Page 34 - Gi flipbook - November 2018

IGEM NEWS | Industrial Affiliates

DNV GL COMMISSIONS

WORLD’S LARGEST

INDUSTRIAL

EXPLOSION CHAMBER

DNV GL HAS commissioned the
world’s largest versatile unit for
explosion research at Spadeadam
Research and Testing, in Cumbria.
The chamber supports not only a
joint industry project (JIP) initiative but
also an identified need in the
marketplace. DNV GL has just
completed five commissioning runs of
varying explosion severity.
In 2017, Spadeadam was engaged to
run near full-scale explosion
experiments for a new DNV GL-led JIP
called CostFX. The purpose of the
CostFX project is to investigate
cost-efficient explosion load
descriptions for process areas.
Dan Allason, Head of Research and
Innovation at Spadeadam, DNV GL
– Oil & Gas, said: “The successful
commissioning of this chamber for the
CostFX project has shown it to be
capable of delivering explosion
loadings in excess of 2bar with Frame sequence from high speed video of chamber commissioning
durations greater than 200ms. This is
well suited to providing the types of
loads required for the project and will
also provide a world leading capability
for other explosion research.”
The project is driven by a need to
improve and align knowledge
between HSE, fluid dynamic and
structural disciplines on explosion
load criteria. The aim is to reduce
complexity and over design in current Hari Vamadevan,
models and methodologies for Regional Manager,
explosion protection, while balancing UK and West
demand for valid, accountable safety Africa, DNV GL -
margins. It ultimately, would provide Oil & Gas The chamber in an idle state
increased safety and reduced cost.
It became quickly apparent during (PFP) performance verification. and providing a solution that will help
the course of the JIP that a larger, Hari Vamadevan, Regional Manager, test new and safer products.”
partially confined explosion area would UK and West Africa, DNV GL - Oil & Work carried out at Spadeadam,
give depth and validity to the results. It Gas, said: “The explosion chamber is which is the largest facility of its kind
was also quickly established that the one of many solutions we offer at in the UK, consists of confidential,
construction of the unit, making use of Spadeadam to improve our testing large-scale, major hazard experiments,
the original full scale explosion rig built and analytical work. It is a good including flammable gas dispersion,
following the Piper Alpha disaster, example of an investment made fires, explosions, pipeline fracture
would be beneficial for tests through observing research, speaking tests, blast and product testing in a
undertaken for passive fire protection to customers, making improvements safe and secure environment. ■

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