Advanced computer model for hazard assessment
Accidental release of flammable substances, such as propane and butane, or toxic compounds including ammonia and chlorine are quite frequent both in industry and transportation. For this reason, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models are extensively used in risk assessments and accident investigations related to liquid storage of gas at high pressures or temperatures. In order to increase the predictive capability of CFD tools, a better insight on the near filed release mode (flashing) is demanded. Moreover, simulation of near and far field effects of such releases requires modelling of the aerosol particle transport, evaporation and pools in relation to actual geometry and weather conditions. To answer this need, GexCon AS developed the aerosol R&D version of the existing commercial product Flame Acceleration Simulator (FLACS) - CFD. FLACS has been originally developed for simulating ventilation, gas release and dispersion, as well as gas explosions in complex environments, such as offshore platforms and onshore industrial plants. Five different existing developmental models in FLACS were employed in order to realise a general model for more accurate representation of droplets or small particles in FLACS. Aided by both analytical and experimental data, the particle/droplet models in FLACS were tested and validated. The FLACS R&D version will lead to the realisation of a commercial CFD-tool for prediction of aerosol releases in industrial environments. GexCon offers licensing agreements of software and consulting to large chemical companies interested in advanced consequence calculations and risk assessment. Other partners sought are authorities responsible for welfare and society risk as well as R&D partners involved in experimental or numerical work.
