Advances in

explosion
modelling


Kees van Wingerden, GexCon
2
GexCon AS
www.gexcon.com
Contents
Status explosion modelling on 6 July 1988
Increased attention to explosion modelling in years after
Piper Alpha
Cooperation on CFD-modelling and validation (MERGE and
EMERGE); MEGGE-protocol
1994-1997: large-scale tests to validate models (BFETS,
phase 2)
Developments after BFETS, phase 2
Simulation Piper-Alpha explosion
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Status explosion modelling on
6 July 1988
Venting guidelines
Blast prediction models
Dedicated CFD-tools for explosions: FLACS-86,
development of FLACS-89 (to include description of
dispersion processes); start development of Reagas

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Venting guidelines
Pressure predicted by using empirical
correlations with effective vent area
Valid within the validity range of
experiments
No information on shape and
duration of pressure time history
Several formulations available that
are not fully consistent with each
other
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Venting guidelines
Do not take effect of obstructions into account
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Blast decay methods
Estimating overpressure in the far-field
as a function of distance to the cloud
centre
TNT method: Load predicted as an
equivalent load from TNT-explosions
TNT equivalency factor must be
defined (can be very difficult)
Multi-Energy method: Graphs for
estimating pressure at distance to cloud
centre
Function of source strength /
maximum flame speed
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Blast decay methods
Satisfactory in far-field -correct input of
source strength is required
Important parameters such as
confinement level, turbulence level,
fuel reactivity, ignition positions, etc.
not considered
Relevancy offshore:
LQ on rigs/FPSOs
Neighbouring installations
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Dedicated CFD-models
Precise representation of the real world (geometry)
Solving fundamental physical equations
Conservation of mass, momentum & energy +++
Development hand-in-hand with explosion tests
FLACS-86; Reagas (2-D model)
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Increased attention to explosion
modelling in years after Piper Alpha
Cullen recommendations
Understanding effect of obstructions and semi-
confinement
Development of phenomenological models: CLICHE
(CHAOS), SCOPE, COMEX and NVBANG
(Enhanced) Development of dedicated CFD-tools:
EXSIM, ReaGas (AutoReaGas), CHAOS, FLACS
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Simplified physical models which attempt to model the dominant
physical processes of an explosion based on idealized geometry
and empirical correlations
Actual geometry -> modelled geometry
Accurate when actual geometry has repeated rows of similar
obstacles
Takes obstructions into account
Short run times


Phenomenological Models
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CLICHE
CLICHE (Confined Linked Chamber Explosion) developed by
BG/Advantica
Initially used to study gas explosions in buildings involving flame
propagation from one room to another
Extended later to modelling in offshore and onshore areas
Simple combustion model, based on a mixture of some fundamental
physics and empirical correlations
Turbulent burning velocity from Bray/Bradley correlation
Can generate its own input parameters from an obstacle database
Limitations
Simplified geometry representation: a series of inter-linked chambers


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SCOPE
Designed for modelling explosions in vented congested regions like
offshore modules.
1-D model based on idealized geometry of a vented vessel containing a
series of obstacle grids
Models for flame acceleration, turbulent combustion and external explosion
included
Limitations
Simplified representation of the geometry (only single enclosures can be
represented)




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Cooperation on CFD-modelling and
validation (MERGE and EMERGE
Development dedicated CFD-tools (EXSIM, COBRA,
FLACS, AutoReaGas) boosted through cooperation in
EU-supported projects such as MERGE and EMERGE
Objectives MERGE:
To develop a consistent set of data on the influence of obstacles
on flame propagation
To improve, compare and validate numerical models for gas
explosion
EMERGE: continuation of MERGE
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Detailed flow simulations
Turbulence properties in wake of
single cylinder
Turbulence properties in wake of
row of cylinders
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Medium- and large-scale explosion
experiments
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MEGGE-protocol
EU-supported project on validation of CFD-models for
gas explosions
To judge quality of model several ways of presenting
results were developed
Considers not only maximum pressure but also pressure
rise time and duration
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1994-1997: large-scale tests to validate
models (BFETS, phase 2)

Explosion model benchmarking; 12
models
Moderate scale, congestion and
confinement!
Lessons learned for offshore:
Much higher pressures than expected
(by oil industry & authorities), 4-5 barg
Deluge could help reduce pressures
Explosion Phenomena too complex for
simple models CFD is required
Details matter!
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Large-Scale Experiments\validation
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Validation of FLACS agaisnt large-scale experiments
23 BFETS Phase 2 tests (confinement, congestion, gas conc., ignition point, deluge)
40+ HSE Phase 3A tests (ignition point, congestion, low conf., deluge & repeatability)
30 Phase 3A (dispersion+explosion & partial fills & reference tests)
Indirect 98-JIP (ventilation/dispersion), comparisons done by consortium member


Example of detailed comparisons
1998 Validation report reporting simulations of 50 large
scale tests (BFETS Phase 2 and HSE Phase 3A)
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Developments after BFETS, phase 2
Two new series of large-scale tests: phase 3a and phase 3b
Phase 3a: congestion, repeatability, water spray
Phase 3b; partial fills, realistic releases
High pressures: demand for development of probabilistic
approach
Activation of water deluge upon gas detection is practiced
by some operators
Further model development

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QRA Approach (NORSOK)
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Establishment tolerance criterion: escalation for each platform less than
once every 10,000 years (10
-4
) (similar to likelihood ship collision in North
Sea)
Relatively confined areas to be designed for minimum 0.7 barg (10 psi)
& 200ms
ALARP to be practised
NORSOK Z-013 Annex F to be followed
Phase 3B large-scale project Advantica(GL),
GexCon and Shell
Included experiments to validate probabilistic
QRA approach
Large-scale dispersion & delayed ignition,
partial fills (equivalent Q9 cloud)
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Further model development
Further development of phenomenological models into
screening tools
Scope 3: improved combustion modelling, representation of
congestion, validation

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Further model development
CFD-tools
FLACS and AutoReagas became commercially available
Cobra and AutoReagas no longer supported
Development EXSIM came to a halt as well (Shell aims at
explosion modelling under OpenFoam)
FLACS development still continuing
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FLACS development
Improved thermodynamics and chemistry
Improved turbulence modelling (maintaining k-e model)
Subgrid, on-grid, boundary layer
Improved combustion modelling
Flame model, burning velocity modelling, flame folding
Features: flashing releases, vent panels, water deluge
and flame inhibitors
Incompressible flow solver, parallelisation of solvers,
Lagrange modelling
Validation for dispersion and explosion

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Simulation Piper Alpha explosion

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Accident investigation 1988-1989

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Geometry representation of Piper Alpha,
modules A-D, no details
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Details are important
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Details are important
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Details are important
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Flame speeds and pressure
development
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Including details of Piper-A
Drawings with details (minor equipment) in the modules
of Piper-A are not available
To represent smaller equipment items (piping, cable
trays, structural, etc.) anticipated congestion was
introduced
Methodology is similar to that used to represent smaller
but not yet designed equipment during FEED
Is based on
Drawings, P&IDs, equipment lists, MTO lists etc.
Experience from earlier projects (engineering companies,
GexCon)
Discussions with engineers from various disciplines

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Geometry representation of Piper Alpha,
modules A-D, with details
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Repeat of simulations of accident
investigation 1988-1989
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Reconstruction most likely scenario

Ventilation based on prevailing wind conditions p
prevailing wind conditions (wind direction 207 and wind
speed 8,2 m/s).
Choice of wind Valg av utslippsrate og retning. Basert p
vindtunnel tester: frst en periode med 4 kg/min fulgt av
en periode med 110 kg/min (varighet ca. 30 s)
Referanse er gassdetektorsignalene
Resulterende gassky antennes p forskjellige steder

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Ventilation calculations
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Choice of release location, direction,
rate

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Choice of release location, direction,
rate
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Dispersion: Gas detector readings
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Dispersion: Gas cloud development
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Explosion: pressures up to 0.5 bar
akk for oppmerksomheten!
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