Consequence and risk modelling studies

Companies handling flammable and/or toxic materials are exposed to hazards during storage, transporting, and processing. As such, it is crucial to understand the consequences of a potential loss of containment of a hazardous event when performing a risk assessment.

Supported by various advanced modelling software tools, our team of highly experienced consultants can help you assess the consequences and risks associated with your potential hazards. Furthermore, we can help you define effective safety measures to prevent the loss of control of a hazardous event or to reduce potential risks to an acceptable level.

We develop and use the industry-standard Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool FLACS-CFD, to support us in performing various comprehensive studies. FLACS-CFD is an advanced modelling tool that predicts consequences more accurately by including all contributing and mitigating effects. A better understanding and higher accuracy of results allow us to choose effective design options and mitigation measures and thereby enhance both safety and cost-effective solutions.

Along with FLACS-CFD, our team is highly experienced in the use of empirical tools such as EFFECTS and RISKCURVES (formerly TNO) and Shell’s FRED, Shepherd, and PIPA.

Explosion modelling

One of the most severe hazards of flammable materials is the pressure caused by an explosion. Therefore, knowing the consequences of a potential explosion hazard on your facilities is essential when performing a risk assessment.

We have extensively studied and evaluated the effects of various factors affecting the dynamics of an explosion: different fuel types (including mixtures), gas concentrations, ignition locations, congestion levels, confinement, and the effects of mitigation barriers (e.g. water deluge or inert gas).

We can help you determine the risks associated with explosions for your facility and help you define sufficient safety measures to reduce consequences to an acceptable level in line with regulations. In addition, we can assist you in evaluating the effects of adaptations or new designs on your installations so that the risks from explosions are minimised or even eliminated.

We have extensive capabilities in using simplistic model approaches like Shell FRED or more detailed CFD analyses like FLACS-CFD to assess potentially hazardous consequences from explosions. Accordingly, we can help you with specialised explosion case studies and standardised explosion analysis.

Dispersion modelling

Accidental releases of toxic and flammable substances are among the most significant contributors to the hazards of most industrial onshore and offshore facilities. Analysing the consequences and risks of such accidental releases is essential in any risk assessment.

Our experienced consultants can help you assess those hazards and minimise their probability of occurrence. Our competencies in assessing the practical implications of toxic and flammable releases and our modelling skills will ensure an optimal solution that suits your operations. We have extensive capabilities in using CFD tools like FLACS-CFD and empirical models like EFFECTS to perform toxic and flammable release consequence analysis.

We can help you with standardised dispersion assessments and tailored (specialised) case studies. For a given release hazard, there is an optimal way of assessing and mitigating its consequences. Our high-level competence consultants will ensure you get the most optimal solution.

Ventilation modelling

Gexcon can perform thorough ventilation analysis for any areas of concern at your installation. For instance, a detailed prediction of the internal flow patterns in an energy centre can help determine the effectiveness of a ventilation system and allow for any potential dead spots to be identified, which could lead to the formation of a flammable cloud upon an accidental release of combustible gas.

Carrying out a ventilation study can assess the proposed ventilation arrangements and evaluate an optimum design to reduce the potential size of a hazardous gas cloud. Ventilation patterns also provide valuable information to predict the possible behaviour of (low momentum) gas dispersion scenarios.

From operational health assessment to operations analysis or as an input for hazardous area classification for fire and explosion risk assessment (e.g. stagnant or low ventilation areas), our highly skilled consultants will assist and support you, ensuring that you get the most optimal solution for your plant design installation.

Fire and smoke modelling

Fire and smoke modelling can provide invaluable information on heat radiation and smoke generation used to determine the requirements for fire prevention systems and smoke ventilation in various complex scenarios.

Advanced computational modelling analysis of such scenarios can benefit the fire safety evaluation. Using diverse advanced computer modelling techniques, Gexcon can assess the consequences of a fire at your installation and provide an understanding of the associated risk. Our expert consultants can help you meet fire safety requirements and improve the safety of your facility.

Gas detector layout optimisation

For most accidental toxic and flammable gas releases onshore and offshore, the industry depends heavily on gas detection systems that alarm or trigger interlocking systems to avoid the formation and development of large amounts of hazardous materials in a process area. Therefore, an efficient gas detection system is vital in managing risks related to those scenarios in your facilities.

But do we know if and how fast these detector systems will react to an accidental hazardous gas release?

The British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published a report stating that only 30 % of all major gas leaks in the British industrial sector were detected by a gas detection system. This brings concerns about the effectiveness of a safety system on which a client relies to protect against potential significant hazards.

Gexcon has vast experience in assessing the performance and optimization of your (toxic or flammable) gas detection system. From simplistic approaches to more computationally accurate and detailed methods, we can perform simulations on a model of your facility to help determine the performance of your detection system and help you improve it.

Air quality impact assessment

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) aims to protect the environment by providing the necessary information to a local authority when deciding whether to grant planning permission for a project (new or extension) which is likely to have significant effects on the environment.

Gexcon can conduct dispersion modelling for air quality and odour assessments required in planning and environmental permit applications for commercial and industrial facilities. Using our CFD tool FLACS-CFD or ADMS, one of the industry-standard pollution modelling software, we can provide the following services:

• Pre-development or Pre-planning screening services (e.g. appraise location of sites or sources, abatement or increase of capacity of running processes)
• Stack height assessment
• EIA for sensitive receptors from single or multiple point source emissions against Air Quality Standards and the Industrial Emissions Directive limits (ELVs)
• Dispersion modelling takes into consideration terrain features, airborne pollutants data, and odours and emissions from any industrial processors.

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