Assessing products and materials for fire and explosion risks
Since the inception of Gexcon in XXXX, we have continued to build on our knowledge and expertise in fire and explosion safety by designing and performing various explosion, blast and fire tests to obtain scientific competence in the physical, mathematical and chemical properties of products and materials.
Understanding these properties will help prevent significant hazards and mitigate their consequences on people, assets and the environment.
At our cutting-edge testing facilities located on the island of Sotra, Norway, we have performed testing and experimental research to assist our clients in understanding the hazards associated with their facilities and to aid the development and validation of our in-house consequence modelling tool, FLACS.
Our small-scale and laboratory-scale test facilities offer a wide range of gas and dust explosion testing projects using vessels in the volume range from less than 1 litre to approximately 2 m3, with all medium-scale and large-scale tests performed using vessels in the volume range from 1 m3 to 50 m3. The venting configuration(s) and test scenarios can vary significantly with such a wide range of test vessels available. Several closed vessels and open or vented test vessels are available.
Gexcon fire test site in Steinslands, Norway
Gexcon explosion test site in Børnesskogen, Norway
Testing facilities
Small- and laboratory-scale facilities
Most small-scale and laboratory-scale tests are performed at Gexcon’s test laboratory facilities at Steinslands on the island of Sotra just outside Bergen, Norway.
A wide range of gas and dust explosion testing projects using vessels with a volume range from less than 1 litre to approximately 2 m3 can usually be performed in the laboratory. Test scenarios can vary significantly in this wide range of test vessels. Several closed vessels are available, as well as several open or vented test vessels.
Small-scale testing at Gexcon includes equipment testing, gas and dust explosion research, and specialised or dedicated testing projects that are tailor-made to suit customer requirements and needs.
The small-scale test facilities at Gexcon’s test laboratory include, among others, the following test vessels:
- 2.0 litre cylindrical vessel (L = 0.25 m, D=0.1 m, Pmax = 10 barg)
- 9 litre cylindrical high pressure vessel (L = 0.3 m, D = 0.2 m, Pmax = 200 barg, flanged ends)
- 20 litre spherical dispersion chamber (D=0.35 m, Pmax = 16 barg)
- 1.4 m repeated obstacle vessel (L=1.4 m, 0.3 x 0.3 m, approx 130 litre volume)
- 1:33 scale module (L=1.2 m, 0.35 x 0.40 m, approx. 170 litre volume)
- Transient driver section (L=3.5 m, 0.3 x 0.3 m, approx. 315 litre)
- 1.2 m3 vessel (D = 0.9 m, L = 1.9 m, Pmax = 13 barg, closed vessel or open end with variable venting configurations)
- 1.5 m3 rectangular cabinet for equipment testing (H=1.5 m, 1.0 x 1.0 m, flange at top and a variety of vent arrangements on sides)
- Single-impact anvil test apparatus
- And several other test vessels and apparatuses
Testing facilities
Mid- and large-scale testing facilities
All medium-scale and large-scale tests are performed at Gexcon’s test site in Børnesskogen and Steinslands on the island of Sotra just outside Bergen, Norway.
Gas and dust explosion testing can be performed using vessels ranging from 1 m3 to 50 m3. A wide range of test vessels is available, and the venting configuration(s) and test scenarios can vary significantly. Several closed vessels are also available.
Large-scale testing at Gexcon includes equipment testing, gas and dust explosion research, and specialised or dedicated testing projects that are tailor-made to suit customer requirements and needs.
The large-scale test facilities at Gexcon’s test site at Sotra include the following test vessels:
- 50 m3 realistic offshore module (L=8 m, 2.5 x 2.5 m, Pmax = 3 barg, variable venting configurations)
- 50 m3 cylindrical vessel (L = 10 m, D = 2.5 m, Pmax = 32 barg, closed or open end)
- 10 m3 closed ‘reactor’ vessel (D = 2 m, H = 3.8 m, Pmax = 16 barg, various flanges and openings)
- 10 m3 closed vessel (D = 2.5 m, H = 3 m approx, Pmax = 10 barg, variable venting configurations)
- 23 m3 roller mill (D=3 m approx, H = 8 m approx, Pmax = 3 barg approx)
Explore our fire and explosion testing solutions
Uncover the risks of your products to secure your operations.
Active involvement in research projects
We take pride in our active participation in diverse research projects, where we contribute to advancing knowledge and technologies in process safety to enhance safety measures, reduce risks, and prevent incidents.
Some of these projects' explosion experiments took place at our testing facilities in Norway.
