Description
Gexcon FLACS v10.0
FLACS Modules
The FLACS suite of software is based on the CFD technology developed at Gexcon (CMR/CMI) since 1980. FLACS has, since the first version was released in 1986, been a world leader within gas explosion models. This is due to a competent modelling team, good experimental facilities and understanding, stimulating sponsor companies and a large in-house user group of consultants.
The FLACS standard package can handle explosion, dispersion, ventilation, mitigation and pool modelling. It is also possible to buy or lease individual modules – at a significantly lower price than for FLACS standard package.
FLACS-Dispersion
This is a subset of the FLACS simulator that has the capabilities of the FLACS simulator in the area of dispersion and ventilation, but where the explosion capabilities are deactivated. Due to the ability to represent detailed geometries with the distributed porosity concept, the dispersion capabilities of FLACS have proven particularly powerful in calculating release scenarios in process areas where the density of objects and pipes is high. FLACS has been extensively validated against large-scale realistic release and explosion tests performed at Gexcon and full-scale experiments carried out at the Advantica test site Spadeadam in a 2600 m3 semi-confined model of an offshore module.
Since FLACS is a dedicated explosion simulator, the dispersion models are highly suitable in calculating explosion cloud sizes and use in explosion risk assessments. Recent work has addressed the ability to simulate toxic release scenarios onshore, in which representation of terrain and turbulent wind profiles are important. Models for release and dispersion of aerosols are also under development. These can be added as a complementary option.
The price of FLACS-DISPERSION will be significantly lower than for the FLACS standard package.
Capabilities include:
Geometry import from CAD
Various gases (More than 10 + user-defined) and mixtures of these
Wind boundary conditions with wind profiles
Effect of water deluge on dispersion
Efficient pre-processing, reasonable simulation times
Export of gas clouds to explosion calculations (FLACS)
Data to estimate transient ignition probabilities and cloud sizes
Local gas concentrations and accumulated cloud estimates
2D and 3D field plots with various variables
Automatic generation of mpg-videos from post-processor
Extensive validation (Phase 3B, Dispersion JIP, GSP, Licorefla, SMEDIS)
And more...
The tool will be suitable for companies interested in a well-developed and validated dispersion tool suitable for representing realistic geometry densities efficiently. Also companies that would use other tools than FLACS for explosion calculations could benefit from using FLACS-DISPERSION to estimate likely gas cloud sizes in a process area.
FLACS-Gasex
FLACS-Gasex is a subset of the FLACS simulator that has the capabilities of the FLACS simulator in the area of explosion, but where the ventilation and dispersion capabilities is removed. In the gas explosion area FLACS-Gasex has more extensive capabilities and applicability than its competitors and has the same validity as FLACS.
The price of FLACS-Gasex will be significantly lower than for the FLACS standard package.
Capabilities include:
Geometry import from CAD
Import of dispersed gas clouds (FLACS and a few more CFD-codes)
Well validated CFD-explosion simulator
Efficient pre-processing and simulation times
Various gases (More than 10 + user-defined) and mixtures of these
Fuel lean, stoichiometric and rich mixtures with air
Effect of water deluge and dilution by inert gas
Effect of increased oxygen content in air
Non-standard temperature and initial pressure
Initial turbulence
Rupture discs, relief panels and simplified wall failures
Blast propagation (multiblock concept / non-reflecting boundary condition)
Local pressures and average wall pressures (and other variables)
2D and 3D field plots of various variables
Automatic generation of mpg-videos from post-processor
And more
Area of use:
Offshore installations (natural gas mixtures)
Onshore plants (natural gas, ethylene/propylene, hydrogen/synthesis gas)
Explosions in factory buildings
Domestic explosions (natural gas, propane, butane, CO)
Explosions inside process equipment / exhaust systems
Tunnel explosions
FLACS-Hydrogen
FLACS-Hydrogen has the same capabilities as the FLACS standard package with regard to hydrogen dispersion and explosions, or situations in where hydrogen dominates the gas mixture. This version of FLACS can be useful in risk evaluations in connection with the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier, for nuclear plants, in chemical factories, synthesis gas (gas to liquid processes) and microprocessor factories (on request Silane SiH4 will also be possible to model).
With FLACS-Hydrogen one can simulate and evaluate to what extent a leak scenario may produce flammable gas clouds in a given scenario, and to what extent the flammable gas clouds may represent a significant risk. FLACS has been able to simulate hydrogen explosions since before 1990. In recent years, a number of research projects have been considered the validity of FLACS in the area of hydrogen explosions.
The price of FLACS-Hydrogen will be significantly lower than for the FLACS standard package as its use is limited to gas mixtures dominated by hydrogen.
Capabilities include:
Manual geometry definition or import from CAD
Efficient pre-processing, reasonable simulation times
Dispersion of hydrogen dominated mixtures from leak
Explosion of dispersed or pre-defined gas clouds
Pressure curves at various locations and walls (averaged)
Pressure relief panels with inertia can represent collapsing walls
2D and 3D field plots of various variables (flame and maximum pressure)
Automatic generation of mpg-videos from post-processor