It is well known: during a fire, seconds count! It is vital to use the most efficient and reliable material and technology to make those seconds count. The protection against fire in oil fields is a crucial element for running a safe and productive installation, especially when, in some areas, production capacity is being increased. The manufacturers of frontline firefighting equipment are always advancing and refining their systems for this application. IDEX Fire & Safety Group, a global manufacturer for specialist firefighting equipment, describes the latest technology for this application.
The latest foam proportioning hardware developed by Hale & Godiva Ltd has made foam application easy, accurate and more cost-effective than ever before. The initial investment of acquiring foam concentrate, hardware and brigade training must be weighed against the benefits they provide.
CAFS
For rear or midship mounted pumps, you could use an integrated Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) unit, where compressed air is injected into the foam solution in the apparatus piping, prior to discharge into the hose line. CAFS equipment can be used with both Class A and Class B foam. Class A foam reduces the water’s high surface tension to effectively make water penetrate the crevices found on fuel surfaces. Class B Foam is the foam of choice for chemical fires due to its unique ability to form protein chains that act as a blanket to smother chemical fires. The blanket prevents the vapours from escaping and reigniting. Reapplication is necessary to maintain the proper foam blanket thickness. If the barrier is broken by either stepping on the blanket, shooting the stream directly into the blanket or another method it can result in reignition. Due to this there are three main methods of applying foam depending on the situation: Rain-down or Snowflake Technique, Bank-down method or Bank-Back Technique, and Roll-on Method or Bank-in Technique. Each of these methods provide an application that helps prevent foam barrier disruption.
The main benefits can be summarised as:
- Higher water efficiency
- Quicker knockdown times of fires.
- Quicker reduction of heat – cooler environment.
- Less exposure for firefighters to hazards of firefighting.
- Simple to use
- Reduction in firefighter fatigue due to reduced suppression time and effort.
The Godiva UV SmartCAFS control module is a state-of-the-art electronic display and control software for the compressed air foam discharge of the pump. The display features user-friendly icons for quick and easy understanding of the system status, plain text warnings in a number of optional languages and on-screen calibration tutorials. The streamlined operation allows changes to the CAFS consistency at the push of a button. This simplifies the CAFS procedure and helps to add up all those critical seconds you need on the fire ground. Diagnostics and system schematics are also incorporated. The CAFS discharge ratio (solution:air) can be discreetly adjusted between extremely wet 1:3 to extremely dry 1:20, and up to ten user preset configurations are available.
The Prima UV SmartCAFS is a compact package designed for rear mount pump apparatus and is available for all pumps in the Godiva Prima range – 2010, 3010. 4010, 6010, single or twin pressure output. There is a choice of air flow volumes – 50, 100, or 200 SCFM (in metric terms – 1440 l/min, 2880 l/min, 5760 l/min) twin-screw rotary air compressors provides knockdown power to match the pump. For foam flow solutions the CAFS systems are supplied with electrically driven foam pump systems capable of producing foam up to 49 l/min. The use of electric motors provides more flexibility on mounting, doesn’t need a PTO to operate, and simplifies maintenance.
The whole system is fully integrated and fully tested to ensure quality, trouble-free operation with full compliance to EN 16327. For industrial use, we would recommend using the Godiva Prima 6010 that delivers 6000 l/min at 10 bars with the 5760 l/min air flow.
SmartATP 125 and SmartATP225 – High flow ATP foam made easy
Hale released the SmartATP product in 2018 which paired the user interface of the SmartFOAM system with an Around the Pump foam system. The 125 system provides 473l/min of foam flow, which at 3% provides over 15000 l/min of finished foam and the 225 system provides 851 l/min of foam flow, which at 3% provides over 27600 l/min of finished foam. The system is fully automated, including tank selection, flushing, and proportioning for accuracy up to 6%. The foam proportioning automation eliminates the need for the operator to manually adjust foam every time the water flow changes. This greatly simplifies the operation and training when using the system. Operation is further simplified through the use of six presets similar to the SmartFOAM and SmartCAFS systems. These presets can be set to match user standard operating procedures.
Another operational challenge is managing the inlet and outlet discharge pressure to ensure proper operation. The SmartATP includes an operation screen that shows if the operator is at the optimal inlet and discharge pressures. The eductor itself is very efficient requiring only 490-545 l/min of waterflow from the water pump for max performance. Since ATP systems have foam throughout the entire system there is a chance of water backflushing into the water supply. To solve this, the SmartATP can utilize the tank Autofill system. When feeding with a positive pressure system, such as from relay or hydrant, it will automatically regulate the water level of the tank so the system can be run through the onboard tank and tank to pump. Another option would be to use an inlet check valve to prevent the backflow.
With the SmartATP we automate the tank selection to prevent mixing of different foam agents. Some Class B foams can be corrosive which can result in increased maintenance for valves and other components. ATP systems also expose the pump with the foam agent which has the potential of damaging the pump if not flushed. With the SmartATP the automated flushing ensures that the system is flushed after each operation which helps prevent damage and extra maintenance from leaving foam in the system.
With the SmartATP’s ease of use, simplicity of parts/maintenance, and performance it provides a great product for industrial fires.
Skid and Trailers
In addition to CAFS firefighting, oil field operators should consider the role of trailer and skid mounted fire fighting units – With resource positioning a critical consideration while responding to fires in petroleum fields, the ability to deliver water when and where you need it can make the most significant difference in the first minutes of a firefight. Godiva and Hale produce a line of trailer and skid-mounted, diesel-engine powered, fire fighting pumps, meeting NFPA performance standards and the rigors of the industries where they will be used.
Ranging from 1800 l/min to 11,250 l/min, these systems couple Hale and Godiva’s industry proven pumps with top-rated, industrial off-road diesel engines for unparalleled performance. These cost-effective pumping systems offer the perfect balance of performance with a high level of transportability and manoeuvrability due to the compact, lightweight design to offer quick and easy deployment. Users of these systems appreciate the ability to quickly locate resources directly where they will provide the greatest immediate impact. These single and dual-axle trailer pumps can be easily deployed providing field personnel the capability to respond more quickly and effectively with available vehicles
Our skid and trailer units are customisable, and can include CAFS system, foam system, monitors and nozzles, as well as integrated scene lighting to get the optimum efficiency and quickest response time.
Discharge Mercury Portable Monitors
The Mercury monitors are designed to be able to attack the fire or protect a structure with large flow where you can’t get to with your truck. The Mercury monitors are also optimum to work with foam while using a smooth bore tip. For instance, the Mercury Quick Attack LE 3444 sets a new standard in the market and is the only portable monitor that meets NFPA 1964 and EN-15767-1. It is compact and lightweight with less than 7 kgs and flows 1900 L/min. Now even better, it can hit low at 10° and far up to 76 meters at 7 bar. Easy and quick to deploy, friction loss is minimal. In the same range, the Mercury Master monitor is also extremely lightweight at only 10.9 kg and can flow up to 3800 l/min. Both of these portable monitors offer self-oscillating nozzles that can be unmanned and truly a ‘set it and forget it’ product.
If you are looking at a fixed site installation on your production site, then the following monitor would be the optimum solution for your needs. It is made of brass for corrosion resistance. The 3678 Conquest Electric Remote-Controlled Monitor System is ideal for use in industrial fire suppression, vapor mitigation, and other fixed site applications. In addition, the Conquest is an ideal petro-chemical monitor. The Style 3678 Conquest Monitor is a truly customized system that can be designed to meet the particular needs of a fixed site with flows up to 7600 l/min.
If you need additional oscillation range, then you could mount the Style 3531 Oscillating Flange that has been designed, engineered, and tested to protect some of the world’s most valuable assets. The Style 3531 is capable of flowing to 5700 l/min at an oscillation range up to 165°. Its unique maintenance-free polymer bearing design, high quality material construction and superior performance make it the ideal choice for a long-term, low service solution for protecting your hazardous and harsh environments.
For more information, go to www.godiva.co.uk
About the Author
Jeremy Foxx is the Product Manager for Electronics, Foam and Compressed Air Foam products at Hale (USA), Class1 (USA), Weldon (USA) and Godiva (UK). Jeremy has over seven years’ experience of designing foam related systems.
