Fixed Systems and Extinguishers

FP 202

Explosion Prevention Systems

Explosion Prevention Systems

There are materials that can explode and there are

processes that can cause explosions.

In industrial facilities there are techniques that can be

be used to eliminate the causes of explosions or
attempt to diminish the effects of an explosion.

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 Explosion Prevention Systems

Almost any type of equipment or machinery can be

protected by these techniques.

The type of system and the installation considerations

are based upon the properties of the flammable
material and the size and physical shape of the
equipment to be protected.

Explosion Prevention Systems

Emergency responders and fire prevention inspectors

need to be familiar with the different types, designs,
and functions of explosion prevention systems

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 Explosion Prevention Systems

Techniques for eliminating the causes of explosions:

1. Eliminate sources of ignition

2. Separate the fuel and the oxidizers

Explosion Prevention Systems

Techniques for diminishing an explosion’s effect:

1. Suppress the explosion

2. Control the products of the explosion

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 Explosion Prevention Systems

It is import to know the proper definitions of the

following terms used by fire protection engineers in
the designing of explosion prevention systems.

1. blanketing 2. explosion
3. suppression 4. combustible
5. flame velocity 6. deflagration
7. detonation

Explosion Prevention Terms

Blanketing:

The technique of maintaining an atmosphere

which is inert or enriched with fuel in the area
above a liquid in a container or vessel.

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 Explosion Prevention Terms

Explosion:

A bursting of a building or container as a result of

internal pressure that is greater than confinement
capability of that building or container.

Remember that an explosion is a result.

Explosion Prevention Terms

Suppression:

Explosion suppression is a technique by which the

burning of a confined mixture is detected and
arrested during the incipient stages of ignition.

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 Explosion Prevention Terms

Combustible:

Used synonymously with the term fuel.

Combustible means a gas, vapor, mist, or dust that

is capable of being burned.

Explosion Prevention Terms

Flame velocity or flame speed:

The speed at which a flame front progresses through

an unburned medium.
Fuel vapor or gas

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 Explosion Prevention Terms

Flame velocity or flame speed:

The speed at which a flame front progresses through

an unburned medium.

Ignition site

Explosion Prevention Terms

Flame velocity or flame speed:

The speed at which a flame front progresses through

an unburned medium.

Flame spreads

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 Explosion Prevention Terms

Flame velocity or flame speed:

The speed at which a flame front progresses through

an unburned medium.

Flame spreads

Explosion Prevention Terms

Flame velocity or flame speed:

The speed at which a flame front progresses through

an unburned medium.

Flame spreads

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 Explosion Prevention Terms

Flame velocity or flame speed:

The speed at which a flame front progresses through

an unburned medium.

Flame spreads

Explosion Prevention Terms

Flame velocity or flame speed:

The speed at which a flame front progresses through

an unburned medium.

Flame spreads

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 Explosion Prevention Terms

Deflagration:

Combustion where the flame spread through an

unburned medium is below the speed of sound.

Explosion Prevention Terms

Detonation:

Combustion where the flame spread through an

unburned medium is above the speed of sound.

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 Explosive Prevention Systems

Uses and Limitations:

Explosion prevention systems are useful within

certain limits in reducing or eliminating fires and
explosions within enclosures where flammable
gases, vapors, dust, and certain combustible solids
are confined.

These techniques are limited to enclosures where

atmospheres can be maintained.

Atmospheres in containers must not be able to

support combustion or where atmospheres can
be altered to prevent flame propagation.

This method of explosion prevention will not

work with materials that provide their own
oxidizers, such as nitrates or explosives.

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Explosion prevention systems can be used to protect
the following:

processing equipment
storage equipment
material handling equipment
laboratory equipment
rooms or buildings (with occupant considerations!)

Explosive Prevention Systems

Hazards to personnel:

The introduction of purging gases or inhibiting

materials may create hazards to personnel such
as oxygen deficiency and exposure to toxic by
products.

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Hazards to personnel:

purge gas: a gas suitable for rendering an

atmosphere non-combustible.

purging: displacement of a gaseous oxidant or

gaseous combustible by another gas to render
the mixture non-combustible. Purge gases may
or may not be an inert gas.

Hazards to personnel: safety requirements -

In any proposed use of explosion prevention

systems where there is a possibility that
personnel may be trapped in or enter into
atmospheres made hazardous by these systems
- safeguards must be designed and
implemented.

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Typical safeguards -

1. personnel training
2. means to rescue trapped personnel
3. remote process operation
4. warning signs (visual and audio)
5. discharge alarms
6. self-contained breathing apparatus

Suppression Techniques

There are three basic techniques designed for

suppressing an explosion:

1. oxidant concentration reduction

2. combustion concentration reduction
3. suppression

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1. Oxidant concentration reduction

Maintaining an atmosphere where the oxidant

concentration is below the level required for
ignition to take place.

2. Combustion concentration reduction

Maintaining the combustion concentration (fuel -

oxidant ratio) below the flammable range.

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3. Suppression:

This technique, in a confined space, detects and

arrests the flame propagation in a medium
during the incipient stages of burning.

Oxidant Concentration Reduction Techniques

Explosion prevention can be provided in enclosed

or nearly enclosed vessels, equipment, and
rooms.

These enclosures maintain oxidant concentration

low enough so combustion or other exothermic
oxidation reactions can not be initiated in the
most severe conditions.
(severe condition = material is in a gaseous phase)

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Enclosures that can be protected are:

processing equipment - such as mixers, pulverizers,

mills, dryers, filters, screens, cyclones, and dust
collectors

storage equipment - atmospheric or low pressure tanks,

pressure tanks, mobile facilities including tanks cars,
tank trucks, barges and cargo vessels

material handling equipment - pipe lines, pumps, surge

tanks, pneumatic and screw conveyors, and bucket
elevators

laboratory equipment - hoods, glove boxes, and test

cells

Entire rooms and even buildings can be protected

by oxidant reduction techniques.

Since oxygen deficient atmospheres can not

sustain life and the high concentrations of fuel
may be injurious to health

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 Commonly used oxidant deficient purge gases:

nitrogen
carbon dioxide
helium
argon

Oxidant Concentration Reduction Techniques

Explosion prevention can be provided in enclosed

or nearly enclosed vessels, equipment, and rooms
by maintaining the combustible concentration
below the flammable range.

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Basic design considerations include the material's:
flammable range
flash point
ignition temperature
boiling point

It is best to reduce combustible concentrations to 25%

of their lower flammable limit.

Flash point:

The lowest temperature at which a liquid produces

ignitable vapors which if ignited would flash and go
out.

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 Fire point:

The lowest temperature at which ignitable vapors,

if ignited, would ignite and continue to burn.

Ignition Temperature:

The lowest temperature that a material would

ignite without an outside source of ignition.

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 Flammable range:

Percentage of vapor or gas in air that is between

the lowest and highest flammable limits.

Boiling point:

The lowest temperature at which a liquid overcomes

atmospheric pressure and changes from a liquid to a
vapor.

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 Combustible Concentration Reduction Techniques

Vapor pressure reduction - the vapor pressure of a

combustible may be reduced by cooling (cooling
below its flash point)

Dust collectors and mist eliminators - concentrations of

combustibles may be reduced by collectors,
precipitators, filters, and absorbers.

Displacement - air and water are the most common

displacement media.

Explosion Suppression Systems

Explosion suppression is a technique by which

burning in a confined mixture is detected and
arrested during the incipient stages thus preventing
development of pressure which could result in an
explosion.

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 Explosion Suppression Systems

Limitation of explosion prevention systems

Limitations involve the nature of the materials

(physical and chemical properties) and the size and
geometry of the equipment to be protected.

Explosion Suppression Systems

electro-explosive devices

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 Explosion Suppression Systems

Hazards to personnel:

1. Halongenated hydrocarbons are commonly used

as suppressants in explosion suppression systems.

Explosion Suppression Systems

2. Toxic products may be present after discharge

of this type of system.

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 Explosion Suppression Systems

3. The extremely high speed operation of a

suppression system is normally achieved
through the use of electro-explosive devices.

Explosion Suppression Systems

4. Improper handling of these systems may create

a hazard to personnel in the surrounding area.

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 Explosion Suppression Systems

The design of these suppression systems is based upon:

1. rate of pressure rise

2. rate of burning

System Components

Detection:

The detection of an incipient deflagration is

accomplished by sensing either the pressure increase
or from the radiant energy produced from the
combustion.

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 System Components

Suppression equipment:

Suppression or extinguishing equipment disperses the

suppressant agent into the enclosed area fast
enough to prevent pressures from reaching a
destructive level.

A suppressor is a frangible container which is ruptured by

an electro-explosive device to disperse the suppressing
agent.

System Components

Electro-explosive device:

The extreme speed of the operation of a suppression

system normally requires the use of electro-
explosive devices to disperse the suppressant.

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 System Components

Suppressant agents:

The agent used depends upon the combustible

material, oxidant, and environmental conditions.

System Components

Suppressant agents:

The two most common suppressants are:

1. halongenated hydrocarbons
2. water

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Before we discus explosive ventilation systems, we
should do a short review of a few fundamentals
of combustion.

Combustion Process in Review

Prerequisites for a deflagration:

Under most conditions, flammable and combustible

gas, vapor, mist, or dust must be mixed or
suspended in air (or other oxidant) in order for it
to burn when ignited.

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 Combustion Process in Review

Three components of combustion:

1. Fuel
2. Air (oxygen) or other oxidant
3. Source of ignition (usually heat)

Combustion Process in Review

Prerequisites for a deflagration:

For an explosion to occur, in addition to the

requirements of fuel, oxidant, and ignition source,
the combustion process must generate a pressure
greater than the structural capacity of the
confining structure.

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 Factors affecting an explosion or deflagration:

Fuel must be a gas, vapor, mist, or dust or a

combination of these.

Concentration of gas must be within its flammable

range (explosive range) for a deflagration to
occur.

Burning velocity and flame speed:

The destructive forces of a deflagration increase with

increases in pressure and velocity of the flame
spread.

For most gases, the burning velocity is 200 feet per

second. Values for dust are generally lower.

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Ignition source:

The rate of pressure development and maximum

pressure increases as the strength of the ignition
source increases.

Location of the ignition source at the geometrical

center of a confined fuel-oxidant mixture results in
the development of the highest pressure and rate of
pressure rise.

Turbulence:

Initial turbulence slightly increase the maximum

pressure, while the rate of pressure rise is markedly
increased.

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Volume and shape of the container:

Generally, maximum pressure is unaffected by

the size and shape of the container or vessel;
however, the rate of pressure rise is markedly
affected.

Increase the volume of a container and the rate of

pressure increase will decrease during the
deflagration.

Venting Deflagrations

A vent for an enclosure (building, room, vessel) is

an opening through which newly formed or
expanding gases may flow.

The purpose of the vent is to limit the maximum

pressure resulting from a deflagration in order
to limit damage to the container.

The area of the vent opening must be sufficient to

limit pressure build-up to a safe value.

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 Venting Deflagrations

The rate of pressure rise is an important factor in

venting, it determines the amount of time for
the products of combustion to escape.

A rapid rate of rise decrease the amount of time

available for ventilation.

More vent area is required for effective venting of

deflagrations having a high rate of pressure
rise.

Vent size and shape:

One large vent will relieve the pressure of a

deflagration in a small enclosure as effectively as
several small vents whose area equals the area of
the large vent.

In large enclosures, the location of vents relative the

location of initiation of the deflagration is more
important.

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 Venting Deflagrations

Types of Vents:

Venting Deflagrations

Types of Vents:

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 Venting Deflagrations

Types of Vents:

Explosion Prevention Systems

Controlling the products of the explosion through

ventilation techniques.

Ventilation is the process of supplying or

removing air, by natural or mechanical means,
to or from any place.

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 Explosive Vents

Extensive destruction may result if combustion

occurs within an enclosure that is too weak to
withstand the full force of the deflagration.

REVIEW

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 REVIEW

Define: Explosion

The bursting of a building or container as a RESULT

of internal pressure beyond the confinement
capability of the building or container.

REVIEW

Define: Detonation

Combustion where the flame spread through an

unburned medium is faster than the speed of
sound.

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 REVIEW

Define: Deflagration

Combustion where the flame spread through an

unburned medium is slower than the speed of
sound.

REVIEW

Define: Blanketing

A technique for maintaining an atmosphere which is

inert or enriched with fuel above a liquid in a closed
container or vessel .

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 REVIEW

Define: Flash point

The lowest temperature at which a liquid produces

ignitable vapors which if ignited would flash and go
out.

REVIEW

Define: Fire point

The lowest temperature at which ignitable vapors,

if ignited, would ignite and continue to burn.

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 REVIEW

Define: Ignition temperature

The lowest temperature that a material would ignite

without an outside source of ignition.

REVIEW

Define: Flammable range

Percentage of vapor or gas in air the is between

the lowest and highest flammable limits.

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 REVIEW

Define: Boiling point

The lowest temperature at which a liquid overcomes

atmospheric pressure and changes from a liquid to a
vapor.

REVIEW

Define: Inert gas

A gas that does not react with other materials.

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 REVIEW

Define: Flame speed

How fast the flame front will spread through an

unburned medium.

REVIEW

Define: Purging

Displacement of a gaseous oxidant or gaseous

combustible by another gas to render the mixture
non-combustible.

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 REVIEW

Define: Ventilation

The process of supplying or removing air, by natural

or mechanical means, to or from any place.

REVIEW

What is the purpose of explosive ventilation systems?

To reduce damage to a building or vessel by limiting

the maximum pressure caused by a deflagration.

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 REVIEW

What are the three techniques for preventing

and suppressing explosions?

Prevention:
1. Oxidant concentration reduction – keeping the
atmosphere too rich to burn.
2. Combustion concentration reduction – keeping the
atmosphere to lean to burn.

REVIEW

What are the three techniques for preventing

and suppressing explosions?

Suppression:
3. Detects and arrest combustion before excessive
internal pressures develop and cause an explosion.

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 REVIEW

List four (4) oxidant deficient purge gases:

1. Nitrogen
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Helium
4. Argon

REVIEW

Describe the following components of an

Explosion Suppression System:

Detection device

Device that senses either an increase in

pressure or radiant energy.

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 REVIEW

Describe the following components of an

Explosion Suppression System:

Suppressant

A suppression or extinguishing agent designed to

prevent internal development of excessive
pressures.

REVIEW

Describe the following components of an Explosion

Suppression System:

Suppression device

Equipment that disperses the explosive

suppressing agent.

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 REVIEW

Describe the following components of an Explosion

Suppression System:

Electro-explosive device

The use of an explosive to disperse the explosive

suppressant.

THE END

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