Petri-net based evaluation of emergency response actions for preventing domino effects triggered by fire

Abstract

In industrial chemistry, many flammable materials are handled and/or stored in various facilities. It is possible that major fires occur at these facilities possibly leading to domino effects due to the failure of neighboring facilities caused by thermal radiation. It will take a certain time that thermal radiation causes nearby facilities to fail and that a domino effect occurs. The time needed for escalation to take place allows emergency actions as a response to the primary fire to prevent the propagation of the fire. In the present study, a Timed Colored Hybrid Petri-net (TCHPN) based methodology is introduced to evaluate different emergency response actions based on their efficiency in preventing or delaying the propagation of domino effects. A TCHPN model of emergency response to flammable liquid tank fire is established, and a time based analysis of emergency response actions for preventing domino effects is performed. Based on the simulation analysis, the probability of domino effects is calculated and response actions are compared.