Extinguishing the LNG jet fire with gas-powder fire extinguishing installations

Abstract

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility accidents typically begin with equipment depressurization, fuel spillage, and subsequent ignition. The effect of a jet fire on other nearby process equipment can lead to a cascading accident. Extinguishing a jet fire in its initial stages will prevent such a scenario. The purpose of conducting full-scale fire tests to extinguish the LNG jet fire using gas-powder fire extinguishing installations was to confirm their fire extinguishing effectiveness. The fire tests were conducted in an open test area with the LNG fire jets directed at angles of 45, 60 and 90 degrees relative to the ground surface. Gas-powder fire extinguishing agent (GPFEA) was discharged through spray nozzles on four sides. In order to create a fire-extinguishing concentration of GPFEA in a local volume not limited by external walls and to compensate for the possible influence of wind, it is necessary to ensure the supply of fire extinguishing agent to the protected area from four sides, which increases the consumption of fire extinguishing agent by 4 times compared to the consumption for extinguishing a fire in a closed volume. The use of automatic gas-powder fire extinguishing installations to protect outdoor LNG facilities can increase the level of fire safety of such facilities.