(29c) Validation of Kfx Against Jet Fire Data Sets

The safe siting of LNG facilities requires several types of hazards to be quantified so the impact to offsite personnel can be properly assessed. Among these hazards, jet fires are often a primary concern, due to the potential for direct offsite consequences as well as the potential for escalation. The consequences of jet fires are typically evaluated using models that range in complexity, from simple correlations to integral models (e.g., Phast) to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models (e.g., FLACS or KFX). One of the main concerns with computer simulations is the accuracy of the models being used; therefore, model validation against experimental data is an important step in building confidence in the results of any consequence analysis.

To standardize validation procedures for fire models, in 2022 Sandia National Laboratories developed a Model Evaluation Protocol (MEP) for the evaluation of fireball, pool fire, and jet fire scenarios. This MEP identifies several experimental jet fire datasets and provides procedures regarding the assessment of a model’s suitability to predict heat flux from fires.

This paper presents the results obtained from the modeling of the jet fire trials included in this MEP using KFX, a CFD model developed and distributed by DNV. The simulation results are reported and compared with the experimental data. A set of statistical performance measures are then calculated to evaluate the performance of the model. Ultimately, this research contributes to the advancement of methodologies to accurately model radiative heat transfer in LNG facility siting, while promoting the reliability of CFD models.