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Ethanol… The New Hazard In Town

Ethanol… The New Hazard In Town. Part II: Foam Delivery Bill Ballantyne. What Municipal Fire Departments Typically Prepare For…. Our Logic…. 97% of the fires we encounter are Class A fuels – so carry Class A foam For the occasional Class B fire:

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Ethanol… The New Hazard In Town

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  1. Ethanol…The New Hazard In Town Part II: Foam Delivery Bill Ballantyne

  2. What Municipal Fire Departments Typically Prepare For…

  3. Our Logic… • 97% of the fires we encounter are Class A fuels – so carry Class A foam • For the occasional Class B fire: • Use Class A at 1% - BUT know there is no sealing capabilityor… • Call in the local ARFF truck for mutual aidor… • Let it burn

  4. With Ethanol That Logic No Longer Applies • Use Class A at 1% - BUT know there is no sealing capability • Class A foam does not work on Ethanol • Call in the local ARFF truck for mutual aid • The ARFF truck only carries AFFF, which also does not work on Ethanol • Let it burn • Dept of Homeland Security has stated the need to protect critical infrastructure…highways, bridges, railways, ports, etc.

  5. Which Means We Also Need To Prepare For…

  6. So What We Really Need Is… • Class A capability for the majority (97%) of the fires we encounterAND… • AR-AFFF capability for Ethanol fires

  7. The only concentrate effective on Ethanol fires Foam Concentrates - Water Additives • Wetting Agents • Class A Foam • Class B Foam Concentrates • Protein & Film Forming Fluoroprotein (FFFP) • Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF) • Alcohol Resistant-AFFF (AR-AFFF) • Emulsifiers / Spill Response Agents • Gels

  8. Proportioning Rates • Ratio of concentrate to water • Expressed as a percentage • 1.0% = 1 unit of concentrate to 99 units of water • 3.0% = 3 units of concentrate to 97 units of water • 0.5% = 0.5 unit of concentrate to 99.5 units of water

  9. Common Proportioning Rates • Class A • 0.1% - 1.0% • Class B • 1%, 3%, 6% • (1% x 3%), (3% x 6%), (3% x 3%)(Hydrocarbons x Polar Solvent fuels) • Emulsifiers / Gels • Varies by manufacturer / usage

  10. Do Not Mix Class A & B Concentrates • Result of mixed concentrates (in strainer)

  11. 6% Allowable Range: 6%: 6.0 – 7.0% 3%: 3.0 - 3.9% 1%: 1.0 – 1.3% 0.5%: 0.5 – 0.70% 0.2%: 0.2 – 0.28% 3% Lean Rich 1% + - 40% 30% 30% 20% 10% 10% 20% NFPA 1901 Now Requires… • For proportioning rates equal or greater than 1%: • - 0% to + 30% or 1 percentagepoint, whichever is less (21.10.2) • For proportioning rates less than 1%: • - 0% to + 40% (21.10.1)

  12. Why Is Accuracy So Important? • Performance • Ability to make wet, fluid or dry foam (Class A foam) • Ability to richen for heavy rain (Class B foam) • Ability to seal (Class B foam) • Logistics • Cost • Environmental Concerns (Class B)

  13. What Is The Cost Of Inaccuracy? • Let’s assume: • $20 per gallon for concentrate • 5,000 gallons per minute flow rate • 3% proportioning rate • 10% inaccuracy rate

  14. The Cost Of Inaccuracy Becomes: • The logistics of wasted foam: • 15 extra gallons per minute • 900 extra gallons per hour • 9,000 extra gallons per 10 hours • The cost of wasted foam: • $300 per minute • $18,000 per hour • $180,000 per 10 hours

  15. Let’s Look At BIG WATER • Now assume: • $20 per gallon for concentrate • 20,000 gallons per minute flow rate • 3% proportioning rate • 30% inaccuracy rate

  16. Now, The Cost Of Inaccuracy Becomes… • The logistics of wasted foam: • 180 extra gallons per minute • 10,800 extra gallons per hour • 108,000 extra gallons per 10 hours • The cost of wasted foam: • $3,600 per minute • $216,000 per hour • $2,160,000 per 10 hours

  17. What Is The True Cost Of Your System? $ Initial Cost+ $ Ongoing Operational Costs$ True Total Cost

  18. For Your Consideration • Different Initial and Ongoing Operational Costs • Different performance capabilities and limitations • Equipped to consider the total picture

  19. Application Rates • A measure of foam solution, applied per unit of time, per unit of total area • Typically expressed as GPM/Sq Ft • Or, LPM/Sq Meter • Not to be confused with proportioning rate • Expressed as % concentration

  20. NFPA 11 Minimum Application Rates

  21. Spill Fires – Loading RacksNFPA 11 – 2005 (5.6.5.3.1)

  22. Spill Fires – Diked AreasNFPA 11 – 2005 (5.7.3.2)

  23. Spill Fires – Diked AreasNFPA 11 – 2005 (5.7.3.2)

  24. Spill Fires – Non Diked AreasNFPA 11 – 2005 (5.8.2.2)

  25. Tank Fires – Fixed Roof (Full Surface)NFPA 11 – 2005 (5.2.5.2.2)

  26. Tank Fires – Full Surface (Type III)NFPA 11 – 2005 (5.2.4.2.2)

  27. Tank Fires – Full Surface (Type III)Over 60 foot diameter - Recommended

  28. Tank Fires – Seal Area (Floating Type)NFPA 11 – 2005 (5.2.4.2.2)

  29. NFPA 11 Standards Are MinimumsDesign To Succeed • Flow Rates • At least times 2 or more (especially with Ethanol) • Flow Durations • Enough water and concentrate to flow at least 50% longer than the time specified • Bigger Is Better • One large nozzle generally is more effective than several smaller ones of equal combined flow

  30. Example Pre-Plan (Spill Area)Water Requirements

  31. Example Pre-Plan (Spill Area)Water Requirements

  32. Required For Ethanol Fires Example Pre-Plan (Spill Area)Foam Requirements

  33. What IsRealistic Example Pre-Plan (Spill Area)Foam Usage Rate

  34. Portable Pumps For Water Supply

  35. Foam Pick-up Tubes Or Stingers Foam Supply – 300 Gallon Totes

  36. Note: Portable Pumps Foam Supply – 300 Gallon Totes

  37. Note: Pre Plumbed Foam Concentrate Discharge Manifold Foam Supply – 300 Gallon Totes

  38. Foam Supply - Tankers

  39. Tips For Sizing Equipment • Something is not always better than nothing • The size of the hazard determines the requirements • Size the system to the hazard and size the apparatus to the system • Not the other way around! • NFPA standards are MINIMUM requirements • Design to succeed

  40. Jet Ratio Controllers (JRC’s) • In-line Super Eductors • 60:40 Mix • 60 parts water • 40 parts concentrate • 1-1/2” In / 2-1/2” Out

  41. Foam Mix Injected Here 2-1/2” 60:40 Water/Foam Mix Supply Line From JRC Hot Tip! When setting up – lay water supply first, then foam supply. 2 – 1,500 GPM 5” Water Supply Lines Jet Ratio Controller Layout Note: To make 3,000 GPM foam solution with 3% or 6% concentrate you may need 2 JRC’s feeding this nozzle!

  42. Jet Ratio Controllers (JRC’) • Capabilities: • Can be fairly accurate at a single point • Inexpensive to purchase • Limitations: • Labor intensive to operate • Narrow sweet spot

  43. Foam Tank Concentrate Pump or Metering Valve Pilot-Operated Balance Valve Check Valve Modified Venturi or Ratio Controller (one per discharge) Water Pump Balanced Pressure Pump Proportioners Check Valve

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