FLACS2022

Offentlig prosjektsammendrag

In this project we will develop a new software tool to calculate the safety risks to employees and people living around a specific installation due to fires, explosions and toxic gas releases. While similar software already exists, what makes this new tool unique is that it combines very accurate 3D computer "CFD" models with simpler and faster mathematical formulas to calculate consequences of flammable or toxic gas or liquid releases. This means that the risk can be calculated in a very accurate way, but it is still possible to get results very quickly. The new software tool is intended for both expert and non-expert users, where the non-expert users can use a web browser to view the calculated risk results in a simplified interface on their laptop, tablet or phone. This will make it much easier to look at the result, whenever needed and help improve safety. An other important aspect that is addressed in this project is improving the way we estimate and show the uncertainty in calculated consequence and safety risk results. Uncertainty is present in many aspects of risk studies and includes for example uncertainty in the likelihood of an accidental release or ignition, but also uncertainty in the assumptions used in the mathematical models themselves. With the research done in this project we expect to be able to give uncertainty a much more prominent role in the way we communicate and mitigate risk in future.