Computational fluid dynamics modelling approaches of gas explosion in the chemical process industry: A review

Abstract

Previous studies have revealed that major accidents in Chemical Process Industry (CPI) are most commonly due to explosions. Thus, analytical studies of explosion-related risk assessments are performed to predict the consequences of potential explosions. As physical experiments on explosions are very expensive, modelling and simulation techniques using theoretical models are becoming increasingly popular, allowing researchers to replicate the potential explosion scenarios. In this regard, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are more than appropriate. Although CFD simulations are widely applied, they have several weaknesses such as high computational costs as well as potential simulation inaccuracies due to inaccurate modelling steps. The weaknesses can be overcome with appropriate techniques such as model simplification, defining the appropriate method, grid design and boundary conditions. Many studies have reported different aspects and perspectives of explosion modelling and simulation techniques, but few evaluate the techniques across every different type of explosion. This subject is critical, as modelling steps and techniques directly affect the accuracy of simulation results. Hence, a review of the assumptions and simulation techniques that are used to reduce the computational costs associated with gas explosion modelling for each of the different explosion types is presented.