MMI Engineering, 2012 Page 1 of 2

MMI ENGINEERING
CAPABILITY STATEMENT
Explosion Risk - A Probabilistic Approach


Introduction
Although industrial gas explosions are rare, their
potential to cause injury or loss of life cannot be ignored.
Other consequences include damage to plant,
operational set-backs and legal and environmental
issues. Operators must strive to understand and manage
the risk posed by explosions in order meet their safety
obligations.

Modelling key to Predicting Risk
All factors affecting overpressure generation must be
considered if risk is to be accurately quantified.
Plant/module congestion, leak size and position, time to
ignition and wind can all be influential. The large number
of possible scenarios and the difficulty in obtaining
experimental data make probabilistic explosion
modelling the most effective way of assessing risk. All
explosion hazards and energetic releases possess
common characteristics, notably the creation of an
overpressure transient, generally radiating from the
event source.

Technical know-how at every stage
MMI have a depth of explosion modelling expertise that
is supported by experience of its practical application. A
probabilistic study typically involves the following stages:
Platform model review MMI are experienced in
producing virtual 3D geometries of varying
complexity, from platforms in the design stage
through to existing installations.


Virtual 3D models help examine the effects of
complex geometry on explosion overpressures.

Scenario setting Modelling scenarios are set to
simulate the effects of various sized gas leaks
under different weather conditions. MMI ensure
the range examined is able to adequately inform
risk.


Ventilation study Different wind speeds and
directions are analysed to calculate ventilation
velocities and air change rates. This study
enables representative wind conditions to be
chosen for the dispersion study.
Dispersion study Gas cloud concentrations
and cloud sizes are predicted by examining
characteristic leaks under different wind
conditions. Cloud sizes are linked to frequency,
with large leaks being less common.
Explosion modelling Industry standard CFD
codes such as FLACS are used to develop time
dependent pressure data for specific areas
within modules or plants. The pressures and
impulses on blast walls and other impedance
measures are often examined.




CFD is used to model explosions in different
scenarios. Depi cted is an explosion flame front on
platform and the associ ated transi ent overpressure.
















MMI Engineering, 2012 Page 2 of 2


MMI ENGINEERING
CAPABILITY STATEMENT





Overpressures can be output at any point in the
three dimensional domai n

Probabilistic analysis Data from explosion
modelling is used to generate exceedance
curves for the plant/module. These link the
frequency of a particular explosion event to its
overpressure and allow engineers to determine
whether specific areas will be impaired.

An exceedance curve is generated specifical l y to
link the frequency to the design overpressure.



Contact
Simon Thurlbeck
Tel: +44 (0) 1925 230655
Email: sthurlbeck@mmiengineering.com
Website: www.mmiengineering.com


Ongoing support
MMI are frequently called upon to assess explosion risks
for a wide range of different industries. Able to entering
into a dialogue with designers and engineers at various
project stages, we help ensure that operators have
mitigation measures in place that minimise risks to
personnel.



Experimental work is carried out to validate the numerical
models plus show the devastating impact that explosions
can have