Abstract—A comparative study between fuzzy and common Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) was performed on a Discontinuous Distillation Plant. Fuzzy FMEA provides a tool that can work in a better way with vague concepts and without sufficient information than conventional FMEA. To compare fuzzy with common considerations, we work on a specific plant. Also were considered human error contributions. As a result, the most important conclusions and recommendations are shown. Index Terms—FMEA, Fuzzy FMEA, Discontinuous Distillation Pilot Plant. I. INTRODUCTION FMEA was formally introduced in 1940s for military usage by the US Armed Forces. It develops a list of failure modes ranked according to their effect on the user. This ranking provides a measure for deciding which components or subsystems need further testing and/or redesign. Major factors include component or sub-system failure rate, type of failure (fail, degrade, etc.), severity of failure, and likelihood of detection [1]. FMEA methodology is now extensively used in a variety of industries including semiconductor processing, food service, plastics, software, and healthcare [2]. There are several applications for FMEA, including:  design, which focuses on components and subsystems;  process, for manufacturing and assembly processes;  system, which orients on global system functions;  service functions;  software functions. The method is a procedure to analyze failure modes and classified them by severity. It is a systematic process for identifying potential failures before they occur with the intent to eliminate them or minimize the risk associated with them. A group of experts make this quantification gathering information from memory and experience of the plant personnel. Manuscript received March 23, 2009. This work was supported in part by Cuyo National University with the project titled Fuzzy Logic application to Failure Mode and Effect Analysis and by Bioenergy Research Program, Cuyo National University - YPF . S. S. Rivera is with the Cuyo National University, Engineering Faculty, CEDIAC Institute, Casilla de Correo 405 (M5502KFA) Centro Universitario, Mendoza, Argentina (phone: +54-261-4135000 ext. 2100; fax: +54-262-4380120; e-mail: srivera@ cediac.uncu.edu.ar). J. E. Núñez Mc Leod is with the Cuyo National University, Engineering Faculty, CEDIAC Institute, Casilla de Correo 405 (M5502KFA) Centro Universitario, Mendoza, Argentina (phone: +54-261-4135000 ext. 2100; fax: +54-262-4380120; e-mail: jnmcleod@ cediac.uncu.edu.ar). The most known way to implement this analysis is in an ordinary tabular form which is difficult to trace. An FMEA worksheet is often arranged in a lot of columns with inconvenient horizontal scrolling [3]. In order to eliminate this trouble a matrix method was developed. The idea has already been explored for different authors [4]. The matrix FMEA is a pictorial representation of relationships between several FMEA elements. Traditionally, the numbers in the matrix are a prioritization of failures based on ranked numbers evaluating concepts as severity, frequency of occurrence and detectability of failure. These numbers are combined in one number called Risk Priority Number. The Risk Priority Number (RPN) methodology is a technique for analyzing the risk associated with potential problems identified during a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). The RPN for each issue is calculated by multiplying Severity x Occurrence x Detection [3]. Vague or ambiguous information and subjectivity in the ranking scales adds inherent inconsistency. Some authors eliminate this deficiency by introducing fuzzy logic [5]-[6]. To compare the matrix FMEA and fuzzy considerations, we work about its application on a Discontinuous Distillation Plant of biofuel. II. BIOFUEL Biofuel is an alternative fuel that is gaining attention all over the world. Its primary advantages deal with it being one of the most renewable fuels currently available and it is also non-toxic and biodegradable. The issues involved in the implementation of a biofuel production plant are known in extensive. But it is not known the latent dangers involved in the technology. In an industry an accident can be fatally and biofuel plants are not exempt. III. DISCONTINUOUS DISTILLATION PLANT OF BIODIESEL Biodiesel is the name of an alternative fuel, produced from renewable resources. It can be blended with petroleum diesel to create a biodiesel blend at any rate. It can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines with little or no modifications. It is biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Biodiesel is made through a chemical process called transesterification whereby the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves behind two products: methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerine [26-27]. There are different technologies currently used in biodiesel production in the market. Depending on which type of biodiesel this technology is going to be used, the energy Recommendations Generated about a Discontinuous Distillation Plant of Biofuel Selva S. Rivera and Jorge E. Núñez Mc Leod Proceedings of the World Congress on Engineering 2009 Vol I WCE 2009, July 1 - 3, 2009, London, U.K. ISBN: 978-988-17012-5-1 WCE 2009