News
Petrell and SINTEF NBL strengthen co-operation.
Petrell and SINTEF NBL have during the last year strengthened their co-operation. The two companies have a common interest in offering our customers a better and more robust solution to their fire safety problems. Most often numerical simulations or experimental work is used alone as an important part of risk analysis. However, by combining testing and simulation, we can offer a far more comprehensive and value-added solution to many problems. Testing is used to reveal the relevant material properties and to establish a baseline for e.g. further testing of different applications of PFP materials and different test objects/geometrics using numerical simulations.
Petrell assists research instititions, authorities, engineering companies and oil companies with the evaluation of design guidelines, engineering analysis, trouble-shooting and verifications. We also tailor simulation systems for special applications. Using the correct material properties relevant for a fire situation can be of great importance when building up simulation models. Such material properties can be estimated through testing and analysis in our laboratory. Through co-operation with Petrell we aim to offer simulations that can help when analyzing the customers’ products both before and after tests. This can for instance be used for interpolation and extrapolation of test results as well as for a rough prediction of test results. SINTEF NBL has long experience in performing a large variety of fire tests and fire safety analyses, and performs both standardized and ad hoc fire tests in different scales. We are internationally recognized for jet fire testing, and offer documentation of fire resistance of passive fire protection to be used for approval. We have taken part in the development of the jet fire tests that are widely used today (OTI 95 634). Furthermore, we are also a notified body to undertake conformity assessment related to fire protection according to the Marine Equipment Directive.
Freezing of Fire Water in deluge piping.
Arctic drilling and production of oil and gas are demanding new challenges in fire safety.
For offshore installations, Fire Water is often considered the last fire barrier in case of severe fire accidents. In extreme cold conditions, water might
not be available as an efficient fire agent if it freezes during transport, or when applied during fire fighting.
To predict critical freezing conditions of water, Petrell is working on numerical models calculating the behaviour of Fire Water deluge piping. This will
facilitate safer designs of deluge piping in arctic environments.
Failure of piping and flanges exposed to fire.
Unprotected piping flanges, especially bolts and nuts, are the most critical parts when exposed to fire.
To increase knowledge about fire resistance of various flange types and dimensions, Petrell is preparing a numerical tool to simulate the thermal response of
flanges exposed to general fire conditions. The tool can complete thermal response calculations for both protected and unprotected flanges, including heat absorption
inside piping containing flowing substances.
