Periodic Reporting for period 1 - STOPFIRE (Emergency Decision Support System of Offshore Platform Fires)
Période du rapport: 2020-01-17 au 2022-01-16
This project aims to investigate dynamic risk assessment and emergency decision optimization of fire evacuation to enhance the safety and efficiency of offshore operations. To achieve the aim, the objectives are: to propose approaches for simulating personnel evacuation in fire scenarios of an offshore platform; to propose novel methods for predicting the failure probability and the dynamic risk of fire evacuation; to propose multi-objective optimization methods that can be used to improve the emergency decisions based on multiple criteria, including risk concerns and time saving; and to design a fire management environmental decision support system (EDSS) of offshore platform fires.
Offshore platforms provide working and living places for crews operating on the installation. This has the potential to cause fires and other cascading accidents. Fire accidents on offshore platforms have the potential to not only claim human lives and cause major economic loss, but also cause serious pollution consequences to the maritime environment. A large number of fire accidents indicate that if the emergency response is inadequate, it will aggravate the impact of the fire and increase the number of casualties. Offshore platform evacuation relies heavily on external measures, such as lifeboats and helicopters. Compared with the terrestrial environment, the evacuation from an offshore platform is challenging. The issue of how to quickly and efficiently evacuate in case of fire should be urgently addressed. In this project, a dynamic optimization method of emergency decision based on the dynamic risk distribution of fire evacuation and the spatial-temporal evolution of fires is developed to provide efficient evacuation plans. This research provides real-time guidance according to the spatial-temporal evolution of offshore fires during the evacuation process. This allows for timely and accurate pre-disaster early warning, real-time monitoring and rapid response in case of a fire on an offshore platform.
Offshore platforms provide working and living places for crews operating on the installation. This has the potential to cause fires and other cascading accidents. Fire accidents on offshore platforms have the potential to not only claim human lives and cause major economic loss, but also cause serious pollution consequences to the maritime environment. A large number of fire accidents indicate that if the emergency response is inadequate, it will aggravate the impact of the fire and increase the number of casualties. Offshore platform evacuation relies heavily on external measures, such as lifeboats and helicopters. Compared with the terrestrial environment, the evacuation from an offshore platform is challenging. The issue of how to quickly and efficiently evacuate in case of fire should be urgently addressed. In this project, a dynamic optimization method of emergency decision based on the dynamic risk distribution of fire evacuation and the spatial-temporal evolution of fires is developed to provide efficient evacuation plans. This research provides real-time guidance according to the spatial-temporal evolution of offshore fires during the evacuation process. This allows for timely and accurate pre-disaster early warning, real-time monitoring and rapid response in case of a fire on an offshore platform.
This project investigates dynamic risk assessment and emergency decision optimization of fire evacuation to enhance the safety and efficiency of offshore operations. Through four highly integrated work packages, the project has covered work on many aspects including fire simulation, coupling theories between fire and personnel behaviour, dynamic risk assessment methodologies and emergency decision support.
In WP1, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is adopted to simulate the development of pool fires and investigate the effects of wind and windshields on flame characteristics. The simulation results of flame drag, flame length and flame tilt angle are compared with those obtained by computationally using semi-empirical correlation equations to validate the proposed simulation model. It makes significant contributions to the fire simulation of an offshore platform, which in essence provides support for the design and operation of windshields in an offshore installation.
In WP2, FDS+EVAC is used to simulate large-scale pool fires and the personnel behaviour in fire scenarios. The coupling effects between fire simulation and human behaviour simulation are investigated. It can provide technical support for the formulation of the emergency evacuation strategy of offshore platforms.
In WP3, the dynamic risk assessment of evacuation on offshore platforms is carried out. The findings can provide insights for the development of cost-effective Evacuation, Escape and Rescue (EER) strategies for an offshore platform.
In WP4, ArcGIS is adopted to establish the road network model of an offshore platform. The evacuation route optimisation algorithm for the fire scenarios of offshore platforms is developed using VS2010 and ArcGIS.
The project has fully achieved its objectives and milestones for the period. The work has made significant progress, meeting the objectives in research and development, career development, and impact generation. The work has advanced the scientific understanding of offshore platform fire and the related personnel evacuation. The main outcomes include fundamental theories on the coupling of physical fire simulation and personnel behaviour simulation, and the dynamic risk of evacuation processes in fire scenarios.
In WP1, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model is adopted to simulate the development of pool fires and investigate the effects of wind and windshields on flame characteristics. The simulation results of flame drag, flame length and flame tilt angle are compared with those obtained by computationally using semi-empirical correlation equations to validate the proposed simulation model. It makes significant contributions to the fire simulation of an offshore platform, which in essence provides support for the design and operation of windshields in an offshore installation.
In WP2, FDS+EVAC is used to simulate large-scale pool fires and the personnel behaviour in fire scenarios. The coupling effects between fire simulation and human behaviour simulation are investigated. It can provide technical support for the formulation of the emergency evacuation strategy of offshore platforms.
In WP3, the dynamic risk assessment of evacuation on offshore platforms is carried out. The findings can provide insights for the development of cost-effective Evacuation, Escape and Rescue (EER) strategies for an offshore platform.
In WP4, ArcGIS is adopted to establish the road network model of an offshore platform. The evacuation route optimisation algorithm for the fire scenarios of offshore platforms is developed using VS2010 and ArcGIS.
The project has fully achieved its objectives and milestones for the period. The work has made significant progress, meeting the objectives in research and development, career development, and impact generation. The work has advanced the scientific understanding of offshore platform fire and the related personnel evacuation. The main outcomes include fundamental theories on the coupling of physical fire simulation and personnel behaviour simulation, and the dynamic risk of evacuation processes in fire scenarios.
Five journal papers have been published/accepted for publication. Three other journal papers are under review. The work and outcomes have been communicated to different audiences in industries and general public.
Apart from the training on R&D, many different forms of training and knowledge exchanges have been delivered including joint working with established researchers, industrialists, presentations, research proposal development, ethical issues, networking and cultural understanding. The knowledge and skills of the Experienced Researcher (ER) have been accelerated through the systematic training and development. For example, the ER attended a number of regular courses including “Building Blocks of Impact”, and “Collaboration that Counts” through the University’s award-winning ACTivator programme. Her work has been communicated to both academia and industries, attracting a lot of interest and opening up new opportunities to the ER in terms of career development. The project has equipped the ER with experience and knowledge on offshore platform fire and evacuation. The team at LJMU and other partners will continue to support her to become a leading researcher in the subject area. The ER, the host and partners have effectively implemented extensive two-way knowledge exchange through case studies, projects and presentation. The ER has involved in several other projects at the host (e.g. “Safe distance keeping during an evacuation process under Covid-19”) and the outcome of the project and experiences she has gained has laid a solid foundation for continued exploitation through joint projects, consultancy and other formats of exploitation. This project has set an example for women in engineering and STEM. The ER has contributed to liaison and work with several industrial and academic partners.
The work has been shared at several platforms and events organised by leading policy making organisations. The extensive dissemination activities through publications, conferences, workshops, etc., have exposed the work to different audiences in industries and policy makers. The project is a representative case for applying advanced simulation modelling and data onto traditional industries with huge economic and environmental benefits. The project has been communicated with the general public and developed extensive education and training materials associated.
The dissemination of the project results is in line with the European Commission’s objective of ‘Open Access’ in Research and Innovation in order to optimise the impact of publicly funded scientific research. At LJMU, all published technical papers are publically available through its online open access depository. The output of this research has been disseminated to industrial collaborators for use. This project enhances the existing and leading edge technology in maritime and offshore safety at the host organisation and beyond, by further extending interdisciplinary and institutional collaboration opportunities. This enhances the research capabilities of Europe’s reputation for scientific excellence.
Apart from the training on R&D, many different forms of training and knowledge exchanges have been delivered including joint working with established researchers, industrialists, presentations, research proposal development, ethical issues, networking and cultural understanding. The knowledge and skills of the Experienced Researcher (ER) have been accelerated through the systematic training and development. For example, the ER attended a number of regular courses including “Building Blocks of Impact”, and “Collaboration that Counts” through the University’s award-winning ACTivator programme. Her work has been communicated to both academia and industries, attracting a lot of interest and opening up new opportunities to the ER in terms of career development. The project has equipped the ER with experience and knowledge on offshore platform fire and evacuation. The team at LJMU and other partners will continue to support her to become a leading researcher in the subject area. The ER, the host and partners have effectively implemented extensive two-way knowledge exchange through case studies, projects and presentation. The ER has involved in several other projects at the host (e.g. “Safe distance keeping during an evacuation process under Covid-19”) and the outcome of the project and experiences she has gained has laid a solid foundation for continued exploitation through joint projects, consultancy and other formats of exploitation. This project has set an example for women in engineering and STEM. The ER has contributed to liaison and work with several industrial and academic partners.
The work has been shared at several platforms and events organised by leading policy making organisations. The extensive dissemination activities through publications, conferences, workshops, etc., have exposed the work to different audiences in industries and policy makers. The project is a representative case for applying advanced simulation modelling and data onto traditional industries with huge economic and environmental benefits. The project has been communicated with the general public and developed extensive education and training materials associated.
The dissemination of the project results is in line with the European Commission’s objective of ‘Open Access’ in Research and Innovation in order to optimise the impact of publicly funded scientific research. At LJMU, all published technical papers are publically available through its online open access depository. The output of this research has been disseminated to industrial collaborators for use. This project enhances the existing and leading edge technology in maritime and offshore safety at the host organisation and beyond, by further extending interdisciplinary and institutional collaboration opportunities. This enhances the research capabilities of Europe’s reputation for scientific excellence.