Foam Expected to last forever Rarely actually used But must be effective when required Needs a rigorous procurement, assurance and testing ti regime!! LASTFIRE
Yet often no detailed PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION prepared when purchases made!
Foam The most important tool for controlling large storage tank fires!
Previous Industry Situation No definitive test for tank fire foams Need identified in LASTFIRE
Why Fire Test? Demonstrate ability of foam to extinguish a fire Batch acceptance Routine quality checks Typically 3 - Yearly Whenever foam concentrate properties suggest problem Guarantee contract conditions met
Foam Fire Test For Storage Tank Fires LASTFIRE
LASTFIRE Test characteristics Nozzles giving i foam characteristics ti as typical application equipment Critical application rates (~50% Design rates) Baffles giving restricted foam flow / hot spots 3min preburn (as opposed to 1min for most tests) 0.5m freeboard above fuel to allow heat build up Seal ( torch tests) to check vapour sealing Burnback test Adaptable to other fuels Analysis criteria recognising practical requirements
LASTFIRE Test characteristics A stringent critical test directly relevant to the application!
Aspirating & Semi-Aspirating Nozzles
Simulate plunging application
Monitor Nozzles
System Nozzle Relatively gentle application
Simulates gentle application by fixed foam pourers
Large freeboard 2.44m Diameter Fire Test Pan
Hot Spot Obstacle to foam flow
Test Sequence Preburn 0 3 Extinguishment 10 12 - Torch Pass 1 Vapour Seal 23 - Torch Pass 2 Burnback 25 - Burnback Pot (removal @ 26) 30 - END
Collecting a random sample
Making Premix
Adding fuel
3 minute Preburn Heat transfer to tank shell
Foam application
Particularly at baffles! Seal Tests
Burnback Tests
Foam Quality Tests Sample collection Collection pan (To NFPA 11 standard) Expansion & Drainage Time Measurement
Test order Semi aspirated nozzle Aspirated nozzle System nozzle
Evaluation Criteria 5 15 Fire Control Burnback Resistance 7.5 Vapour Suppression (torch test 2) Vapour 75 7.5 Suppression (torch test 1) Extinguishment 65 End user relative importance of LASTFIRE Test fire performance criteria End user relative importance of LASTFIRE Test fire performance criteria (Developed from poll of end users)
Some test observations Fuel surface exposure Note exposure after extinguishment
Some test observations Ghosting
Some test observations Flashback
Some test observations Flashback
Physical Property Tests Foam concentrate Specific Gravity ph Viscosity Refractive Index Refractive Index Foam solution Interfacial tension Surface Tension
Retained samples
Using The LASTFIRE Test as of procurement process
Has been used by to evaluate and approve new foams as well more traditional foams
Has been used to evaluate and approve new foams as well more traditional foams BP BTC Jordan Petroleum Petroplus Saudi Aramco Tupras
LASTFIRE Large Atmospheric Storage Tank Fires
LASTFIRE An industry consortium of international oil companies reviewing i risks associated with storage tank fires
Boilover tests
Basic Analysis Time to boilover Effect of water/fuel quantity Fire spread Tank wall temperatures Effect of crude composition Refined products / Biofuels Model validation Foam application vs time
Other Projects Foam/Ethanol Test development Vapour suppression efficiency Internal Floating Roof tank issues Product ignition by foam
More Information about LASTFIRE Deliverables from: Resource Protection International Walker House, George Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2HU, UK T: +44 (0) 1296 399311 F: +44 (0) 1296 395669 e-mail: ramsden@resprotint.co.uk website: www.resprotint.co.uk