Leak helps safety engineers evaluate release frequencies for the purpose of Quantitative Risk Assessment QRA) analysis, where the likelihood of equipment failure is combined with the impact of the resulting hazard scenario to predict the associated risk.
The frequencies are computed based on derived functions for different ranges of leak sizes and different types of process equipment. Leak output is used as the required event frequency input to the Safeti QRA analysis.
The functions in Leak are based on the Hydrocarbon Release Database (HCRD), which is a compilation of historical data collected by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HCRD is considered to be one of the most comprehensive release databases available, and thus a good estimate for various hazardous event frequencies. The relatively simple frequency calculations can also multiply into a large and labourious task in complex process plants; this is where Leak proves to be invaluable.
Leak 3.21 has been developed to resolve a small number of issues raised in version 3.2. The main issue addressed only customers with regional settings which use a comma instead of a dot as the decimal symbol.
The features of interest in Leak 3.21 (and Leak 3.2) are:
- A modified analytical function has been implemented together with revised coefficients.
- Users can choose between single and multiple categories. In the case of multiple categories, the Leak frequency function is calculated separately for different scenarios which may have different consequences for the same hole size.
- The reports have been simplified to present the relevant level of detail, and restructured to handle both single and multiple categories. New charts have been added to the Excel summary report.
- A new Leak Administrator mode is now available, enabling users to view or modify the individual Base Element coefficients for the default Continuous and Discrete types.
- The Help functionality has been improved to be consistent with help functions available in other Safeti products, such as Phast and Phast Risk.
- Leak project files created in a previous version will be upgraded automatically when they are opened in Leak 3.21.
Leak 3.21 has been developed in partnership with DNV Energy, who has derived and updated the Leak interpolation functions and associated coefficients throughout the tool’s life cycle. Leak 3.21 is aligned with the latest revision work carried out by DNV Energy.
DNV Software is keen to develop Leak further, so please keep us informed of any enhancements you would like to see. Please contact software.support@dnv.com if you have any queries, or if you want to obtain an installation CD.
Microsoft Vista
Please note that Leak 3.21 will not install under Microsoft Vista. We are currently investigating the issues for Vista support.
