3D Numerical Simulation of a Chlorine Release in an Urban Area

Abstract

Toxic gas releases in the atmosphere is a great concern for human health. Accidents in industrials plants where harmful chemicals are stocked or produced, as well as intentional dispersion of poisonous substances during terroristic attacks, are threats which the population is getting more and more worried about, so many studies are being carried out in this field. A good estimation of the effects on human health relies on the correctness of chemical substance dispersion prediction. This piece of information is crucial to imagining scenarios and preparing countermeasures if such an event occurs but also to plan attacks (terroristic point of view): simulations are dual-use. In this work, a numerical simulation of a continuous release of chlorine in an urban area was carried out to determine its concentration, and, by using a clinical model taking into account the LD ₅₀ of Cl₂ and an exposure time of 60 s, an estimation of the local mortality was made. It was shown how an accurate CFD simulation of such an accident/attempt can be useful in predicting a chemical contamination scenario.