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LNG LNG Vapor and Fire Control Vapor and Fire Control
Using High Expansion Foam Using High Expansion Foam
Kirk Richardson Kirk Richardson
Emergency Services Training Institute Emergency Services Training Institute
Texas Engineering Extension Service Texas Engineering Extension Service
Texas A&M University System Texas A&M University System
LNG LNG Vapor and Fire Control Vapor and Fire Control
Using High Expansion Foam Using High Expansion Foam
Vapor Control
LNG LNG Vapor and Fire Control Vapor and Fire Control
Using High Expansion Foam Using High Expansion Foam
Fire Control
Ignition of an unconfined LNG vapor cloud Ignition of an unconfined LNG vapor cloud
Storage Temperature Storage Temperature - -260 260F/ F/ - -162 162C C
A cryogenic liquid A cryogenic liquid
Boiling Point Boiling Point - -258F/ 258F/ --161 161C C
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Expansion Expansion
Coefficient Coefficient
Butane Butane 222 222
Propane Propane 290 290
LNG LNG 620 620
Nitrogen Nitrogen 642 642
Hydrogen Hydrogen 788 788
Expansion Ratio Expansion Ratio 620 to 1 620 to 1 Burn Rate Burn Rate 12.5 mm/minute 12.5 mm/minute
(Steady State) (Steady State) (Gasoline (Gasoline 4 mm/minute) 4 mm/minute)
Initial vaporization rate on water Initial vaporization rate on water
50 50 cfm cfmvapor/sq. ft. vapor/sq. ft.
Initial vaporization rate on land Initial vaporization rate on land
vaporization rates vaporization rates
10 10 cfm cfmvapor/sq. ft. vapor/sq. ft.
Steady state vaporization rate Steady state vaporization rate
1 1 cfm cfmvapor/sq. ft. vapor/sq. ft.
Vapor Control
Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land
10 cfm/ sq ft
Vapor Control
Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land
10 cfm / sq ft
Vapor Control
1 cfm / sq ft
Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land
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24 24
Vapor Control
Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land
Vapor Control
Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land Confined spill on land
Vapor Control
The Value of
Confinement
May travel considerable distances
Vapor Cloud (down wind plume) Characteristics Vapor Cloud (down wind plume) Characteristics
May travel considerable distances
before concentrations fall below LFL
(5%).
Positive buoyancy
LNG LNG
vapors vapors
LNG LNG
vapors vapors
Specific gravity (gas)
.5539
Vapor Cloud (down wind plume) Characteristics Vapor Cloud (down wind plume) Characteristics
Neutral buoyancy -160F/ -107C
Negative Buoyancy
LPG vapors vapors
Always hug the ground.
LPG vapors vapors
Always hug the ground.
-260
0
F
Specific gravity (gas)
1.5 2.0
Foam Classification Foam Classification
NFPA Gaz de France
High Expansion 200:1 to 1000:1 400:1 to 1000:1
Medium Expansion 20:1 to 200:1 75:1 to 400:1
Low expansion <20:1 <75:1
photograph courtesy of Angus Fire / a UTC Fire &Security Company
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Foam Application Foam Application
High Expansion
foam is a tool
used to gain
control of an LNG
incident
High Expansion
foam is a tool
used to gain
control of an LNG
incident
Used to control
LNG vapors
Used to control
LNG fires
Used to control
LNG vapors
Used to control
LNG fires
Sonatrach - Arziew
High expansion foam works in conjunction with passive
methods for maintaining control of an incident.
High expansion foam works in conjunction with passive
methods for maintaining control of an incident.
photograph courtesy of Angus Fire / a UTC Fire &Security Company
Foam Application Foam Application
High expansion foam works in conjunction with passive
methods for maintaining control of an incident
High expansion foam works in conjunction with passive
methods for maintaining control of an incident
photographs courtesy of Angus Fire / a UTC Fire &Security Company
Foam Application Foam Application
High expansion foam works in conjunction with passive
methods for maintaining control of an incident
High expansion foam works in conjunction with passive
methods for maintaining control of an incident
Foam Application Foam Application
High expansion foam works in conjunction with passive
methods for maintaining control of an incident
High expansion foam works in conjunction with passive
methods for maintaining control of an incident
Vapor Control Techniques
Spill Confinement Spill Confinement
Water Curtains Water Curtains
Hi Ex Foam Hi Ex Foam
Vapor Control Techniques
Spill Confinement Spill Confinement
Water Curtains Water Curtains
Hi Ex Foam Hi Ex Foam
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How Foam Works - Vapor Dispersion
Allows for controlled Allows for controlled
vaporisation vaporisation
Warms Warms vapors vapors so they rise so they rise
Minimizes down wind Minimizes down wind
plume plume
Ice layer & ice tubes form Ice layer & ice tubes form
Insulates LNG Insulates LNG
Regular foam top Regular foam top--up up
required required
Dynamic situation requiring Dynamic situation requiring
constant monitoring constant monitoring
graphic courtesy of Angus Fire / a UTC Fire &Security Company
Using High Expansion Foam for Vapor Control Vapor Control Techniques
LNG Pool Fires LNG Pool Fires Flame height is typically
two to three times the
pool diameter.
Flame height is typically
two to three times the
pool diameter.
60 ft 60 ft
Pool Fires Pool Fires
30 ft 30 ft
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Water Application on Water Application on
a Burning Pool of LNG a Burning Pool of LNG
How Foam Works - Fire Control
Foam allows controlled
LNG burn-off
Foam insulates & reduces
radiation feedback to LNG
Fire intensity decreases
Ice layer & ice tubes form
Regular foam top-up
required to maintain steady
state
Dynamic situation requiring
constant monitoring
graphic courtesy of Angus Fire / a UTC Fire &Security Company
The Use of High Expansion Foam for
Fire Control
The Use of High Expansion Foam for
Fire Control
The Use of High Expansion Foam for
Fire Control
Fire Control Fire Control
...on a 200 m ...on a 200 m
22
LNG fire, LNG fire,
the foam causes the the foam causes the
flame height to drop flame height to drop
from about 30 meters to from about 30 meters to
about 2 meters. about 2 meters.
-- Gaz Gaz de France de France
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Fire Control Fire Control
...the amount of ...the amount of
radiation from a burning radiation from a burning
LNG spill can be LNG spill can be
reduced by as much as reduced by as much as yy
95 % with some high 95 % with some high
expansion foams. expansion foams.
-- American Gas Association American Gas Association
Fire Control Fire Control
Expansion ratios and drain times Expansion ratios and drain times
affect performance: affect performance:
Low expansion ratios will produce foam Low expansion ratios will produce foam
that is too wet (contains too much water) that is too wet (contains too much water)
this excess water will increase this excess water will increase
vaporization, hence the size of the fire vaporization, hence the size of the fire
Rapid drain times will have the same Rapid drain times will have the same
effect effect
Fire Control Fire Control
Expansion ratios and drain times affect Expansion ratios and drain times affect
performance: performance:
Higher expansion ratios will be: Higher expansion ratios will be:
drier and thus have less resistance to drier and thus have less resistance to
thermal effects (they will break down faster thermal effects (they will break down faster
when exposed to fire) when exposed to fire) when exposed to fire). when exposed to fire).
Expansion ratios and drain times affect Expansion ratios and drain times affect
performance: performance:
Higher expansion ratios will be more Higher expansion ratios will be more
adversely affected by wind and thermal adversely affected by wind and thermal
updrafts updrafts
Expansion ratios and drain times affect Expansion ratios and drain times affect
performance: performance:
J ust tell them you
thought it was
disconnected.
Higher expansion ratios will be more Higher expansion ratios will be more
adversely affected by wind and thermal adversely affected by wind and thermal
updrafts. updrafts.
Foam Expansion & Application Rates
Tests show 500:1 is optimum expansion Tests show 500:1 is optimum expansion
ratio for vapour dispersion and fire control ratio for vapour dispersion and fire control
Most operators use 500:1 systems Most operators use 500:1 systems
Practical application rates need to be Practical application rates need to be
higher than test, typically higher than test, typically
higher rates give faster control higher rates give faster control
less risk of escalation less risk of escalation
less radiant heat damage less radiant heat damage
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Fire Suppression
Use of dry chemical:
Application technique
is everything
but a higher flow rate
never hurt anything.
but a higher flow rate
never hurt anything.
LNG LNG Vapor and Fire Control Vapor and Fire Control
Using High Expansion Foam Using High Expansion Foam
Kirk Richardson Kirk Richardson
Emergency Services Training Institute Emergency Services Training Institute
Texas Engineering Extension Service Texas Engineering Extension Service
Texas A&M University System Texas A&M University System