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Oil majors, class team to upgrade CFD software modelling gas dispersion in accident scenarios
DNV has released advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software updates covering three joint industry projects to simulate fuel spills or cargo escapes during gas production, storage and transport
In one project, oil majors and independent operators have teamed with classification society DNV to develop and test software to simulate the release and dispersion of gases being developed for marine fuels.
DNV’s KFX CFD software was developed in collaboration with Equinor, TotalEnergies, ConocoPhillips, Eni, Horisont Energi, Vår Energi, Gassco, GRTgaz and the Research Council of Norway. It can simulate CO2 releases, important both when designing carbon capture and storage facilities or handling ammonia and hydrogen fuels, which will increasingly be used in the maritime sector.
KFX software can be used for projects generating the fuels and when designing ships to transport them between terminals. It also models the behaviour of liquid or gaseous materials and creates predictive models of accident scenarios for emergency planning.
These simulations can be used when designing installations, for quantitative risk assessments and to optimise safety measures in energy transition projects.
"Through these joint industry projects, we have worked with energy companies to decode the complexities of the energy transition, translating that knowledge into scaleable software that supports the safe and effective deployment of carbon capture and other critical technologies related to hydrogen and ammonia,” said DNV chief executive for digital solutions, Kenneth Vareide.
For CO2 releases, the updated version of KFX software has the capability to model dry ice formation, and the sublimation of particles in the air or from the ground if deposited. The processes included in the scenario modelling would potentially impact the dispersion of CO2 and affect requisite safety distances in emergency planning for facilities. DNV said the updates to the software will allow for more cost-efficient decarbonisation projects.
The update to the KFX software also includes a multi-component spray model to simulate ammonia gas being absorbed in water droplets and can be used to evaluate the efficiency and design of mitigation methods, including water curtains, in accident scenarios.
Regarding hydrogen dispersion, DNV said its combustion and radiation models in KFX have undergone extensive testing and validation for both hydrogen and hydrogen mixtures.
DNV said it has also enhanced its simulation software for gas explosions, EXSIM, to better predict the effect of a hydrogen explosion.
Maritime Decarbonisation, Europe: Conference, Awards & Exhibition 2025address critical environmental issues head-on. Focused on the industry’s energy transition, the conference offers a comprehensive forum for all stakeholders across the maritime sector to explore solutions and strategies for achieving low-carbon shipping and zero-emissions shipping.
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