QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Improved consequence and risk

modelling with Phast and Safeti 9.0
Presenter: Trixie Secillano

1 How can the webinar recordings be accessed?

Phast, Safeti, KFX and EXSIM users with a service licence agreement (SLA) can access all the webinar
recordings and presentations through the Knowledge Centre: https://myworkspace.dnv.com/knowledge-
centre/phast-and-safeti/webinars. You are required to register to obtain full access to the content. Alternatively, if
you are not an active user, you can find our webinar recordings here: https://www.dnv.com/software/video-
webinar/webinars-plant-software.html.

2 Is the Knowledge Centre free for all?

The Knowledge Centre offers some information freely to the public. However, to access all content (including
webinar recordings, user conference materials, help articles and software installation files), registration and an
active Service Level Agreement (SLA) are required.

3 Is the release date for Phast/Safeti 9.0 already set?

Yes, Phast and Safeti 9.0 are expected to be released in December 2023.

4 How different is point of interest from Risk Ranking Points (RRPs)?

The Points of Interest is a specific feature available in Phast software, while Risk Ranking Points is a feature in
Safeti software. The concept of both is nearly identical, allowing users to obtain detailed results at various
locations within the facility being considered. However, with Points of Interest, only detailed explosion results are
available.

5 What about the dispersion of toxic components (for example, hydrogen

sulphide) within a two-phase or gaseous system, can the Phast CFD
dispersion feature model that?
Phast 9.0 is currently capable of modelling the dispersion of materials with flammable or flammable and toxic
characteristics only. We are planning to include support for purely toxic materials in the Phast CFD dispersion in
the next version of Phast.

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Improved consequence and risk modelling with Phast and Safeti 9.0
6 Is there any validation document for Phast CFD dispersion?
Our team is currently working on a validation document. This document will detail the verification processes and
provide comparison of the results. It will also discuss limitation and differences between Phast CFD and KFX, our
CFD software for fires and dispersion. We aim to give you confidence in the accuracy and reliability of our models.
Once finalised, the document will be made available to all users through the Knowledge Centre. It is important to
note that Phast CFD utilises KFX as the CFD engine, which has been thoroughly validated and continuously
developed for over 40 years.

7 What types of input 3D geometry data and their associated file

extensions are necessary for import to Phast?
Various 3D geometry file formats, such as .kfx, .dgn, .rvm, .obj, .mcr, .cge, .cgeo, and .stl are supported in Phast.
If the file format is not one of these, for example, a Navisworks .nwd file, it will need to be converted to .obj using
third-party conversion tools.

8 Can the risks (in Safeti) be modelled from these consequences generated
in this Phast CFD dispersion extension?
We have not yet integrated CFD modelling or results into Safeti’s risk calculations. Incorporating this feature into
Safeti is currently being considered in our product roadmap.

9 Will Phast 9.0 standard license be able to model dispersion, jet, and pool
fires with CFD? Does the CFD consider the multicomponent mixture?
Yes, users with a standard version of Phast can perform dispersion, jet fire, and pool fire modelling with CFD.
However, the modelling does not include 3D geometries; an active CFD extension license is required for this.

It should be noted that while the CFD modelling in Phast considers multicomponent mixtures, the extensions
currently only model releases of materials with flammable or flammable and toxic characteristics.

10 In CFD dispersion source, should we manually put the release rate rather
than using leak diameters?
In a CFD dispersion source scenario, the release rate is required as input. However, it is possible to create a CFD
dispersion source scenario from any of the classic scenario, such as a Leak or Time-varying leak, where the
release diameter is specified as input. After running a classic scenario, you can create a CFD dispersion source
scenario from it. This new scenario will use the discharge data calculated based on the specified release diameter.

11 Are there any improvements in the calculation model (or any

improvement in the software) when hydrogen is being used?
Yes, we have made various improvements to Phast and Safeti to enhance the modelling of hydrogen releases,
such as implementing the Miller model and validating the modelling against experimental data involving hydrogen.
In fact, we have published a guidance document to elaborate on these changes and provide users with better
guidance on performing consequence and risk assessments for hydrogen releases. You can view the guidance
document here: Application of Phast and Safeti to hydrogen consequences and risks - Rev 4 (updated November
2023 for Phast 9.0).

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Improved consequence and risk modelling with Phast and Safeti 9.0
12 What kind of information can we get in the Diagnostics folders?
In the Diagnostics folder in Phast, users will find results in the form of .csv files which provide explosion diagnostic
data. Depending on the selected diagnostic level (Basic or Detailed), users will find:

• Explosion Inputs.csv: This file lists the parameters used in explosion calculations, including weathers and
wind directions modelled.

• Explosion SourceResults.csv: For each modelled explosion outcome and obstructed region, this file
details the specifics of the explosion source modelling. It covers aspects such as flammable mass,
explosion energy, flame speed for a BST source, or source-strength for an ME source.

Additional files such as Explosion ContourResults.csv, Explosion TransectResults.csv and Explosion

PointResults.csv are available.

The diagnostics folder in Safeti also provides diagnostic results in the form of individual risk, societal risk, risk
diagnostics (for risk input data), and explosion diagnostics.

13 What is the difference between dynamic pressure and side-on

overpressure?
The difference between dynamic pressure and side-on overpressure in blast wave analysis lies in their
measurement and considerations.

Side-on overpressure is measured on the ground and factors in the reflection of shock waves against the ground,
resulting in higher pressure values. This approach is considered conservative. In contrast, dynamic pressure,
associated with kinetic energy, is often used as the design pressure but does not account for ground reflection,
leading to lower pressure readings. This approach is less conservative.

The choice between these approaches ultimately depends on the user’s preferences, with the justification for
dynamic pressure depending on the exclusion of ground reflection, particularly applicable when explosions occur
at a height above ground level.

14 What about liquid hydrogen (LH2)?

Phast, including the new CFD features, is equipped to handle hydrogen in both its gaseous and liquid phases. It
can model liquid hydrogen at e.g. -251°C. However, entering a temperature below -243.15°C will trigger a warning
when setting system conditions for a pressure vessel. This warning is to indicate that the conditions are
approaching absolute zero, a point at which the models are not fully validated.

We have published a guidance document to provide users with better insights on modelling hydrogen releases.
You can view the guidance document here: Application of Phast and Safeti to hydrogen consequences and risks -
Rev 4 (updated November 2023 for Phast 9.0).

15 What are the limitations of Phast CFD dispersion compared to full CFD
using KFX? Also, can liquid / two-phase releases be modelled, or is Phast
CFD limited to gas releases only?
With the new Phast CFD feature, users can model materials, with flammable or flammable and toxic
characteristics, in vapour, two-phase or liquid phases.

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Improved consequence and risk modelling with Phast and Safeti 9.0
 Our team is currently working on a validation document. This document will detail the verification processes and
provide comparison of the results. It will also discuss the limitations and differences between Phast CFD and KFX,
our CFD software for fires and dispersion. We aim to give you confidence in the accuracy and reliability of our
models. Once finalised, the document will be made available to all users through the Knowledge Centre.

16 Does Phast CFD model CO2?

Phast 9.0 is currently capable of modelling the dispersion of materials with flammable or flammable and toxic
characteristics only. We are planning to include support for purely toxic materials such as CO 2 in the Phast CFD
dispersion in the next version of Phast.

17 Do the software model dust explosions?

Phast and Safeti currently cannot model explosions due to powder or dust formation. However, this feature is
being considered for our product development roadmap for 2024.

18 Is it possible to use Navisworks file extension directly in CFD?

Navisworks .nwd files are not currently supported in Phast, so users will need to convert these to .obj using third-
party conversion tools.

19 Which phenomena (types of releases) is possible to model, e.g., BLEVE

and related fireball and VCE?
The CFD modelling options that will be available in Phast version 9.0 include CFD modelling of a standalone pool
fire, jet fire, and dispersion source scenarios. To date, there is no option available for CFD modelling of a fireball.
While this might become available in the future, it is not currently part of the near-term roadmap for upcoming
releases of Phast. However, the modelling of explosions in Phast using CFD, which will be powered by our EXSIM
CFD code, is part of our product development roadmap for 2024.

20 How will we know that we need to use KFX rather than Phast CFD?
You would need to use KFX instead of Phast CFD in situations where more advanced modelling are required.
These scenarios include (but are not limited to):

- Delayed ignition or specific ignition sources

- Fires from time-varying leak rates

- Simultaneous fires and vents

- Flame detection

- Deluge model

- Wind field generated by helicopters

- Export of fire heat loads to USFOS for structural response and PFP

For these more advanced and specialised scenarios, KFX is the preferred option due to its capabilities and
features.

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Improved consequence and risk modelling with Phast and Safeti 9.0
21 Does Phast or Safeti include other ignition models in IOGP, look up
correlations such as Cox, Lees and Ang?
In version 8.2 of Safeti, the ignition models such as Cox, Less, Ang, and UKOOA look-up correlations were
introduced. In version 8.9, the Atkins ignition model, as published by the HSE, has also been included, while in
version 9.0, the DSB ignition models will be included.

22 Do points of interest only display explosion results? Or could there also

be max concentration, heat radiation, toxic exposure?
Yes, the Points of Interest feature in Phast currently only displays detailed explosion results. It does not yet include
other data available in the Risk Ranking Points feature in Safeti, such as maximum concentration, heat radiation,
and toxic exposure.

23 Do you have any consequence modelling tool for asphyxiation risks?

Phast, our consequence modelling tool, can be used to model asphyxiation hazards using its dispersion modelling
when there is a large quantity released that displaces oxygen. We conducted a webinar in 2021 on asphyxiation
modelling, which presents two methods for handling asphyxiation hazards. You can access the recording here:
https://www.dnv.com/software/campaigns-2021/plant-ask-the-experts-series-asphyxiation-modelling-webinar-
video.html.

We are working on answering all questions, if you cannot find the answer
to your question, please check back later.

DNV | digital@dnv.com | dnv.com/digital

Improved consequence and risk modelling with Phast and Safeti 9.0