Our involvement
Gexcon is pleased to present a paper at the 10th International Conference on Safety & Environment in Process & Power Industry (CISAP 10), which will be held in Florence, Italy on May 8-11, 2022. The event is organised by AIDIC, The Italian Association of Chemical Engineering.
Presentation
Title: Modelling of the plume rise phenomenon due to warehouse or pool fires considering penetration of the mixing layer
Presenter: Hans Boot
Authors: Hans Boot and Sonia Ruiz Pérez
Abstract: Toxic combustion products resulting from warehouse fires, rise due to the density difference between the hot combustion products and the ambient air. The theory behind this plume rise phenomenon is that there will be a height at which the released material will be in equilibrium with the density of the air at that height, leading to a maximum plume height. The trajectory of the plume and the hazard distances to specific concentration threshold levels will be determined by the atmospheric stability class and the fire’s convective heat production, leading to potential penetration of the mixing layer.
Typical models that describe the mathematics behind the rising of hot plumes include the effects of atmospheric turbulence. However, the potential penetration of the plume due to the temperature inversion layer is often not considered. The importance of the plume penetration is that all mass that has risen above the mixing layer, will never disperse back into the mixing layer. This occurs for strong chimney emissions which are likely to penetrate upwards due to their greater buoyancy forces. Therefore, chemical pollutants will be trapped above the mixing layer height and will never create chemical exposure at ground level. Furthermore, the potential reflection of the plume should also be considered, as it can play an important role in plumes that do not penetrate the mixing layer.
The present study has led to the implementation of a dedicated model to simulate the plume rise phenomenon of toxic combustion products due to warehouse fires in Gexcon’s consequence modelling software package EFFECTS.
About the event
CISAP 10 is organised by AIDIC, The Italian Association of Chemical Engineering.
CISAP 10, the tenth edition of the International Conference on Safety and Environment in the Process & Power Industry, will provide a successful forum on process safety, risk assessment and HSE management. The conference provides a unique opportunity to share and gain experience on actual topics and the current evolution in emerging risk assessment and management, such as the security issues in the chemical and process industry and the assessment of accident scenarios caused by natural hazards. Meetings and discussions between international scientists, engineers from academia and industry will be facilitated to share new trends in research, methodologies, and practical approaches for the management of emerging risk.
The 10th Edition confirms CISAP-Series as a prominent biennial forum on safety and sustainability, contributing to the consolidation of a safety culture aiming at sustainable growth of the enterprise value based on the safeguarding of the health of employees and population, the safety of operations and the protection of the environment.
