Optimal layout of additional facilities for minimization of domino effects based on worst-case scenarios

Abstract

Accidents involving domino effects are more serious than other type of accidents. Although there have been studies on such accidents, it is still difficult to examine the actual factors and causes since the domino effect is influenced nonlinearly by factors involving flame, overpressure, and flying objects. We considered the case of adding new facilities to an existing system in a given site. The layout of new facilities suggests positions that minimize the domino effects, based on nonlinear optimization taking domino factors into account. We quantitatively calculated the domino risk of each facility through the concept of combined domino factors (flame, overpressure, and missile). Also, we identified variations of domino damage extent of the target system through comparison of the impacts of domino effect when additional facilities were installed. Simulated annealing was adopted for searching optimal positions. As a case study, we applied the proposed method to the case of adding DME storage tanks in the existing LPG charging facilities. The presented framework of the quantitative assessment of domino risk and safety standard for the layout of additional facilities would be useful for proper layout design for improved accident prevention.

Safety and Security of Domino Effects in the Process Industry: The State of the Art

“…The developed computer-aided module (MiniFFECT) sequentially allocates hazardous installations in a limited land [89]. This optimization approach was further improved to obtain the optimal plant layout minimizing the total weighted consequences of different escalation scenarios [90]. Besides, the research was also extended to minimize the total construction costs, including pipeline connection cost, protection cost, and land-use cost [91].…”

“…Based on protection principles, decision-making tools are needed to identify the best strategy according to decision criteria. Decision-making for inherent safety strategies has drawn much attention, including comparative analysis [86,87], layout optimization [88,90,91], and inventory optimization [98]. The decision-making on safety barriers includes optimization of the allocation of safety barriers [104,105], cost-effective analysis [107] of the influence of costs on decision-making for safety barriers.…”

Case Study: Safety Assessment of Plant Layout between Ethylene Storage Tanks and Process Equipment According to Capacity and Weather Conditions

“…There was a study that found 37.5 kW/m 2 is suitable as a thermal radiation criterion causing damage to facilities in an experiment that applied thermal radiation to a sample of an offshore platform, and propane was applied for the source material of thermal radiation [15]. Another study selected 37.5 kW/m 2 as the criterion for causing chain explosion under the influence of thermal radiation of process equipment and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was applied for the source material of thermal radiation [16]. There was also a study that the separation distance between the propylene process equipment and the other facilities of chemical plant should be 37.5 kW/m 2 of thermal radiation, and propylene was applied for the source material of thermal radiation [17].…”

A Quantitative Framework for Propagation Paths of Natech Domino Effects in Chemical Industrial Parks: Part II—Risk Assessment and Mitigation System

“…Baser and Behnam proposed an emergency response plan for cascading post-earthquake fires in fuel storage facilities [24], and Misuri et al developed a method for assessing the performance of the safety barrier in Natech scenarios [21]. To date, the mitigation measures for domino effects mainly include inherent safety [25][26][27], safety barriers [28][29][30], emergency response [31][32][33], etc. However, such studies remain narrow in focus, dealing only with Natech events or domino effects.…”