(83a) Jet Fire Protection -Where Risk Based CFD Analysis Pays off

Chemical and refinery industry operators and engineering designers continuously search for means to improve plant design while maintaining or improving inherent safety. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) use in the early design stages of oil and gas process and plant design can produce counter-intuitive savings and improvements.

Several methods and tools can predict fire consequences as part of API RP 752:2009 facility siting studies to design mitigating measures. Engineering designers and operators realize that assessment uncertainty is a product the methods and tools employed. Coarse consequence modeling generates greater uncertainty, necessitating larger design contingencies and attendant increases in capital cost.

The use of detailed CFD fire simulations with risk assessment models are shown to improve and optimize design solutions in terms of fire risk. For example, optimization is achieved through CFD sensitivity studies for probabilistic jet fire scenarios leading to:

? Increased process safety due to more accurate results ? Greater understanding of risks and necessary mitigating measures ? Reduced weight and cost of passive fire protection (PFP).