Unconfined, confined and partially confined gas, liquid, dust and hybrid fires and explosions

Experimental and numerical analyses (CFD) of explosion phenomena (Vapour Cloud Explosion, Flash fires, Jet fire explosion, Dust explosion, Hybrid mixtures, Rapid Phase Tranistions, Bursting vessels, BLEVE) in confined, partially confined and unconfined environments, with specific reference to the prediction, prevention and mitigation of accidental phenomena and for the safe design of industrial equipment.

The design of industrial plants needs the definition of safety parameters if flammable materials in the gas, liquid, solid or hybrid (aerosol, dust/gas/vapour) phase are involved.

The research activities carried out in this research area are aimed at:

• Dust and hybrid explosions in the pharmaceutical, food, building and chemical industry
• Analysis of explosions and fires of stratified vapour mixtures with the aim of designing prevention and mitigation systems (equipment venting, interconnected systems), by means of advanced numerical methods (Computerized Fluid-Dynamic Codes, CFD)
• Study of Vapor Cloud Explosion in confined and partially confined environments by means of advanced numerical methods (Computerized Fluid-Dynamic Codes, CFD)
• Shock wave analysis for the Rapid phase transition and BLEVE of cryogenic liquids and pressurised liquid, with specific reference to LNG, LH2 and LPG
• Experimental studies conducted in collaboration with several institutions in Italy and abroad.

Research and Industrial projects on this topic address:

• Analysis of dust explosion in the storage of adhesives for the building industry (Kerakoll)
• Definition of explosive parameters for the H₂S/Oxygen mixture (KT-Kinetics Technology)