What is the purpose of an alarm rationalization process within an alarm management system?

The purpose of an alarm rationalization process within an alarm management system is to systematically review, prioritize, and document each alarm to ensure that only relevant and actionable alarms are presented to operators. This process aims to reduce alarm overload, which can occur when operators are bombarded with excessive alarms, making it difficult to identify and respond to critical events. Alarm rationalization involves defining the purpose of each alarm, determining its priority based on the potential consequences of the alarm condition, establishing appropriate alarm setpoints and deadbands, and documenting the correct operator response. The process identifies nuisance alarms, chattering alarms, and redundant alarms, which are then eliminated or modified to reduce their frequency and impact. By rationalizing alarms, operators can focus on the most important events, improving their situational awareness and response time, leading to safer and more efficient plant operation. It also helps to improve the reliability and effectiveness of the alarm system.