Modeling — Dispersion Modeling
Releases of chemicals from industrial plants due to incidents or fire can lead to local pollution problems and to concerns for unacceptable exposures to employees or the public down wind. Smoke from a burning building can be a nuisance or a hazard. Under unfavorable weather conditions, heat and embers could spread the fire to adjoining structures. Both the thermal stratification and the vertical distribution of the prevailing winds can have a profound effect on plume rise. Emergency response planning can benefit from practical modeling of potential releases and fires to assist the response team and incident commander to define the extent of hazardous exposures from dispersion of toxic or flammable gases, thermal radiation or explosions. Many AHJs require modeling of these exposures for credible scenarios in accordance with nationally recognized standards.
HAI has the expertise to develop credible scenarios, identify regulatory or codified requirements for exposures resulting from chemical releases or fire, and utilize models which have been validated and verified. Reports of results are used for compliance, siting and planning by our clients. Appropriate model parameters are incorporated to track both positively and negatively buoyant release of gases, effects of terrain and weather conditions. Past projects include research and model development, risk analyses and consequence analysis for industrial complexes, such as LNG plants, alternative fueling facilities, refineries, LPG storage, fuel bulk terminals plants, chemical injection facilities, and investigations of the consequences of high rise fires.
Javier Trelles
jtrelles@haifire.com
410-737-8677
