PPE, etc). The model has been implemented in a research laboratory where titanium dioxide and carbon nanotubes are used. The outcomes taken out from such specific evaluation gave a risk level equal to middle.
Human & Experimental Toxicology, 2009
Recent development of nanotechnology allows precise assessment of the risks workers are exposed t... more Recent development of nanotechnology allows precise assessment of the risks workers are exposed to. To assess the risks, a specific risk assessment model has been developed with reference to workplaces where nanoparticles are present. This model allows identification and quantification of the health hazards for workers. The use of nanomaterials presents some uncertainties regarding effective level of danger, and risk assessment takes this into consideration with the help of an appropriate index. An evaluation algorithm considers both normal work conditions and abnormal/emergency situations. Evaluation outcome consists of several risk levels with several subdivisions. For each single level, it is possible to develop specific behavioral guidelines. The present evaluation model has been implemented in research laboratories. The results are middle to high-level risks.
This paper deals with requirements for service safety conditions of pressure devices and lifting ... more This paper deals with requirements for service safety conditions of pressure devices and lifting equipments, according to the European and Italian Standards. Periodic controls and inspections are necessary to check corrosion damage and determine residual life, as showed for some significant case histories. As concern as pressure device, hydrogen induced cracking phenomena in steel walls of a demister, utilized to enhance the liquid droplets removal in a vapor stream, were detected by ultrasound measurements. The measured defect sizes were put in comparison with the required limits to verify if this device can be maintained in service. About lifting equipments, two different corrosion mechanisms were examined by detecting defects and measuring residual plate thickness: crevice, due to aggressive environment, at the interstitial of steel plates overlap in a welded and bolted joint of a gantry crane; lastly, crevice and corrosion fatigue of steel rail and plate in a double girder shipy...
Degradation of pressure equipment is becoming an important issue due to increasing asset service ... more Degradation of pressure equipment is becoming an important issue due to increasing asset service time in process and power plants across Europe. For this reason it is important to assess life consumption of these assets to avoid catastrophic failures. Therefore it is necessary to refer to national/international normative on this subject. At present time the Italian thermotechnical committee (CTI) has drawn up a comprehensive set of norms which help the user to set up an inspection plan to investigate and assess degradation of pressure vessels and boilers. In the first part of this paper creep damage of Steam Generators is analyzed. For this purpose results of INAIL (Istituto Nazionale per l’ Assicurazione contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro) database of steam boilers with 100’000 service hours or more is illustrated. Critical components are identified with reference to materials, geometry and operating parameters (pressure, temperature and time). At the end of the design life cycle, components of pressure equipment operated in creep regime must subjected to specific checks to estimate their residual life and the suitability for further use in safety conditions. The procedure allows to define reinspection intervals keeping acceptable the risk associated with the further use of the component related to creep even in evidence of defects in progress. The first check must be performed after 100,000 hours of effective use. Then, residual life evaluations must be repeated according to period of time that are defined as function of the results of all the checks carried out. In the second part of this paper boiler degradation is discussed with reference to NDT results and in-field inspection campaigns which are carried out traditionally after 45 years of service time, to minimize the risk of pressure components failures. In this paper results of different case studies are discussed with reference to degradation mechanisms and applicable standards.
Proceedings of the 30th European Safety and Reliability Conference and 15th Probabilistic Safety Assessment and Management Conference, 2020
Chemical engineering transactions, 2020
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health concern and travel restrictions have significantly aff... more Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) health concern and travel restrictions have significantly affected conformity assessment activities in the scope of the 2014/68/UE directive (PED) Certification Bodies can anyway introduce alternative arrangements to conduct assessments e g remotely by using information and communication technologies (ICT) To this end, according to the International Accreditation Forum documents a feasibility analysis is required The analysis must demonstrate the remote assessment could assure the same effectiveness of an on-site visit, otherwise it is not allowed The present work illustrates the result of the feasibility analysis carried out by the Notified Body (NB) INAIL 0100 and the operative instruction it is implementing in its Quality System (QS) compliant with ISO 17065 standard, to define the operating mode for each phase of the smart conformity assessment, the documental examination and the final product inspection and testing The feasibility analysis wa...
The coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) at the beginning of 2020 has affected also the standard ope... more The coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) at the beginning of 2020 has affected also the standard operation for the manufacture of pressure equipment: it dictates audit on the manufacturer that are currently hindered by the safety procedures for the reduction of the contagion. In the present work, the experience coming from an alternative audit method are reported in the case of quality modules, with particular attention to technological and procedural aspects. Criticalities will be shown, together with limits, opportunities, methodology potential and possible development areas. The preparation activities for the audit plan, for the final review, and for the certification decision committee have been conducted by designated figures through webinars, and this has allowed for the optimization of communications and of documentation sharing. Given the positive impact, this mode has been confirmed in internal procedures. The adopted method allowed the notified body to comply with its duties ...
The current needs of the industrial market, such as the increasing production capacity, the conse... more The current needs of the industrial market, such as the increasing production capacity, the conservation of the plant property, the reduction of the probability of plant shutdown, strongly lead to the discipline of Maintenance Engineering. As part of the pressure equipment, such as pressure vessels, piping, and tanks, the maintenance processes must be managed with a risk management logic. Through, Fitness For Service (FFS) method, pressure equipment presenting a structural degradation can be maintained in operation, with close monitoring. This study illustrates the application of the design code for FFS according to API RP 579 and BS 7910 in the case of a longitudinal defect (crack-like flaw) on a pipe in pressure conditions. The comparison is carried outusing both codes in order to assess the stability of the defect. The calculation shows that the defect is stable, if the pipe is stressed with a steady load equal to the maximum admissible load in operation. The most conservative re...
The technical work here presented is a remote survey experimental procedure designed by INAIL res... more The technical work here presented is a remote survey experimental procedure designed by INAIL research team to adapt the inspection methods usually applied on pressure equipment undeferrable survey to the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 emergency context that limit activities on site. The procedure is designed for those inspection and certification activities assigned to INAIL (Italian State Institute assigned the survey on pressure equipment) and presupposes the requesting user/owner formal agreement. It should be applied in emergency contexts (like COVID-19 pandemic outbreak) that suggests to reduce/avoid direct access to the equipment, allowing anyway the full inspection of the equipment itself and without any lack in survey. The experimental nature of the procedure does not affect the validity of the test results, but identifies and arranges the requirements to perform survey using the remote methodology with augmented/immersive reality devices. In particular, the document p...
Engineering Failure Analysis, 2010
Reformer furnaces are used in petrochemical industry to produce hydrogen. Their most critical com... more Reformer furnaces are used in petrochemical industry to produce hydrogen. Their most critical components are radiant tubes, where extreme temperature and pressure conditions required the deployment of high alloyed austenitic HP grade steels, owing to their superior strength to creep rupture and good corrosion resistance. Nevertheless, these high strength alloys undergo damage when process conditions allow coke deposition and maintenance