Abstract
Aim: The main focus of this paper is to analyze the potential of constructing a simulation scenario, which can reproduce an emergency situation, using a software system RizEx-2.
Introduction: During 1970, in Port Hudson, Missouri a rare incident occurred in the form of an unconfined gas explosion. During excavation work, a pipeline transporting propane was damaged, which caused an accidental release of approximately 120 m3 of liquefied gas. The incident description and hypothetical analysis of potential developments were presented in a report written by the United States Bureau of Mines at the behest of the National Transportation Safety Board. The report placed a special emphasis on possible ignition sources, the dispersion of flammable vapours and the analysis of blast damage.
Methodology: An analysis was performed on the possibility of recreating an emergency scenario with the aid of RizEx-2 software, based on the incident in 1970 at Port Hudson (USA), in order to examine the appropriateness of this programme to perform assessments of consequences arising from incidents involving explosive gases. The first part of this article describes the incident report produced immediately after the accident. Next, a simulation model was constructed of events, with the aid of a software programme RizEx-2. Finally, an analysis was performed, which compared results produced by the software programme against outcomes revealed by the report. The simulation of events at Port Hudson utilised three programme modules: Gaussian Dispersion Model-Neutral Gas, Formation of Explosion-Hazardous Cloud and Explosion. To get a better picture of how the programme mirrors actual events in Port Hudson, the same incident circumstances were created, including weather conditions as well as the speed of propane leakage identified in the report. From this two incident development scenarios were examined. In the first it was assumed that the wind speed was at 3 m/s and the second was at 4 m/s.
Conclusions: On the basis of analysis performed, it is concluded that the programme RizEx-2 can be a valuable tool in the evaluation of incidents involving pipelines and their consequences. However, the limitations of the programme should be taken into account and results should not be viewed as final, but used as an aid in the interpretation of studied events. The data used in calculations should be, primarily, based on details from the investigation of events, and the results from the programme should be always evaluated in relation to actual outcomes.
Keywords: gas explosion, RizEx-2, simulation of an emergency event, explosive gas
Type of article: case study