Using hydrate foam to extinguish petroleum product tank fires

Abstract

Firefighting foam is the most effective means to suppress fires involving liquid petroleum products. Its key ingredient, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, takes a long time to degrade, thus causing serious damage to the environment. Another option is to use fluorocarbon surfactants or silicone surfactants. These solutions are less effective in fighting fires. This research presents a conceptual framework of suppressing fires involving liquid petroleum products using hydrate foam. When hydrate foam interacts with fire, carbon dioxide released in the dissociation of hydrate displaces the oxidizer from the combustion zone. Hydrate foam absorbs the heat released in combustion, thus cooling the petroleum product and the tank. It creates a buffer zone between the oxidizer and petroleum product surface. This zone limits the combustion front spread. The conducted experiments confirmed the high efficiency of hydrate foam. Optimal parameters were determined for efficient and economical operation of hydrate-based foam fire suppression systems. The data obtained were used to develop a conceptual framework of a fire suppression system for petroleum products in storage tanks. The economic efficiency of the proposed technology was estimated. Mathematical equations were derived to predict the required volume of hydrate to suppress the burning of petroleum products.