1. What are the origins of the Multi-Energie method?

This method was developed by TNO Prins Maurits Laboratory. It is based on observations made during tests which highlighted :

• that the combustion of a flammable cloud in the open air generates significant pressure effects only if the acceleration of the flame is sufficient;

• that a deflagration produced high overpressures in parts of the gas cloud containing obstacles and/or partially congested spaces.

These two observations are in fact linked, since the greater the number of obstacles encountered, the greater the speed of the flame. It therefore appears that, depending on the congestion of the zones covered by a gas cloud, they will not contribute in the same way to the explosion phenomenon. The Multi-Energy method is based on this principle, and no longer considers the...