Title
Optimizing safety barrier allocation to prevent domino effects in large-scale chemical clusters using graph theory and optimization algorithms
Author
Zhang, Muchen (Nanjing Tech University)
Li, Zelin (Nanjing Tech University)
Hou, Shuya (Nanjing Tech University)
Deng, Siyu (Nanjing Tech University)
Reniers, G.L.L.M.E. (TU Delft Safety and Security Science; Universiteit Antwerpen; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) 
Yang, M. (TU Delft Safety and Security Science; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; University of Tasmania)
Zhang, Bin (Nanjing Tech University)
Date
2024
Abstract
Domino effects are high-impact low-probability events that can have catastrophic consequences. To prevent and to reduce risks related to such events, safety barriers (SBs) are crucial. However, the initiation, propagation, and stopping processes of domino effects are characterized with complexity and uncertainties and hence they are unpredictable. This makes it challenging to allocate SBs based on predicted probabilities. In this study, a multi-objective optimization model which integrates graph theory with Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) was proposed to allocate add-on SBs effectively. Graph metrics were used to quantify the escalation risks related to storage tanks and to optimize the allocation of add-on SBs, thereby minimizing the consequences of a domino effect under a budget constraint. The results of the case study demonstrate great efficiency in finding globally optimal strategies with a largest reduction of 94.3% in the out-closeness score due to the implementation of add-on SBs, allowing decision-makers to choose the most preferable investment strategy in face of domino effect risk. Our study therefore provides a novel approach to achieve an optimal allocation of add-on SBs globally and can be useful in preventing domino effects in large-scale chemical clusters equipped with a large number of storage tanks.
Subject
Domino effects
Graph theory
Multi-objective optimization
NSGA-II
Safety barriers
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:6f2d7bae-5777-4e37-aa8a-875e2704e62a
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2024.02.057
Embargo date
2024-09-22
ISSN
0957-5820
Source
Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 184, 1192-1205
Bibliographical note
Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.
Part of collection
Institutional Repository
Document type
journal article
Rights
© 2024 Muchen Zhang, Zelin Li, Shuya Hou, Siyu Deng, G.L.L.M.E. Reniers, M. Yang, Bin Zhang