The application of expansion foam on liquefied natural gas (LNG) to suppress LNG vapor and LNG pool fire thermal radiation

摘要

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) hazards include LNG flammable vapor dispersion andLNG pool fire thermal radiation. A large LNG pool fire emits high thermal radiationthus preventing fire fighters from approaching and extinguishing the fire. One of thestrategies used in the LNG industry and recommended by federal regulation NationalFire Protection Association (NFPA) 59A is to use expansion foam to suppress LNGvapors and to control LNG fire by reducing the fire size.In its application, expansion foam effectiveness heavily depends on application rate,generator location, and LNG containment pit design. Complicated phenomena involvedand previous studies have not completely filled the gaps increases the needs for LNGfield experiments involving expansion foam. In addition, alternative LNG vapordispersion and pool fire suppression methodology, Foamglas? pool fire suppression(PFS), is investigated as well.This dissertation details the research and experiment development. Results regardingimportant phenomena are presented and discussed. Foamglas? PFS effectiveness isdescribed. Recommendations for advancing current guidelines in LNG vapor dispersionand pool fire suppression methods are developed. The gaps are presented as the futurework and recommendation on how to do the experiment better in the future. This willbenefit LNG industries to enhance its safety system and to make LNG facilities safer.