Modelling toxic threat from gas clouds
15 Jan 2000
VTT is working on another development related to the safe operation of plant, with two other Finnish companies. This modelling system can provide industrial sites with the means of profiling the spread of gas and liquid contaminants released in accidents at toxic chemicals storage sites.
Perttu Heino explained: `What we have proposed to potential customers is that they take a geographical presentation of their sites into which they build our consequence model. This calculates the effects of the combination of prevailing environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity and wind conditions, with the toxicity of the materials concerned.'
Under alert conditions, the plant operator will be able to look at this GIS-based display and see what area will be affected by the chemical spill or escape.
Currently, there are seven interested parties in Finland.
`Chemical accidents have a very short duration so decisions about tackling them need to be taken in a few minutes,' Heino added.
