Dr. Gavelli specializes in the risk assessment and hazard analysis for onshore and offshore LNG receiving terminals. Dr Gavelli has extensive experience with CFD modeling of LNG vapor dispersion and with fire modeling, as well as with the atmospheric dispersion of gaseous releases. He has studied single- and multi-phase flows and cryogenic liquids, with applications to nuclear power generation, liquefied natural gas (LNG) transportation and regasification, refrigeration, and fire protection detection and suppression systems.
Dr. Gavelli also specializes in the engineering analysis and investigation of fires and explosions; he has investigated numerous losses involving all major forms of transportation, boiler and furnace explosions, and fires involving consumer products. He also applies fire modeling tools to the analysis of fires in large buildings, and has conducted third-party reviews of combustion systems for the entertainment industry. He has analytical as well as experimental experience with the acoustical analysis of gas turbines.
Dr. Gavelli has applied his expertise to projects such as the study of the thermal-hydraulic behavior of a Pressurized Water Reactor during a Loss-Of-Coolant-Accident (LOCA) and the modeling and analysis of turbulent flows in complex geometries. He has also developed non-invasive flow visualization methods and tools based on laser diagnostic techniques such as Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV), and Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF), for use in his work.
Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Gavelli held the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he taught the thermal sciences and performed research with support from federal agencies including the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Gavelli F, Chernovsky MK, Kytomaa H. LNG pool fire models: Similarities and differences. Proceedings of the 2008 AIChE Spring National Meeting, April 2008.
Gavelli F, Bullister E, Kytomaa H. Applications of CFD (Fluent) to LNG spills into geometrically complex environments. Proceedings, 2006 Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center International Symposium, pp. 468–485.
Gavelli F, Kytomaa H. Liquefied Natural Gas transportation. Proceedings, Marine Safety & Security Council, the Coast Guard Journal of Safety at Sea, Fall 2005; 62(3):33–36.
Kytomaa H, Gavelli F Studies of LNG spills over water point up need for improvement. Oil and Gas Journal, May 9, 2005.
Gavelli F, Clarke C, Tsuji J, Long RT. Fire and toxicity aspects of polyurethane foams. Proceedings, Polyurethane Foam Association Spring Meeting and Technical Program, Washington, DC, 2005.
Gavelli F, Foulds J, Sire R, Kytomaa H. Root cause analysis of a gas turbine compressor stator blade failure. ASME Power Conference, Chicago, IL, 2005.
Gavelli F, Kiger KT. Boron mixing in complex geometries: Flow structure details. Nuclear Engineering and Design 2001; 208:67–85.
Kiger KT, Gavelli F. Optical measurements of boron dilution transients in the downcomer of a pressurized water reactor. 19th National Conference on Heat Transfer (UIT), Modena, Italy, 2001.
Muscio A, Tartarini P, Gavelli F. Measurement of the thermal diffusivity of thin slab specimens by the lock-in heating-cooling method. 19th National Conference on Heat Transfer (UIT), Modena, Italy, 2001.
Muscio A, Gavelli F, Tartarini P. Numerical simulation of the cooling effect of multiple droplets on a hot solid surface. International Conference on Multiphase Flows, New Orleans, LA, 2001.
Kiger KT, Gavelli F Boron mixing experiments using a laser induced fluorescence technique. Nuclear Engineering and Design 2000; 195:13–25.
Muscio A, Tartarini P, Gavelli F. On-site measurement of thermal diffusivity by infrared thermography and thermoelectric equipment. 18th National Conference on Heat Transfer (UIT), Torino, Italy, 2000.
Boyd C, Gavelli F, Kiger KT. CFD predictions and experimental data for downcomer mixing of an infinite slug in a rapid boron dilution transient. 8th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-8), Baltimore, MD, 2000.
Gavelli F, Ruffino P, Anderson G, diMarzo M. Evaporative cooling and thermal fire detectors response. 17th National Conference on Heat Transfer (UIT), Ferrara, Italy, 1999.
Gavelli F, diMarzo M. Effect of condensing surface on the pressurization rate of a PWR during HPI refilling. 16th National Conference on Heat Transfer (UIT), Siena, Italy, 1998.
Gavelli F, diMarzo M. Effects of a geometric discontinuity on the mixing of a pumped liquid volume in PWR geometry. 6th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-6), San Diego, CA, 1998.
Gavelli F, diMarzo M, Almenas K. Resumption of natural circulation during post-BCM refilling in a B&W raised-loop PWR. National Heat Transfer Conference, Baltimore, MD, 1997.
Almenas K, diMarzo M, Gavrilas M, Tafreshi A, Gavelli F. Scaling of thermally differentiated flows in primary system flow geometries. National Heat Transfer Conference, Baltimore, MD, 1997.
Tartarini P, Gavelli F, Lorenzini G. Numerical analysis of air pressure waves in railroad tunnels. Tecnica Italiana 1994; 94(3):183–193 (in Italian).
Published Abstracts of Presentations
Gavelli F, Chernovsky M, Bullister E, Kytomaa H. Modeling of LNG spills into trenches. Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center International Symposium, 2007.
Gavelli F, Chernovsky M, Bullister E, Kytomaa H. Validation of a CFD model for vapor dispersion from LNG Spills into an impoundment. AIChE Spring National Meeting, 2007.
Selected Invited Presentations
Gavelli F. Engineering consulting and forensic applications of CFD models. Presented at the University of Trieste, Italy, September 13, 2007.
Gavelli F. Evaluating risk and damages in fire protection engineering. Presented at 2007 National Fire Protection Day, University of Modena, Italy, June 26, 2007.
Gavelli F. Applications of the fluent model to LNG spills over water. Presented at GTI seminar on LNG Safety: The Status of Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) Models for LNG Exclusion Zones, Houston, TX, September 13, 2006.
Gavelli F, Clarke C. Fire and toxicity aspects of polyurethane foams. Presented at 2005 Polyurethane Foam Association Spring Meeting and Technical Program, Washington, DC, May 2005.
Selected Presentations
Gavelli F, Chernovsky MK, Kytomaa H. LNG pool fire models: Similarities and differences. Presented at 2008 AIChE Spring National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 9, 2008.
Gavelli F, Chernovsky M, Bullister E, Kytomaa H. Modeling of LNG Spills into trenches. Presented at 2007 Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center International Symposium, College Station, TX, October 24, 2007.
Gavelli F. New developments in LNG vapor dispersion modeling. Presented at LNG Safety Workshop, LNG Tech Global Summit 2007, Rotterdam, Netherlands, September 10, 2007.
Gavelli F, Chernovsky M, Bullister E, Kytomaa H. Validation of a CFD model for vapor dispersion from LNG Spills into an impoundment. Presented at 2007 AIChE Spring National Meeting, Houston, TX, April 25, 2007.
Gavelli F, Bullister E, Kytomaa H. Applications of CFD (Fluent) to LNG spills into geometrically complex environments. Presented at 2006 Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center International Symposium, College Station, TX, October 24, 2006.
Gavelli F, Foulds J,Sire R, Kytomaa H. Root cause analysis of a gas turbine compressor stator blade failure. Presented at 2005 ASME Power Conference, Chicago, IL, April 2005.
Technical Reports
Gavelli F, Ruffino P, Anderson G, diMarzo M. The effect of minute water droplets on a simulated sprinkler link thermal response. NIST GCR 99-776, 1999.