Every enterprise has equipment and facilities that are vital to its operation. Business would be seriously affected if these were destroyed by fire. Carbon dioxide is a reliable, versatile and efficient firefighting agent. It has provided decades of successful operation. It is a dry, inert, non-corrosive gas that will not damage equipment or materials or contaminate liquids or food. It does not leave any residue to clean-up, and as a result, business down-time is held to a minimum. PH1 Offers customized solution of CO2 High Pressure Flooding System for Cement and Power Industry to protect their fire hazard vulnerable equipment and areas as per NFPA12 guidelines.
Advantages of CO2 fire extinguishing systems
- CO2 is a feasible extinguish agent for the foreseeable future. No ban on its use.
- Is a standard commercial product with many other uses and as a result is readily available in most towns and cities around the world.
- Low agent cost. Beneficial when frequent recharging is a factor.
- Installed system cost is lower when compared to clean agents.
- Is stable and inert. Does not decompose when subjected to fire. Does not cause corrosion or damage materials and equipment.
- Vaporizes completely on discharge. No clean-up of agent required.
- Protected facilities can be back in operation with a minimum of delay.
- Suitable for Class A, B and C fires.
- Accommodates long pipe runs.
Principles of Operation
A carbon dioxide system consists of a battery of one or more cylinders, manifolded together and connected to a system of distribution pipework terminating in special carbon dioxide discharge nozzles. These systems are custom designed for the specific application. The quantity of carbon dioxide required for the protection of any particular hazard is dependent on the cubic capacity or the surface area of the hazard, together with the type of material involved, temperature of the hazard, and with allowance for special conditions.
Method of Application
Total flooding injects a sufficient volume of carbon dioxide into an enclosure so that an inert atmosphere is created. The enclosure should be reasonably well sealed and doors, vents and other openings should be arranged to close on the discharge of the system. Enclosures with openings that cannot be closed can be protected if known at the design stage. For deep-seated type hazards (insulation, rags, storage vaults, etc.) the enclosure must be well sealed to retain the carbon dioxide for a long period of time. The location and orientation of discharge nozzles for these applications is not of major concern, minor deviations to project design can generally be accommodated.
Local application is the method used to protect a specific hazard(engine, dip tank, etc.) within an enclosure – without flooding the entire enclosure. Nozzles are arranged to discharge carbon dioxide directly onto the hazard, to build up an inert atmosphere immediately surrounding the hazard.
CO2 Banks (Cylinder Assemblies)
A basic cylinder assembly consists of a pressure vessel, a valve and siphon tube assembly, and a charge of carbon dioxide.