Risks associated with volcanic ash fallout from Mt.Etna with reference to industrial filtration systems

The recent eruption of the Icelandic volcano has focused the worldwide attention on the volcanic effects on the population, road, rail and air traffic and production activities. This paper is focused on the analysis of the technological (industrial) accidental scenarios triggered by volcanic eruption and, more specifically, on the definition and quantification of the potential damage on industrial airfiltration systems such as structural damages or service interruptions (clogging) due to the ash fallout. Results are presented in terms of threshold values for the industrial equipment, with respect to ash deposit on the filtering surface, and exceedance probability curves of ash concentrations and the time of clogging. The data can be easily implemented in most risk assessment tools which include Natural-Technological (Na-Tech) hazards. Keywords: Volcanic eruption, Ash fallout, Na-Tech event, Air filtration system, Risk assessment.