Abstract. Advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of gas release and dispersion (GRAD) have been developed, tested, validated and applied to the modeling of various industrial real-life indoor and outdoor flammable gas (hydrogen, methane, etc.) release scenarios with complex geometries. The user-friendly GRAD CFD modeling tool has been designed as a customized module based on the commercial general-purpose CFD software, PHOENICS. Advanced CFD models available include the following: the dynamic boundary conditions, describing the transient gas release from a pressurized vessel, the calibrated outlet boundary conditions, the advanced turbulence models, the real gas law properties applied at high-pressure releases, the special output features and the adaptive grid refinement tools. One of the advanced turbulent models is the multifluid model (MFM) of turbulence, which enables to predict the stochastic properties of flammable gas clouds. The predictions of transient threedimensional (3D) distributions of flammable gas concentrations have been validated using the comparisons with available experimental data. The validation matrix contains the enclosed and nonenclosed geometries, the subsonic and sonic release flow rates and the releases of various gases, e.g., hydrogen, helium, etc. GRAD CFD software is recommended for safety and environmental protection analyses. For example, it was applied to the hydrogen safety assessments particular, the dynamic behaviors of flammable gas clouds (with the gas ______ * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Vladimir Agranat, 6591 Spinnaker Circle, Mississauga, Ontario, L5W 1R2, Canada. e-mail: info@tchouvelev.org and acfda@sympatico.ca concentrations between the lower flammability level (LFL) and the upper flammability level (UFL)) can be accurately predicted with the GRAD CFD modeling tool. Some examples of hydrogen cloud predictions are presented in the paper. CFD modeling of flammable gas clouds could be considered as a costeffective and reliable tool for environmental assessments and design optimizations of combustion devices. The paper details the model features and provides currently available testing, validation and application cases relevant to the predictions of flammable gas dispersion scenarios. The significance of the results is discussed together with further steps required to extend and improve the models.Keywords: computational fluid dynamics, numerical modeling tool, flammable gas cloud, gas release and dispersion, environmental protection and safety analyses, clearance distance In many industries, there are serious safety concerns related to the use of flammable gases in indoor and outdoor environments. It is very important to develop reliable methods of analyses of flammable gas release and dispersion (GRAD) in real-life complex geometry cases. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is considered as one of the promising cost-effective approaches in such analyses. The objective of this paper is to describe the advanced GRAD CFD models, which have been r...