Product
1. Preliminaries, overview of storage tank fires
1.1. About storage tank fires in general
Above and underground storage tanks at industrial plants -especially in the oil and petrochemical sites- are generally used for storing valuable end products. These materials are usually highly flammable liquids, for this reason an effective fire protection system has to be installed on the tanks to avoid losses caused by the fire.
The traditional storage tank fire extinguishing methods are suitable to provide protection with only a very low success rate. Still nowadays, storage tanks fires cause real catastrophe situations, serious losses to the industry itself, unacceptable pollution to the environment and sometimes tragical outcomes to human being.
SUCH SITUATIONS HAVE TO BE PREVENTED.
1.2. Experience with storage tank fire extinguishment in the last decade, losses caused by the fire (some examples)
The following cases -happened in the last few years- show common results: storage tanks were burning for very long time (often days!!!), so those were destroyed by the fire, caused serious (or total) losses of the stored product, unacceptable pollution to the environment and catastrophe situations. Material losses and pollution effects were enormous in every case.
2. Traditional storage tank fire extinguishing technologies
2.1. Working principle, reasons of low success rate
The conventional fire protection strategy of a refinery is based on the use of the fire water network. The extinguishing systems (foam systems) require a number of steps to convert foam concentrate, water and air into expanded foam. The expanded foam can subsequently be applied onto the burning surface. These activities take place close to the scene of the fire. Quite a team of trained manpower is required to set up these relatively complicated systems. In view of the tense situation during any fire, mistakes are likely to be made resulting in mal-performance of the system. The preparation time from the moment of ignition
till the beginning of the extinguishing is too long, the performance of the traditional storage tank fire extinguishing systems are very low, therefore in most cases the fire has time enough to destroy the tank and the stored material, while causing enormous losses (as seen in chapter 1.). Further more it is a fact,
that fires in storage tanks above 50m diameter, couldn’t ever been extinguished with the old-fashioned storage tank fire extinguishing systems without preventing damages to tank itself, to the environment and without avoiding serious material losses. Beside these experiences, the investment of a traditional system is enormous, the operation and maintenance of the fire brigade requires a lot of money, the installation consists of many parts, the reliability level of the system is also low. The old fashioned systems are also very sensitive to sabotage actions. It is enough to destroy the fire water network in a refinery, and the whole site remains without any fire protection, in spite of the existence of a great number of high performance fire
fighting trucks and skilled personnel.
3. The FoamFatale™ system (the solution of the problem)
3.1. Main features of the FoamFatale™ system (advantages over conventional methods)
This method has been developed by TFEX Ltd. which eliminates the limitations of the conventional systems. Main features of the FoamFatale™ fire protection system:
Fully autonomous, independent from external sources, does not require connection to fire water network or to any other supply systems (electricity, fire trucks, etc.). The sytem does not require manpower resources to set up and operate at the scene of the fire. The performance of the systems is enormous, the extinguishing time is reduced extremely, so the product and the storage tank itself is saved, the air pollution is reduced to the minimum, there are no catastrophe situations. No pumps, no proportioners, no apirating devices etc. are needed, so the construction is simple, the reliability level and the success rate is very high requires considerably lower capital investment in installation, operating and maintenance costs. The fire protection system of the refinery is built up by independent protection installations, therefor there are no common elements of the system, which being destroyed can block the protection of the entire refinery.
3.2. How the FoamFatale™ system works?
Extinguishing foam supply system unlike in traditional foam supply system, the foam is generated well in advance (not at the time and scene of fire) under calm and controlled conditions with the best features. The so called Self Expanding Foam™ (SEF) is stored in a FoamFatale™ Pressure Vessel (FFPV). The consistence and the quality of the foam is always the best, it remains homogenous from the time of producing. The performance of this foam source is virtually unlimited, so with our proper design, the foam flow rate can be easily multiplied comparing to the traditional technologies. Foam application device to accomodate the huge foam foam flow, the FoamFatale™ technology uses the so called Continuous Linear Nozzle™ (CLN). With this foam application device, the necessary amount of extinguishing foam can be applied in the shortest time on the surface of the burning liquid. System operation in case of fire, the heat detectors open the master valve, so the Self Expanding Foam™ immediately begins to expand in the pipeline, than it exist through the Continuous Linear Nozzle™. The foam flows down on the surface of the inner side of the tank shell (resulting a great cooling effect), then it reaches the level of the burning liquid in the storage tank and begins to spread rapidly on the surface of the stored material. The foam closes in a very short time resulting a massive blanket, so the extinguishing time is reduced extremely, the danger of reignition is avoided.
3.3. Live fire test with FoamFatale™ system
An experimental test site was built by TFEX Ltd. to show the effectiveness of the FoamFatale™ system. The surface of the burning gasoline in the demo storage tank was 500 square metres. The automatic release system was turned off to let the fire spread on the whole surface. This fire was extinguished in 25 seconds.
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Video demonstration
New videos will be uploaded soon
Advantages
Conventional technologies
- unreliable, complicated technology (fire water network, pumps, foam generators, monitors, fire fighting vehicles etc. are needed)
- long preparation time (sometimes hours)
- long extinguishing time (sometimes days)
- low performance
- manpower is needed
- designed according to old-fashioned standards
Reality in most cases:
- storage tanks are burning for days
- enormous losses (tank rebuilding, losses in product)
- unacceptable air pollution
The FoamFatale™ technology
- does not require fire water system
- automatic intervention within 5-10 seconds after ignition
- enormous performance: extremely fast extinguishment (max 2 min)
- works without the intervention of any personell
- minimal air pollution and minimal loss of product due to the short duration of fire
- minor fire damage to the tank
- low capital and maintenance costs
Overview
It is common knowledge that doubling or tripling the standard foam application rate greatly increases the success rate of fire extinguishing.
Superintensive Foam Flooding
We offers a revolutionary new extinguishing technology, using 20-30 l/min/m2 foam solution intensity. This is the Superintensive Foam Flooding (SFF) system.
Self Expanding Foam supply system
Unlike in traditional foam supply systems, the foam is not generated at the time and location of fire fighting, but well in advance, and is stored under pressure in a vessel.
Unlike in traditional foam supply systems, the foam is not generated at the time and location of fire fighting, but well in advance, and is stored under pressure in a vessel.
Continuous Linear Nozzle
To accommodate the huge foam flow, the technology uses the patented Continuous Linear foam application Nozzle (CLN). The ring-shaped CLN consists of a round pipe installed at a small distance from the internal wall of the tank, over its full circumference. The diameter of the pipe is properly dimensioned for the foam flow it has to handle.
To accommodate the huge foam flow, the technology uses the patented Continuous Linear foam application Nozzle (CLN). The ring-shaped CLN consists of a round pipe installed at a small distance from the internal wall of the tank, over its full circumference. The diameter of the pipe is properly dimensioned for the foam flow it has to handle.
System operation
In case of fire, the heat detectors open the master valve. The Self Expanding Foam immediately expands in the pipeline, than exits through the Continuous Linear Nozzle, flows down on the inner side of the wall of the tank, and on to the surface of the liquid. In a very short time the extending foam blanket will close. The foam blanket will be so thick that there is no danger of reignition.
In case of fire, the heat detectors open the master valve. The Self Expanding Foam immediately expands in the pipeline, than exits through the Continuous Linear Nozzle, flows down on the inner side of the wall of the tank, and on to the surface of the liquid. In a very short time the extending foam blanket will close. The foam blanket will be so thick that there is no danger of reignition.
Working principle
Working principle