Petri-net based cooperation modeling and time analysis of emergency response in the context of domino effect prevention in process industries

Emergency response is an important way to reduce losses after a major industrial accident occurs and mitigation measures should be arranged and analyzed in preparedness. The cooperation in emergency response actions which make up an emergency response process has a significant impact on the efficiency and success rate (or reliability) of emergency response, and improper arrangement of actions may reduce emergency response efficiency. As emergency response is characterized by rapid response, this work studies the success of emergency response based on time analysis. In this paper, cooperation modes of emergency response actions and their time characteristics are analyzed. A timed colored Petri-net (TCPN) based approach is proposed to model the cooperation of the actions and perform time analysis. The proposed approach is illustrated by an example of fire brigades’ response to a tank fire. Simulations are performed and the probabilities of preventing fire escalation under different cooperation modes are analyzed. TCPN based modeling and analysis of emergency response actions are helpful for planning the necessary actions in the preparation of an emergency situation.