Extinguishing a fire on a vent stack using a gas-powder fire extinguishing composition

Introduction. Vent stacks are used for the safe release of liquefied natural gas (LNG) vapors from safety valves. Unlike flare stacks, they are not designed for gas combustion; however, there is a risk of their ignition from external sources, such as lightning strikes or static electricity. Prompt extinguishing of such a fire helps prevent prolonged thermal impact on the structures.

Research Methodology. At the test site, a gas-powder fire extinguishing module was connected to the base of a vent stack mock-up. After igniting the LNG vapors at the head of vent stack and stabilizing the flame, the fire extinguishing module was manually activated. The extinguishing result was recorded visually.

Results. It was established that supplying a gas-powder fire extinguishing composition (GPFEC) into the pipe interior of the vent stack leads to the extinguishing of the fire at the head. Complete extinguishing was achieved with a GPFEC flow rate of at least 1.8 kg/s. Based on the obtained data, parameters for designing gas-powder fire extinguishing systems were determined. The consumption of the fire extinguishing agent must be at least 311 kg/m2, and the supply intensity at least 102 kg/(m2∙s), calculated based on the cross-sectional area of the vent stack.

Conclusions. The proposed method of supplying the GPFEC into the pipe interior is an effective way to extinguish a fire on a vent stack. The obtained experimental values of the extinguishing composition flow rate and supply intensity can be used to calculate the parameters of gas-powder fire extinguishing systems when protecting vent stack.

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