Consequence Modeling for Accidental Events of SO2 Release in a Detergent Manufacturing Company

Chemical industries and facilities pose the risk of potential hazards in case of accidents, which lead to injuries and financial losses due to the spread of materials in the surroundings of the accident. These materials often have harmful properties (e.g., toxicity or flammability), and their release could cause secondary accidents (e.g., fire, poisoning, and explosion). The present study aimed to assess the effects of toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2) in a suffocation unit.

A possible scenario of SO2 emission was selected using the matrix presented by the researchers. Afterwards, the hazard and operability study method was used to analyze the conditions. The modeling and evaluation of the outcomes of the selected scenario for SO2 gas emission from the gas pipeline were carried out using the PHAST7.11 software.

The worst scenario was observed in the employees within the approximate distance of 10 meters and height of two meters from the gas leakage (100 mm leakage diameter) and gas diffusion angled from horizontal impingement.

About 1.84 seconds after the leakage of toxic SO2 (distance: 10 meters, height: 1.39 m), the concentration was approximately 39,339 ppm, which was the worst scenario in August, with the possible mortality risk of 49%.