Enhanced Fire Probabilistic Risk Assessment
Goal
To develop a software tool that enhances fire-modeling capabilities and streamlines and simplifies fire probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) model development and maintenance, significantly reducing human effort and errors. The software tool is called Fire Risk in 3D (FRI3D).
Outcome
Researchers will develop a fire-modeling software that includes features such as fire-modeling from scratch, time- and space-dependent fire simulation, automated PRA workflow and a 3D view of fire-scenario progression.
The software will complement existing plant fire PRAs. It imports existing plant models and then combines the required tools and methods in a 3D environment. It is expected, based on a pilot project’s results, that FRI3D will reduce fire-modeling efforts by up to 50%, cut turnaround time by up to 50% and decrease user error by 90% or more. This tool will help with research and development of enhanced time-dependent methods to improve the realism of scenario modeling and reduce undue conservatism.
Planned major accomplishments
- Finalize FRI3D for industry technology transfer and evaluate it for other external hazards (e.g., flood); collaborate with Japan's Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry to include testing of additional simulation features and incorporation of arc flash into scenarios.
