Overall
- Language
- English
- Conflict of Interest
- In relation to this article, we declare that there is no conflict of interest.
- Publication history
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Received August 17, 2024
Revised April 17, 2025
Accepted June 12, 2025
Available online September 25, 2025
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This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/3.0) which permits
unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Most Cited
Inherent Safety Design for LNG Terminals Through Risk Assessment
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-025-00485-2
Abstract
Achieving carbon neutrality is a critical global objective, driving eff orts to transition toward clean energy sources such as
hydrogen. However, the full-scale adoption of a hydrogen economy remains constrained by technological and economic
challenges. During this transitional period, the industrial demand for Liquefi ed Natural Gas (LNG), a relatively low-carbon
fuel capable of co-fi ring with hydrogen, is expected to rise signifi cantly. Consequently, research on the safety of LNG terminal
plants, which handle large volumes of LNG, has become urgent. These plants operate with hazardous substances under
high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, making them prone to severe risks such as leaks or explosions. In particular,
petrochemical facilities, characterized by complex processes and the storage of substantial quantities of hazardous chemicals,
are susceptible to accidents that can result in signifi cant human and property damage. It is, therefore, essential to predict and
calculate the potential impact of accidents in advance and incorporate safety measures into the design phase to minimize
damages. This study aimed to address these challenges by quantitatively assessing the risks associated with LNG terminals
and proposing a framework for optimized safety design through isolable sections. A virtual LNG terminal model was divided
into fi ve isolable sections, and various accident scenarios were evaluated through CFD simulations. The fi ndings highlighted
the variability of explosion impacts across sections and underscored the importance of spatial confi gurations and operational
conditions in determining safety outcomes. By recommending the optimization of protection performance through section
isolation, this study provides valuable insights for enhancing the safety and resilience of LNG facilities. These results contribute
to establishing more eff ective safety designs from the initial plant development stage, thereby minimizing accident
impacts and supporting the sustainable transition to cleaner energy systems.

