Analysis of gas dispersion and ventilation within a comprehensive CAD model of an offshore platform via computational fluid dynamics

Maintaining an adequate air flow with a desired air quality that is free from hazardous gases is among the most important actions taken toward the improvement of safety in any process plant. Due to the increased focus on the consequences of existing hazardous material on safety, health, and the environment, air quality and sufficient ventilation within a plant has been increasingly considered in the design stage. This paper investigates and analyzes methane and hydrogen sulfite dispersion and the effect of air ventilation within a CAD model of an offshore platform using computation fluids dynamics (CFD). In addition, this method and its principals could be utilized in any other hazardous environment. Simulations of possible hazardous events along with solutions for preventing or reducing their probability are presented to better assess the data. These investigations are performed by considering hypothetical hazardous scenarios which consist of gas leakages from pipes and process equipment under different conditions. After drafting a precise and highly detailed CAD model of the plant and performing CFD simulations on this model, the results of gas behaviors, dispersion, distribution, accumulation, and its possible hazards are investigated and analyzed. The larger amount of details of the actual plant model in CFD simulation are obtained by using a combination of different methods and software. These include PDMS for 3-D drawing of the plan, Rinoceros for geometrical integration of the process equipment and facilities, and Sharc Harpoon which meshes the model. Moreover, the probability of inducing ignitable or toxic concentration of gases within the atmosphere and air ventilation of the unit is considered by these investigations.     

Numerical study on dust movement and dust distribution for hybrid ventilation system in a laneway of coal mine

Coal dust disaster is the most serious problem in a laneway of coal mine. Dust movement regularity for comprehensive mechanized heading face is the key scientific issues for the principle and technology of dust prevention. The special topic on systematic study of the variation regularity of dust movement and dust distribution is presented with hybrid ventilation for the comprehensive mechanized heading face: Euler–Euler method was firstly established on the numerical platform for gas–solid two phase flow in a laneway. And the forces and the dynamic model of dust particles were performed in three-dimensional flow field. Then based on the visible simulations, the movement characteristics of diffusion, sedimentation and accumulation of dust particles were investigated under the action of the complex air flow, and the spatiotemporal variation of dust distribution was studied with hybrid ventilation system. Meanwhile, the obtained dust distribution regularities were compared with the obtainable experimental results. Finally, selected method on different ventilation patterns for dust control was brought out for the heading face according to the gained regularity. The research results is helpful for further understanding of the essence of dust movement with air flow, which could provide more suitable guidance for the principle of dust control and technology of ventilation.     

Numerical simulation of evaporation of volatile liquids

The paper presents the results of the validation of the developed pool evaporation model using literature and our own experimental data. The proposed model was used to examine the effect of wind velocity and pool sizes on the evaporation rate of volatile liquid (hexane). Contrary to the semi-empirical evaporation model widely used in hazard assessment, stronger dependence of evaporation rate on pool size at low wind speeds is obtained.     

Dynamic failure assessment of an ammonia storage unit: A case study

Chemical Process Industries usually contain a diverse inventory of hazardous chemicals and complex systems required to perform process operations such as storage, separation, reaction, compression etc. The complex interactions between the equipment make them vulnerable to catastrophic accidents. Risk and failure assessment provide engineers with an intuitive tool for decision making in the operation of such plants. Abnormal events and near-miss situations occur regularly during the operation of a system. Accident Sequence Precursors (ASP) can be used to demonstrate the real-time operating condition of a plant. Dynamic Failure Assessment (DFA) methodology is based on Bayesian statistical methods incorporates ASP data to revise the generic failure probabilities of the systems during its operational lifetime.In this paper, DFA methodology is applied on an ammonia storage unit in a specialized chemical industry. Ammonia is stored in cold storage tanks as liquefied gas at atmospheric pressure. These tanks are susceptible to failures due to various abnormal conditions arising due process failures.Tank failures due to three such abnormal conditions are considered. Variation of the failure probability of the safety systems is demonstrated. The authors use ASP data collected from plant specific sources and safety expert judgement. The failure probabilities of some safety systems concerned show considerable deviation from the generic values. The method helps to locate the components which have undergone more degradation over the period and hence must be paid attention to. In addition, a Bayesian predictive model has been used to predict the number of abnormal events in the next time interval. The user-friendly and intuitive nature of the tool makes it appropriate for application in safety assessment reports in process industries.     

Operational risk assessment: A case of the Bhopal disaster

Accidental releases of hazardous chemicals from process facilities can cause catastrophic consequences. The Bhopal disaster resulting from a combination of inherently unsafe designs and poorly managed operations is a well-known case. Effective risk modeling approaches that provide early warnings are helpful to prevent and control such rare but catastrophic events. Probability estimation of these events is a constant challenge due to the scarcity of directly relevant data. Therefore, precursor-based methods that adopt the Bayesian theorem to update prior judgments on event probabilities using empirical data have been proposed. The updated probabilities are then integrated with consequences of varying severity to produce the risk profile.This paper proposes an operational risk assessment framework, in which a precursor-based Bayesian network approach is used for probability estimation, and loss functions are applied for consequence assessment. The estimated risk profile can be updated continuously given real-time operational data. As process facilities operate, this method integrates a failure-updating mechanism with potential consequences to generate a real-time operational risk profile. The real time risk profile is valuable in activating accident prevention and control strategies. The approach is applied to the Bhopal accident to demonstrate its applicability and effectiveness.     

Methods and models in process safety and risk management: Past,present and future

The paper reviews past progress in the development of methods and models for process safety and risk management and highlights the present research trends; also it outlines the opinions of the authors regarding the future research direction in the field. Based on the open literature published in the leading journals in the field of safety, risk and reliability, the review covers the evolution of the methods and models developed for process safety and risk management. The methods and models are categorized as qualitative, semi-quantitative, quantitative and hybrid. The progress in the last few decades is discussed in the context of the past. Developments in the current decade formulate the basis of the present trends; future directions for research in these fields are also outlined. The aim of the article is to provide a historical development in this field with respect to the driving forces behind the development. It is expected that it will help researchers and industrial practitioners to gain a better understanding of the existing concepts. At the same time the aim is to provide direction to bridge the existing gaps through research and developments.     

重整四合一炉出口集合管盲端腐蚀研究及结构优化

结合某炼油企业重整装置四合一加热炉出口集合管盲板法兰腐蚀现状,分析产生腐蚀的机理,利用Fluent软件模拟分析不同处理量下发生腐蚀的出口集合管盲板结构处的速度失量图、涡量图等,得出了与腐蚀现状相吻合的结论。对盲板结构进行改进,并进行数值模拟分析,得出优化后的结构可以有效避免出口集合管盲板法兰腐蚀的结论。     

封闭空间火焰自熄灭时间数值模拟研究

利用CFD数值模拟研究封闭空间内甲烷燃烧火焰在常重力和微重力两种环境中自熄灭时间的不同,分析火焰自熄灭时间与火源热释放速率、封闭空间体积、重力之间的关系。结果表明:当火源热释放速率一定时,微重力环境中火焰自熄灭时间数倍于常重力环境中的情况。当封闭空间体积一定时,小火源功率在微重力环境中的自熄灭时间远大于常重力环境中的情况。因此,微重力环境中不宜采用窒息灭火法。     

水源区中药材种植氮磷污染特征模拟研究

通过室内土柱模拟降雨实验,在三种降雨强度及两种施肥量作用下,分别测定土壤及土壤溶液中TN、TP及有机质的含量,探讨降雨强度及施肥量对水源区中药材种植氮磷污染物迁移的影响.结果表明,随着降雨强度的增大,TN、TP由土壤表面层次流向深层次的趋势不断增大,氮磷流失量增加;随着氮、磷肥料施加量的增加,土壤及土壤溶液TN、TP都有增加,氮磷流失量随之增大;一次施肥量过高容易造成肥料堆积土壤表层,氮磷流失量明显增大,少量多次施肥能使肥料利用率提高.