10/16/2012

Intro to Proportioning

Methods of Proportioning
 Premix Units
 Fixed or portable in-line eductors
 Self-Educting Nozzles
 In-line balanced pressure and pump pressure Proportioning
skids
 Bladder tanks
 Handline, air-aspirating nozzles with fixed eductor pickup
tubes

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Premix Unit

Premix Units
 Ideal for small systems
 Solution is stored in either atmospheric tank or pressure
vessel
 If stored in atmospheric tank, a pump must be used to pump the
foam solution to the discharge devices
 Pressure vessels require nitrogen cylinders to pressurize the
vessel and force the foam solution to the discharge devices

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Premix Units
 Advantages
 Simple to operate
 Provides accurate proportioning
 Disadvantages
 Limited capacity/duration
 Unable to refill during operation
 Method of expellant required (Pressure Vessel)

Premix Unit

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Portable In-line Eductors

Portable In
In-Line
Line Eductors
 Inexpensive
 Normal inlet operating pressure at eductor is 200 psi
 Pressure loss through proportioner is approx. 35% of inlet
pressure.
 Nozzle and eductor flow rate must be matched
 Max. 150 ft of 1.5” hose between eductor and nozzle
 Max. 300 ft of 1.75” hose between eductor and nozzle

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Portable In
In-Line
Line Eductors
 Advantages
 – Simple to use
 – System can be recharged during operation
 – Easy maintenance
 Disadvantages
 – Requires high water pressure
 – Set at a single flow, no variance

IN-LINE EDUCTOR

EDUCTOR JET RECOVERY SECTION

70 p
psi
Loss Across Eductor

200 psi 130 psi

Inlet Pressure Remaining

LOW PRESSURE AREA

METERING
G & CHECK
C C VALVE

Line CONCENTRATE
Proportioners, on PICK-UP TUBE
average, are only
65% efficient

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IN-LINE 60 gpm EDUCTOR OPERATION

Friction Loss Can

not Exceed 30 psi

200 psi inlet

130 psi Outlet 100 psi Nozzle

70 psi Friction Loss

EDUCTOR OUTLET PRESSURE: 130 psi

Concentrate NOZZLE REQUIRES 100 psi -100 psi
REMAINING FOR HOSE FRICTION LOSS: = 30 psi

IN-LINE 95 gpm EDUCTOR OPERATION

Nominal Max.
Line Solution Flow Nozzle Flow Hose Lay @ Approx.
Eductor Size @200 psi @ 100 psi Hose Size Zero Elevation Coverage Area

95 gpm 95 gpm 95 gpm 1 ¾”

¾ 200’
200 950 sq ft
95 gpm 95 gpm 95 gpm 1 ½” 100’ 950 sq ft

200 psi inlet

130 psi Outlet 100 psi Nozzle

70 psi Friction Loss

EDUCTOR OUTLET PRESSURE: 130 psi

Concentrate NOZZLE REQUIRES 100 psi -100 psi
REMAINING FOR HOSE FRICTION LOSS: = 30 psi

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FOAM CONCENTRATE USE @ 100 GPM

200 psi inlet

130 psi Outlet 100 psi Nozzle

70 psi Friction Loss

1/2% of 100 gpm = 1/2 gal Concentrate Per Min
1% of 100 gpm = 1 gal Concentrate Per Min
3% of 100 gpm = 3 gal Concentrate Per Min
Concentrate
6% of 100 gpm = 6 gal Concentrate Per Min

COMMON EDUCTOR
FAILURES
 Mis-matched eductor and nozzle
 Air leaks in pick-up tube or hose connection
 Improper flushing after use
 Kinked discharge hose line
 Nozzle elevation
 Too
T much hhhose bbetween
t eductor
d t and d nozzle
l
 Incorrect inlet pressure to eductor
 Partially closed nozzle shut-off
 Collapsed or obstructed pickup tube
 Pickup tube too long

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In-line Eductor

Fixed In
In-Line
Line Eductors
 Similar to portable units
 Normal inlet operating pressure at eductor is 150 psi
 Pressure loss through proportioner is approx. 35% of inlet
pressure
 Discharge devices and eductor must be matched for
accurate proportioning

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Fixed In-Line Eductors

Self Educting Nozzle

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Self Educting Nozzles

Self-Educting
 Similar to In-Line Eductors
 Normal operating pressure at the nozzle is 100 psi
 Low Pressure (Flow) produces rich foam
 High Pressure (Flow) produces lean foam

ILBP Proportioning Systems

 Used to meter foam proportioning when the ratio flow
controller is installed some distance from the foam
concentrate supply
 Foam supplied to ratio flow controller by a rotary gear pump
 Adjusts pressure of foam concentrate with a diaphragm valve
(b l
(balancing
i valve)l )
 Ratio controller and balancing valve are a complete unit
 Foam should be supplied at approx. 15 psi higher than water
pressure.

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ILBP

ILBP

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CVILBP NEW LISTED FLOW RATES

Chemguard Foam
Size ILBP Model No. Concentrate Min – Max gpm Solution %
3.00 CVILBP3 C103 113-837 1
C301MS 211-1414
211 1414 3
C303 104-779 3
CUG AR-AFFF 203-783 3
4.00 CVILBP4 C103 176-1819 1
C301MS 211-1414 3
C303 305-1380 3
CUG AR-AFFF 146-1400 3
6.00 CVILBP6 C103 335-3006 1
C301MS 99-3237 3
C303 298-3051 3
CUG AR-AFFF 461-2990 3
8.00 CVILBP8 C103 743-3288 1
C301MS 909-3359 3
C303 926-3290 3
CUG AR-AFFF 933-3347 3

Balanced Pressure Pump

Proportioning Ski
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BP Pump Proportioning Skid

 Similar to ILBP skid except that the mixingof foam
concentrate and water occurs on the skid.
 Skid typically contains foam pump, controller, balancing
valve, duplex gauge and ratio flow controllers
 Completely piped, including required valves and trim
 Pump skid picture here Pump skid picture here

BP Pump Proportioning Skid

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Pump Skid with Single Ratio Controller

Water Powered BP Skid Unit

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Ratio Flow Controllers

 Selection based on flow and type of foam concentrate used
 Minimum 30 psi for proper proportioning
 Minimal pressure loss through proportioner
 Concentration pressure at the controller must be within 2 psi
of the incoming water pressure

NEW CG Ratio Controller Flows

RESTRICTED ORIFICE PLATE FOAM LIQUID INLET

WATER INLET FOAM / WATER OUTLET

UL listed and FM approved for use with specific foam concentrates

Size 3% AFFF's Flow Range ARC's Flow Range
65 mm 129 - 1665 lpm 431 - 1457 lpm NOTES:
2.5" 34 - 440 gp
gpm 114 - 385 gp
gpm 1)) Concentrate Controller: Cast Bronze
76 mm 163 - 2922 lpm 784 - 3104 lpm with Brass orifice Plate.
3" 43 - 772 gpm 207 - 820 gpm
100 mm 227 - 4920 lpm 1552 - 5677 lpm 2) Gaskets and flanges by others.
4" 22 - 1582 gpm 410 - 1500 gpm
150 mm 193 - 11355 lpm 2578 - 12067 lpm 3) Concentrate Controller to fit inside
6" 51 - 3238 gpm 681 - 3188 gpm Schedule 40 pipe. See Tech Bulletin 8-
101.
200 mm 333 - 14924 lpm 5750 - 12431 lpm
8" 88 - 3943 gpm 1159 - 3284 gpm

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ULTRAWIDE

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ULTRAWIDE Proportioner
 Wide Flow Range. 20 – 2,500 gpm
 Optimal for closed head / variable flow AR-AFFF systems
 No longer required for most Chemguard AFFF systems
 Minimal pressure loss through proportioner
 Concentration ppressure at the controller must be within 2 p
psi
of the incoming water pressure

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ULTRAWIDE

Bladder Tanks

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Bladder Tanks
 Very reliable method of mixing foam concentrate and water
 Requires no external power source
 ASME Coded pressure vessel with an internal bladder which
holds the concentrate
 When water is discharged into the tank between the tank
shell and the bladder, the water pressure subjects the
bladder to pressure which forces the foam concentrate
through the piping

Bladder Tanks
 Water is then forced through the interconnecting piping to the
ratio flow controller(s)
 Vertical Tanks 25-4500 gallon capacities
 Horizontal Tanks 50-6000 gallon capacities

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Bladder Tanks
 Advantages
 No outside power source required
 Large capacity tanks
 Accurate proportioning over wide flow ranges
 Low system operating pressures
 L
Low M i t
Maintenance

Bladder Tanks
 Disadvantages
 Cannot be refilled during operation
 Flows below listed flow range, concentrate/water mix will be lean
 Foam concentrate inlet pressure at the ratio controller must be
within 2 psi of the incoming water pressure
 On a closed head sprinkler system,
system a number of heads must
open before accurate proportioning occurs

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Basic Rules
 Combined total
equivalent pipe
footage not to
exceed 50’ in
length.
 No galvanized
pipe/fittings on
concentrate piping
 + / -2 psi max at
proportioner
between
concentrate and
water in riser
 5 pipe diameters
straight length of
pipe (no fittings) on
both sides of the
proportioner
 Example: 6”
pipe x 5
diameters = 30”
straight pipe
 Always install a test
header.

Basic Proportioning
Equipment
 Foam Concentrates
 Proportioners
 ILBP Pump Skids
 Balanced Pressure Pump Skids
 Bladder Tanks
 Pre-piped
 Hydraulically Actuated Valves

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Questions?

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