U.S. patent application number 15/475535 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-24 for focused stream, aerated foam projecting nozzle including fixed wand system and method as well as possibly portable center pointing nozzle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Casey R. Spears, Dwight P. Williams. Invention is credited to Casey R. Spears, Dwight P. Williams.
Application Number | 20170239502 15/475535 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45975540 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170239502 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Williams; Dwight P. ; et
al. |
August 24, 2017 |
Focused Stream, Aerated Foam Projecting Nozzle Including Fixed Wand
System and Method As Well As Possibly Portable Center Pointing
Nozzle
Abstract
The invention includes components and methodology for fixed and
semi-fixed systems for extinguishing fire in large industrial
flammable liquid storage tanks, including aerated foam projecting
nozzles discharging substantially focused streams together with
aeration chambers and risers and the formation of wand heads and
wands.
Inventors: |
Williams; Dwight P.; (Vidor,
TX) ; Spears; Casey R.; (Nederland, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Williams; Dwight P.
Spears; Casey R. |
Vidor
Nederland |
TX
TX |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
45975540 |
Appl. No.: |
15/475535 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13261639 |
Apr 16, 2013 |
|
|
|
PCT/US11/01769 |
Oct 17, 2011 |
|
|
|
15475535 |
|
|
|
|
61455367 |
Oct 19, 2010 |
|
|
|
61461413 |
Jan 18, 2011 |
|
|
|
61463296 |
Feb 14, 2011 |
|
|
|
61519071 |
May 16, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62C 31/12 20130101;
B67D 1/0075 20130101; B67D 2001/1259 20130101; A62C 3/065 20130101;
B67D 1/1252 20130101; B67D 1/0871 20130101; B67D 1/0884 20130101;
B67D 2210/00036 20130101; A62C 31/05 20130101; F25D 23/028
20130101; B01F 3/04815 20130101; G05B 15/02 20130101; F25D 23/126
20130101; B01F 3/04106 20130101; B05B 1/26 20130101; B01F 3/04808
20130101; B05B 1/14 20130101; B05B 1/265 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A62C 3/06 20060101
A62C003/06; A62C 31/05 20060101 A62C031/05; B05B 1/26 20060101
B05B001/26; A62C 31/12 20060101 A62C031/12 |
Claims
1. A method for projecting a substantially focused stream of
aerated fire fighting foam, comprising: supplying water and foam
concentrate to an ambient air aeration chamber proximally attached
upstream of and in fluid communication with a fire fighting nozzle;
projecting aerated foam with an expansion of between 2-to-1 to
8-to-1 from the nozzle in a substantially focused stream, the
nozzle having a tip with at least 4 fins, the fins having a
longitudinal dimension greater than a radial dimension and
terminating substantially flush with a nozzle tip solid bore
discharge orifice.
2. A method for projecting a substantially focused stream of
aerated fire fighting foam, comprising: supplying water and foam
concentrate to an ambient air aeration chamber proximally attached
upstream of and in fluid communication with a fire fighting nozzle;
projecting aerated foam with an expansion of between 2-to-1 to
8-to-1 from the nozzle in a substantially focused stream, the
nozzle having a tip with greater than 4 fins, the fins having a
longitudinal dimension greater than twice a radial dimension, and
terminating substantially flush with a nozzle tip discharge
orifice.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2 including projecting foam with an
expansion of between 3-to-1 to 5-to-1.
4. An at least semi-fixed fire fighting method, comprising:
projecting aerated foam from at least one aerated foam projecting
nozzle, projecting roughly horizontally in a substantially focused
stream around an inside top tank wall surface of an at least 100
foot diameter tank; and producing from the at least one nozzle
aerated foam having an expansion of between 2-to-1 to 8-to-1.
5. The method of claim 4 including at least two aerated foam
projecting nozzles projecting roughly horizontally in a
substantially focused stream in roughly opposing directions around
inside top tank wall surfaces of an at least a 100 foot diameter
tank.
6. The method of claim 4 or 5 that includes producing from the
nozzle or nozzles aerated foam having an expansion of between
3-to-1 and 5-to-1.
7. The method of claim 4 or 5 including affixing the nozzles or
nozzles to an upper wall portion of the industrial storage
tank.
8. The method of claim 4 or 5 including providing fire fighting
fluid from approximately the ground to approximately the top of the
tank wall through an at least four inch riser located proximate the
tank wall and attaching an at least 150 gpm, at 100 psi, portable
monitor and nozzle to a fitting on a distal end of the at least
four inch riser.
9. The methods of 4 or 5 including providing fire fighting fluid
from approximately the ground to approximately the top of the tank
wall through an at least four inch riser located proximate the tank
wall and having attached an at least 150 gpm, at 100 psi, nozzle,
and directing the at least 150 gpm nozzle to discharge proximate to
and over the tank top wall and toward the center of the tank.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of, is related to and
claims priority to, co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 13/261,639, of same
name and inventors, filed Apr. 16, 2013 as a national stage
application of PCT/US11/01769, filed Oct. 17, 2011 and which claims
priority to four co-pending provisional applications by the same
inventors: U.S. Ser. Nos. 61/455,367, 61/461,413, 61/463,296 and
61/519,071 filed Oct. 19, 2010, Jan. 18, 2011, Feb. 14, 2011 and
May 16, 2011 and entitled "Rapid Tank Response, Equipment and
Methodology;" "A Point and Shoot System (including as previously
filed,) An Ambush System and Method and a Hollow Point System and
Method, all for Fighting Industrial Tank Hazards;" "Further
Developments--Fixed System (Point and Shoot, Ambush and Hollow
Point)," and "Fixed/Semi-Fixed Aerated Foam Systems for Industrial
Tank Hazards," respectively. The four co-pending applciations are
all herein and hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety
to the extent permitted by law and regulation.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of this invention lies in fixed and semi-fixed
systems for the assistance of fire extinguishment and/or for
addressing hazards and/or vapor suppression in industrial storage
tanks, being particularly suited for large (at least greater than
60 foot diameter) industrial tanks storing flammable liquids and
hydrocarbon products and the like. Such tanks may be more
particularly differentiated by whether or not they have a fixed
roof. The field of the invention lies in fire fighting nozzles for
large industrial tanks, and more particularly in focused stream
aerated foam projecting nozzles capable of projecting fire fighting
foam in a substantially focused stream. The field of the invention
lies in fixed and semi-fixed nozzle systems and methods for
extinguishing fire in large industrial tanks, and more
particularly, in fixed wand systems plus fixed center pointing
nozzle(s) or a portable point and shoot monitor and nozzle system
and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Industry Background
[0003] Williams Fire and Hazard Control, Inc. (Williams) has been a
leader in the design, development, and production of specialty
firefighting equipment and methodology for use on large industrial
tank fires. A study published in a report by SP Fire Technology in
2004, written by Henry Persson and Anders Lonnermark, stated:
[0004] Despite the lack of large-scale tank fire tests in the last
15 to 20 years, significant improvements have been made regarding
tank fire fighting using mobile equipment. The pioneers in this
development have been Williams Fire & Hazard Control Inc.
(WFHC) drawing attention to the need for solving the logistics
during a fire and to use relevant tactics. By using large capacity
monitors, large diameter hose and foam concentrate stored in bulk
containers, the logistics become manageable. The use of large-scale
monitors has also made it possible to achieve sufficiently high
application rates in order to compensate for foam losses due to
wind and thermal updraft. Williams have also introduced the
"Footprint" technology where all the foam streams are aimed towards
one single landing zone on the fuel surface, resulting in a very
high local application rate making the foam spread more rapidly and
efficiently. One of the main factors in achieving an efficient
extinguishment, according to Williams, is the use of a high quality
foam, suited for tank fire protection and until recently, they were
primarily using 3M AFFF/ATC. Due to 3M's withdrawal from the foam
business a similar foam type is now used, manufactured by Ansul.
"Thunderstorm ATC." In 1983, Williams extinguished a 45.7 m (150
ft) diameter gasoline tank in Chalmette, La. ("Tenneco fire"),
which at that time was the largest tank ever extinguished using
mobile equipment. A new record was set in 2001 when an 82.4 m
diameter (270 ft) gasoline tank was extinguished in Norco, La.
("Orion fire"). The concept for tank fire fighting used by Williams
has been shown to be successful in many other fires [35] and the
concept has also been successfully used by other companies, e.g.
during the Sunoco fire in Canada 1996." (Note: Thunderstorm.TM.
foam concentrates are now developed and produced by Chemguard Inc.)
Historical Development
[0005] Historically, Williams has specialized in mobile equipment
and methodology. "Fixed system" approaches to large tank fires,
historically, have demonstrated limited success in the industry as
well as high cost.
[0006] On the one hand, for "rim seal fires" (fire around the rim
of a tank floating roof, around the roof seal,) traditional fixed
system approaches place a large number of "foam chambers" or "foam
pourers" around the perimeter of the storage tank, every 40 feet or
every 80 feet depending upon whether the "foam dam" on the floating
roof is 12'' or 24'' high. These devices drop or "pour" highly
aerated fire fighting foam down the tank wall into the tank
"periphery," or area between the tank wall and the "foam dam" on
the floating roof, by force of gravity. The cost for such system is
high.
[0007] On the other hand, for "full surface liquid tank fires" in
100 foot plus diameter tanks, proven fixed systems have not
existed. That is, to the inventor's best knowledge, no fixed system
has put out a fully engaged full surface liquid tank fire in a 100
foot plus diameter tank. [0008] Williams Fully Portable Systems
"Rim Seal Fire"
[0009] Before the "Daspit Tool," Williams successfully used fully
portable devices and methods to extinguish "rim seal fires," using
a two part attack. In the first phase of the Williams attack a fire
fighter approached the tank and hung a portable device (foam wand
with a non-reactive nozzle design) over the top edge of the tank
proximate a platform or landing. The wand largely dispensed foam
directly under the device, suppressing the fire in the immediate
vicinity, over a 30 to 40 foot length. After a "beachhead" was
established, a "beachhead" of 30 to 40 feet of tank rim with no
flames under a landing, fire fighters mounted the tank wall using
the ladder leading to the landing, and carried up handheld nozzles
and hoses. (The gpm's of handheld nozzles are roughly limited to 60
gpm for a one person nozzle and a 125 gpm for a two person nozzle.)
These nozzles were the primary fire extinguishing tools for the
seal fire. Having gained access to the top of the tank wall through
use of a foam wand, the fire fighters extinguished the "seal fire"
by walking the "wind girder" around the tank wall, using the
portable nozzles in a known manner
Daspit Tool System
[0010] Subsequently, Williams developed a Daspit tool, a portable
base for affixing a portable nozzle and monitor to the top of a
tank rim or wall. With the Daspit tool, nozzles up to 2000 gpm
could be attached to the top of a tank wall. Specifically again, on
"a rim seal fire," with this improved technique, a portable foam
wand device was again used to dispense foam downward to establish a
"beachhead" area. A fire fighter then carried a Daspit Tool.TM.,
(being a clamping device used to secure a temporary fire fighting
monitor and nozzle to the top edge of a storage tank, or any other
approved mounting location) and hose while climbing the ladder and
attached the Tool to the tank rim above the beachhead. The monitor
and nozzle were then pressurized with water/foam solution and
directed by the fire fighter stationed at the landing to dispense
foam inside the tank and shoot out fire located around the tank's
perimeter. The entire attack could be set up and executed in a
matter of minutes, after, of course, the responding fire fighters
had arrived at the scene.
Full Surface Fire
[0011] In September of 2004 Williams was called to Cushing,
Oklahoma to assist in the extinguishment of a "full surface" 117
foot diameter crude tank fire. The Williams team arrived with
portable foam wands and with "Daspit Tools," monitors and nozzles.
(Again, "Daspit Tools" permit staging a monitor and nozzle on a
tank wall rim. The "Daspit Tool" provides a base for a monitor and
nozzle.) Williams first used portable foam wands to extinguish the
fire around an area under a platform and ladder along the wall of
the tank. Having gained "control" of that limited area, Williams
personnel mounted the ladder of the burning tank to the platform,
secured a Daspit Tool there and directed its monitor and nozzle to
extinguish the full surface crude tank fire. Thus, Williams
provided evidence that a portable foam wand and sufficiently large
portable monitor and nozzle (rendered useable by virtue of the
Daspit Tool base) could be effectively used to extinguish a "full
surface tank fire", at least of crude in at least a 117 foot
diameter tank.
Williams Fixed Systems Development
[0012] Williams had long appreciated that a "fixed" system,
performing appropriate tasks, would be faster and offer much lower
risk of harm and danger to personnel. (Danger to personnel includes
the clutter on a ladder provided by the hoses necessary to supply a
portable monitor and a wand. Furthermore, if such hose were to
break while it runs up the ladder, the personnel involved with the
ladder and platform would be put in significant danger.)
[0013] A problem to solve, and a goal for Williams in industrial
tank fire fighting, became to develop a cost-effective, reliable,
fixed system for quickly and efficiently blanketing appropriate
areas of a tank fire with foam, including not only the "periphery,"
(which is the location of the "rim seal fire,") but also a tank
"full surface fire." Such system, moreover, should perform
satisfactorily for tanks of 200 and 300 and 400 feet diameter, and
even greater, and include tanks with and/or without a fixed roof,
and should not be prohibitively expensive.
[0014] The resulting Williams commercial embodiments, discussed
below, were developed, tested and designed to solve these problems
and meet these goals. The commercial embodiments were designed to
protect: (1) floating roof only tanks against "rim seal fire" and
vapor hazard; (2) floating roof only tanks against "rim seal fire"
and full surface fire; and (3) fixed roof tanks against any surface
hazard. The inventive systems are cost-effective and practical, for
tank diameters from 100 feet to above 400 feet.
[0015] The instant inventors have demonstrated, in the development
process, that the industry erred in certain prior assumptions
regarding the proper expansion of foam needed for fixed systems,
and regarding the capacity to throw or project and run an
adequately expanded foam.
[0016] The instant inventors have demonstrated, with side by side
testing, that "projecting" and "directionally discharging" an
"aerated foam" (an expansion of between 2-to-1 and 8-to-1) from an
aerated foam nozzle can produce a focused stream of at least 1100
gpm of aerated foam, with a significantly enhanced tight landing
footprint, and with a surprising foam run, and including a
surprising foam run speed and fire fighting effectiveness. The
inventors have shown, with testing, that their aerated foam nozzles
can reach a more extensive tank fire surface in a shorter period of
time than can prior art "foam chambers." The novel system can
extinguish larger tanks with fewer units and is applicable not only
to rim seal fires but also to full surface liquid tank fires,
including of those of large tanks. The instant inventions,
supported by test results, promise cost effective fixed systems to
extinguish fires in tanks of diameters greater than 200 feet,
greater than 300 feet, and greater than 400 feet. The instant fixed
systems are designed to be attached along the tank outer wall, and
to discharge into the tank from a point near a top tank wall
portion, thereby enhancing the reliability as well as the cost
effectiveness of the fixed system, in the event of a hazard.
Invention Development Stages
[0017] The instant invention proceeded in several stages. A first
determination was made, based on experience and testing, to
actively pursue outer tank wall mounted units discharging proximate
the tank wall upper rim. (The inventors have experimented with
"bubble-up" or so-called Type I systems but have not yet been able
to successfully test a satisfactory, practical and cost effective
bubble-up system. Pipe-inside-the-tank systems, based on extensive
experience, were deemed impractical given the prevalence of
floating roofs and the complications inherent therein. In regard to
roof mounted systems, either fixed roof or floating roof or systems
that "extend-over" the top of the liquid, experience again
indicated far too high a likelihood that such a fixed system would
be placed out of service by the very incident that causes the fire
or hazard.)
[0018] A second determination, based on testing, was to preferably
discharge aerated foam from an aeration chamber proximate to and
upstream of the nozzle, the aerated foam preferably having at least
a 2-to-1 to 8-to-1 expansion ratio. A 3-to-1 to 5-to-1 ratio was
preferred. A tubular jet ambient air aeration chamber provided a
reliable structure for the aeration, able to perform while enduring
heat and stress. It was determined by testing that this aerated
foam could be significantly projected, could produce a significant
foam run, and could run quickly without losing fire fighting
effectiveness.
[0019] Thirdly, the inventors created a nozzle that could
significantly, directionally, "project" and/or "forcefully project"
a proper aerated foam in a "substantially focused stream," to land
in a focused pattern, with an enhanced tight landing footprint, and
again with significant foam run and effective fire extinguishment
characteristics. A key to this stage was a stream shaper.
[0020] One general belief in the industry had been that "forcefully
projecting" aerated foam destroyed the bubbles and resulted in poor
foam quality and poor foam run. Prior art fixed systems with
aerated foam chambers did not "forcefully project" aerated foam.
Rather, for rim seal fires and/or small tanks, they poured or
dropped by gravity highly aspirated foam down the inside walls of
the tank. This resulted in a low gpm of discharge and a poor foam
run.
[0021] The instant inventors demonstrated that, with the instant
nozzles, the expectation of poor bubble quality and poor foam run
for "projected" or "forcefully projected" aerated foam was
misplaced. Use of a stream shaper may be instrumental in helping to
secure the good results and enhanced landing footprint.
[0022] Testing has shown that a stream shaper can significantly
enhance the integrity and focus of thrown footprints of aerated
foam. Aerated foam discharged through a proper stream shaper has
non-destructively landed at least dozens of feet away, in tightly
focused footprints, and run surprisingly further and quicker than
industry predictions, while maintaining the fire fighting
effectiveness of the bubbles. A 2-to-1 to 8-to-1 expanded foam,
preferably a 3-to-1 to 5-to-1 expanded foam, can be
non-destructively landed in tight target areas to a greater extent
and further away than industry expectations. The stream shaper is
one key why the instant system can land foam at least 20 feet away
in a tank "periphery" and run the foam greater than 100 feet
further in the periphery. In preferred embodiments a
footprint-enhancing stream shaper for an aerated foam nozzle has
four or greater fins, each fin having a longitudinal dimension
greater than a radial dimension. Preferably each fin has a
longitudinal dimension greater than twice its radial dimension.
Preferably also the stream shaper fins are installed in a tip of a
nozzle such that the downstream end of the fins is approximately
flush with the nozzle tip discharge orifice.
Terms
[0023] The following use of terms is helpful in discussing the
structure and performance of the instant inventions as they
developed.
[0024] The term "riser" is used to refer to any pipe or line or
system of such, affixed to or near or adjacent to an outer tank
wall, installed to provide water, water and foam concentrate and/or
fire fighting fluid to a top portion of a large industrial storage
tank. Although risers are shown herein as vertical pipes, they
could be any shape, and in particular, they could be a combination
of vertical and/or circular portions. E.g. one or more fluid
distribution rings could be installed around a tank, connecting
with vertical riser portions. A riser can come in sections, as
illustrated herein.
[0025] A "tip" of a nozzle is a nozzle barrel portion terminating
in a discharge orifice, frequently including a swedge-down portion
to enhance discharge pressure.
[0026] A "fin" (also referred to in the art as a vane) directs
fluid flow in a conduit.
[0027] A "stream shaper" provides fins or vanes extending in a
nozzle or conduit. A fin radial dimension is the dimension measured
radially from a center axis of a barrel or conduit out toward the
barrel or conduit wall. A fin longitudinal dimension is the
dimension of the fin measured longitudinally in a nozzle or
conduit, along a nozzle or conduit longitudinal axis or in the
upstream/downstream direction of flow.
[0028] A "deflector," as used herein, provides an obstruction in a
fluid conduit, directing a portion of fluid flowing therein toward
a discharge orifice or port.
[0029] A tank "periphery" is an annular area on a top of a floating
tank roof, between the tank wall and the floating roof "foam dam."
Foam dams are usually 24 inches high or 12 inches high. A "rim seal
fire" is a fire in the "periphery." (A full surface fire can ensue
when a floating roof fails, e.g. sinks or tilts.)
[0030] An "aerated foam nozzle" or an "aerated foam projecting
nozzle" will be used to indicate a nozzle that discharges foam
created from a foaming concentrate that has passed through an
ambient air aeration chamber located at, proximate to, and/or just
prior to, a nozzle.
[0031] Two nozzles discharging "in roughly opposing directions"
will be used to mean discharging in roughly opposite directions,
within at least +/-15.degree. of a median "directly opposite"
directional axis. By one measure, thus, the included angle between
two discharge axes of two nozzles discharging in roughly opposing
directions, taken in the direction of discharge, will be between
180.degree. and 150.degree..
[0032] A "substantially focused" stream indicates a discharge of
foam where at least 60% of the foam remains within a 20 degree cone
around a discharge axis during flight.
[0033] A "projecting" nozzle means a nozzle that, if set at
0.degree. inclination to the horizon and at a supply pressure of
100 psi, and if a landing footprint is measured on a horizontal
plane five feet below the discharge orifice, and when throwing
aerated foam with an expansion of between 3/1 and 5/1, then the
nozzle can land at least 50% of the aerated foam greater than 5
feet from the discharge orifice and can land some foam greater than
20 feet. "Projecting" thus means landing at least 50% of foam,
aerated with an expansion of between 3-to-1 to 5-to-1, greater than
5 feet from the nozzle discharge orifice and landing significant
foam greater than 20 feet, if discharged horizontally and measured
on a plane five feet below the discharge orifice.
[0034] A "forcefully projecting" nozzle means a nozzle that, if set
at 0.degree. inclination to the horizon and at a supply pressure of
100 psi, and if a landing footprint is measured on a horizontal
plane five feet below the discharge orifice, and when throwing
aerated foam with an expansion of between 3/1 and 5/1, then the
nozzle can land at least 50% of the aerated foam greater than 50
feet from the discharge orifice and can land some foam greater than
80 feet. "Forcefully projecting" thus means landing at least 50% of
foam, aerated with an expansion of between 3-to-1 to 5-to-1,
greater than 50 feet from the discharge orifice and landing some
foam greater than 80 feet, if discharged horizontally and with a
landing footprint measured on a horizontal plane 5 feet below the
discharge orifice.
[0035] The concepts of "substantially focused" stream and
"projecting" and "forcefully projecting" together with "aerated
foam nozzle" help distinguish the instant inventive nozzle and wand
systems from aspirated foam discharge devices of the prior art.
Prior art discharges from traditional "foam chambers" or "foam
pourers" are not "substantially focused" or "projecting." On the
other hand, the term "aerated foam nozzle" distinguishes the
instant nozzles from master stream nozzles of the prior art, for
instance, nozzles that throw a water/foam concentrate liquid
mixture where essentially all aeration takes place significantly
after leaving the nozzle structure rather than in an associated
upstream or in-nozzle aeration chamber.
[0036] Given the surprisingly good foam run results with the
instant nozzle design and aerated foam, the inventors tested
"opposing nozzle" fixed units, referred to by the inventors as
"wand heads" and "wands." "Two nozzle" and "three nozzle" fixed
units, or "wand heads" or "wands," were tested, discharging roughly
horizontally and primarily left and/or right, and optionally,
"toward the center." For insertion through existing openings in a
wall of a "fixed roof" tank, a conduit with a single center
pointing nozzle plus dual non-obtrusive side ports with interior
deflectors was tested, the unit suitable for inserting into
existing fixed roof tank wall flanged openings.
[0037] The "wand heads" are adapted to be supplied by "risers,"
mounted on, proximate to or about outside tank wall portions, the
"wand heads" to be secured so as to discharge just inside a top
tank wall portion, for enhanced reliability. The "wand heads"
preferably include a proximally located ambient air aeration
chamber providing properly aerated foam for the nozzle(s). The
aeration chambers are served by water/foam concentrate line(s) or
pipe(s), again typically referred to as "risers." A fixed wand head
with two opposing nozzles preferably directs discharges roughly
left and right, projecting aerated foam substantially horizontally
and in roughly opposing directions. A fixed separate riser and
fitting can be provided, especially proximate a tank ladder and
landing platform, to supply and support an additional fixed nozzle
or portable monitor and nozzle, which can project foam toward the
center of the tank or otherwise around the tank. Preferably a
"three nozzle" fixed unit for open floating roof tanks can be
installed to discharge left, right and roughly toward the center.
For fixed roof tanks, a single center pointing nozzle with two
conduit-located deflection ports can be installed, the ports
functioning as side nozzles. The unit can be inserted through
flanged openings typically provided in existing fixed roof tanks.
The single conduit nozzle plus two "deflector ports" can discharge
left, right and toward the center of a tank with a fixed roof.
[0038] (The inventors further teach, for alcohol or the like
liquids, possibly not discharging both left and right but
alternately discharging all left or all right, to establish a swirl
pattern run, and to further bank the discharge against the wall to
minimize plunge.)
[0039] (Preferably in most embodiments a fourth smaller orifice
will discharge a relatively small amount of aerated foam, say less
than 150 gpm, directly down the tank wall to land and cover tank
surface directly under the unit. Frequently this small fourth
discharge port may not be mentioned herein, and in many cases it
appears unnecessary. However, it will likely be included in
commercial units out of caution.)
[0040] The instant system thus offers a cost effective solution to
a costly and dangerous problem. Providing first responding fire
fighters with a proper means for successful extinguishment of at
least tank rim seal fires, and preferably also means for full
surface vapor suppression and means for extinguishing full surface
liquid tank fires, by strategically and permanently fixing a
relatively few inexpensive components onto a tank, as well as
providing supporting tools (monitors, nozzles, hose, and pumps,)
should be paramount in considering how to best protect a hazard.
Doing so ensures a good relationship with the first responders as
well as provides a better solution to large tank hazards.
[0041] To recap and reflect on the development history, a Williams
two stage "fully portable" attack for "rim seal fires," and even
for "full surface liquid tank fires," has been successful. However,
as required by the two stage "fully portable" attack, requiring
humans to carry hoses up a tank ladder to the tank landing, and to
charge the hoses around their feet in order to activate a primary
system, presented a personnel risk that was not attractive.
Unmanned or largely unmanned fixed systems presented a far more
attractive personnel environment. However, any fixed or semi-fixed
system must also approach the degree of reliability and flexibility
and cost effectiveness as that provided by the two stage "portable"
system.
[0042] A surprising discovery, that heightened the reliability,
cost effectiveness and flexibility of the instant fixed systems,
came with the testing of a landing footprint-enhanced, "aerated"
foam nozzle "projecting" aerated foam. The aerated foam nozzle,
with tight landing footprint-enhancement, tested to show that it
could "throw" aerated foam significantly left and/or right while
still landing a predominant portion of that foam in the narrow tank
"periphery." Further, the nozzle could throw or project aerated
foam successfully for a significant distance, e.g. at least 20
feet, while landing the foam predominately in the periphery. And
the momentum of the "throwing" or the projecting enabled the system
to "run" foam, tests showed, a surprising distance, 120 feet both
left and right of the nozzle, and to do so very quickly. As a
result, a footprint-enhanced aerated foam nozzle could form a
suitable cost effective primary fixed means for at least
extinguishing rim seal fires. To compare with the Williams prior
"portable system," the prior portable foam wand was only used to
establish a "beachhead" directly below the wand, which allowed
humans to mount the tank wall at the wand position by the ladder
and to put into place the primary fire extinguishing system, fed by
hoses running up the ladder. To the contrary, with the instant
novel fixed systems, a portable monitor and nozzle, if used,
becomes secondary. A "fixed left and/or right wand" becomes the key
element of the primary fire extinguishing system for the "rim seal
fire." A further fixed center pointing nozzle covers a full surface
fire.
Discussion of Other Discovered Teachings
[0043] The problem of an effective practical reliable design for a
fixed fire extinguishing system for tank fires, especially in tanks
of diameter of greater than 100 feet and 200 feet, has existed for
a long time. Search into existing solutions uncovered the
following.
Foam Chambers--For example, Blomquist U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,010
[0044] For floating roof seal fires, "foam chambers" or "foam
pourers," discussed above, dropping highly aspirated foam between a
tank wall and a floater roof "foam dam" have been a traditional
fixed fire fighting system solution. These systems are inadequate
to attack a "full surface" fire in a >200 foot diameter tank and
likely inadequate for >a 100 foot diameter tank. Their foam run
is typically less than 50 feet, so that a large number of such
chambers are required. Given the degree of expansion imparted to
the foam, the foam run is slow and short and the gpm is limited.
Applicant experimented with the common foam chambers to confirm
that the run of their highly aspirated foam was only about 40-50
feet in each direction around the tank perimeter or periphery (e.g.
in the area between tank wall and the "foam dam" on the floating
roof.) And this 40-50 foot run was also relatively slow.
Saval and Knowsley
[0045] A "Saval" apparatus was noticed on the Internet and a
similar Knowsley apparatus discovered. This apparatus type proposes
two 45.degree. down pointing nozzles, "discharging" left and right,
stationed along the wall rim, (as well as a small directly downward
discharge). The two 45.degree. nozzles do not discharge
"significantly horizontally" and no nozzle is proposed to discharge
"toward the center" of the tank. Further Saval's nozzles appear to
"bank" their discharges against the tank wall. The effect of
banking could be to soften the impact of landing on the liquid
and/or to direct more of the foam into the periphery and/or to
heighten the aeration. However, one of skill in the art knows that
the "banking" technique lessens the lateral force behind the foam,
wastes projection energy and reduces foam run capability. Neither
Saval nor Knowsley claim a novel or exceptional "foam run"
capability. This implies that Saval's and Knowsley's foam run is in
the same order as that of the traditional "foam chambers" and/or
"foam pourers."
Uribe US Patent Publication No. US 2004/0140106
[0046] Uribe teaches a tank wall mounted fixed system nozzle with
an aeration chamber. The degree of aeration is not mentioned. No
stream shaper is disclosed. Uribe does not discharge right or left,
but only toward the center, as with the Nihilator below. Uribe
asserts that eventually his discharged foam will cover a whole tank
surface. Since one of ordinary skill in the art knows that foam has
a limited lifetime and a limited run, Uribe's statement implies
that Uribe's tank is inherently of less diameter than 100 feet.
Nihilator
[0047] Reference to a Nihilator device was located, although the
Nihilator appears to be no longer offered as a commercial product.
One of ordinary skill might surmise that the Nihilator was not
effective. The Nihilator is a center pointing nozzle apparently
designed for a fixed roof tank and has an aeration chamber. The
Nihilator discharges foam toward the center of the tank and
suggests that it be used with traditional foam chambers.
Major Commercial Embodiments
[0048] The instant invention and its related embodiments have
several major commercial embodiments. For ease of reference, the
current major commercial embodiments are given graphic names [0049]
Primary Target--Floating Roof but No Fixed Roof--Large Tanks [0050]
"Point and Shoot" (semi-fixed) System--Useful for: [0051] Rim seal
protection and fire fighting [0052] Full surface foam blanket when
no fire exists, e.g. for sunken roof vapor suppression
Advantages
[0053] Each wand can protect up to 240' of seal rim circumference,
as opposed to 40' or 80' with conventional foam chambers; therefore
fewer wands are needed
[0054] Portable monitor and nozzle provides back-up redundancy and
vapor suppression capability
[0055] Low costs, minimal installation [0056] "Ambush" (fixed)
System--Useful For: [0057] Full surface protection, rim seal fire
and fully engaged full surface liquid tank fire (floating roof
sunk) [0058] Number of systems per tank depends on tank diameter
(and product stored) [0059] System can be used to extinguish rim
seal rim fires with center nozzle valved off so as not to overload
a floating roof
Advantages
[0060] Left/right/center (and possibly down-the-wall) streams can
discharge and/or project aerated foam in 3 or 4 directions
[0061] System capable of discharging 1900 gpm from each assembly on
the largest model
[0062] Each wand can protect up to 240' of seal rim and up to 150'
toward the center
[0063] Requires significantly fewer wand installations than prior
art [0064] Primary Target--Fixed Roof, Large Tank [0065] "Hollow
Point" (fixed) System--Useful for: [0066] Closed roof, full tank
protection
Advantages
[0067] Easy installation on existing tanks, through existing single
6'' flanged holes.
[0068] Each wand can protect up to 240' of seal rim and up to 250'
toward the center
[0069] Incorporates a Teflon vapor seal to stop vapors from
traveling down the tube and out aeration holes
[0070] Can project 2700 gpm of foam total, via forward and
left/right and down streams
[0071] Requires significantly fewer wand installations than prior
art
[0072] Again, success of the above embodiments may be based in part
upon the development of a stream shaper affixed in the tip of the
nozzles, which facilitates providing a projecting and forcefully
projecting foam nozzle, as well as developing a properly aerated
foam for the context. [0073] The Major Commercial Systems and
Methodologies--In Greater Detail
[0074] The invention, as introduced and discussed above, relates to
various aspects and embodiments for fixed and semi-fixed systems
and methods for extinguishing liquid tank fires in large industrial
storage tanks. The invention covers tanks with and without fixed
roofs and systems that are fixed or semi-fixed, and systems
developed primarily for rim seal fires and for full surface liquid
tank fires.
The Semi-Fixed System (for Rim Seal Fire and Vapor
Protection)--Point and Shoot, Summarized
[0075] The Point and Shoot fixed wand and riser system is a
semi-fixed system that can be used immediately for "rim seal fire"
protection as well as for vapor suppression. The Point and Shoot
fixed wand and riser system is predicated upon the successful
rim-seal extinguishments made by Williams using fully portable
equipment, as well as the subsequent Daspit Tool development. Given
the further development of a proper aeration chamber and a stream
shaped nozzle combination, aerated foam nozzle units, or "wands,"
fixed to the wall of the tank become a cost-effective primary "rim
seal fire" extinguishing means. A further fixed riser, for
supplying fire fighting fluid to a portable monitor and nozzle, can
provide redundancy in case of damage to the primary system as well
as extra full surface vapor suppression capability. (And of course,
further independent fixed risers with fixed center pointing nozzles
offer a fully fixed full surface fire protection capability.)
[0076] Thus, the semi-fixed Point and Shoot wand and riser system
and method provides safer and quicker extinguishment for rim seal
fires, as well as a back-up for component disablement or vapor
suppression. This minimal fixed wand and riser system requires only
strategically permanently affixing a few inexpensive components
directly onto a tank. As a consequence of a proper combination of a
footprint-enhanced nozzle with a properly aerated foam, the left
and right nozzles of a wand can be fixed 220 to 240 feet apart, (as
opposed to 40 to 80 feet apart with prior art foam chamber
systems.) Thus, the footprint enhanced aerated foam nozzle wand
system can be staged as a primary fire extinguishing system for the
"rim seal fire" while one or more risers, installed proximate a
tank landing and ladder for the quick attachment of portable
monitor/nozzles, can be regarded as redundant backup rim seal fire
protection, in case of damage to the primary system, and as a
capability to provide full surface vapor suppression if a floating
roof partially or totally sinks. This semi-fixed system permits
attacking a seal fire quickly with much less risk to personnel.
[0077] The semi-fixed elementary system, called the Point and Shoot
System, has a recommended layout as follows:
TABLE-US-00001 Number of Foam Wands for Full Encirclement Seal
Protection 240' Coverage From Each - 24'' Tall Foam Dam Required at
least 220' coverage from each - 12'' tall foam dam Tank Diameter
No. of Foam Wands Required 0'-76' 1 77'-153' 2 154'-229' 3
230'-306' 4 307'-382' 5 383'-458' 6 Williams Fire and Hazard
Control 1-800-231-4613 Note: The number of prior art "foam
chambers" which would be required to protect the above tank sizes
is many multiples of the number of the instant novel "foam wands"
required, due to the extended coverage of the instant "foam wands"
(240' vs. 80' or 220' vs. 80').
[0078] The Point and Shoot semi-fixed system is particularly
applicable for large tanks with no fixed roof for "rim seal fires"
and full surface vapor suppression. A major advantage is low cost.
The Point and Shoot system is characterized by a pair of aerated
foam projecting nozzles attached together in a fixed "wand,"
structured to discharge in roughly opposing directions and roughly
horizontally. The aerated foam tank wand has been demonstrated to
be able to land and run foam approximately 120 feet in each
direction in the tank "periphery," that is the space between the
"foam dam" and the tank wall of a floating roof. See below test
results. Preferably in addition to the fixed foam wands risers
attached to or about the tank wall, at least one additional at
least four inch riser is attached to the tank wall to be associated
with the tank landing ladder system. The additional riser is
structured to communicate fire fighting fluid from approximately
the ground to approximately the top of the tank and is structured
with a fitting at its end, proximate the top of the tank, the
fitting suitable for attaching a portable (at least 150 gpm at 100
psi) monitor and nozzle.
The Fixed System for Floating, not Fixed, Roof--Including Full
Surface Fire--Ambush Summarized
[0079] One new primary danger arises from the fact that industrial
storage tanks for storing flammable liquids and hydrocarbon
products are being constructed of ever greater diameters. Today
405' diameter tanks, and greater, are being constructed. Large
scale portable fire fighting nozzles, such as 10,000 gpm, 12,000
gpm or 14,000 gpm nozzles, capable of throwing fire extinguishing
and hazard suppressing liquids (water and foam concentrate) over
the top of the tank wall typically recite maximum ranges in the
400-500 foot range. Fire fighting foams from the large scale
portable nozzles can be relied on to run, at best, approximately
100'. (Conservatively, the foam might only be reliably counted upon
to run about 80 feet.) Thus, portable fire fighting nozzles
effectively addressing a full surface, fully engaged flammable
liquid tank fire in a 405' diameter tank by throwing foam over the
wall from an upwind location probably have to be staged within 100'
of a tank wall. Considerations of logistics as well as the
existence of moats, buildings and other equipment and piping around
the tanks, and especially considerations of heat and personnel
safety, render extremely problematical any tactic requiring
approaching a fully engaged full surface liquid tank fire in a 405'
diameter tank closer than 100'.
[0080] Further pressure for improvement comes from the fact that
the value, to the tank owner, of a gallon of the product in the
tank is also increasing dramatically. Owners of large tanks and of
large tank products want the product and the tank to be protected
from fire.
[0081] The above considerations incentivized the inventors to
develop a fully fixed system, including one or more fixed center
pointing nozzles plus an aerated foam wand, preferably a left and
right discharging wand but possibly an all left or all right
discharging wand. The system is known as the Ambush and provides a
first defense for addressing fire and vapor hazards, including full
surface liquid tank fires, in all tanks without a fixed roof, but
especially in large diameter tanks.
[0082] The Ambush could be implemented in one fashion as a "fixed"
Point and Shoot System. The Point and Shoot riser provided with a
fitting for attaching a portable monitor and nozzle, located near
the tank ladder and landing, could be provided instead with a
permanently fixed center pointing nozzle, such as a master stream
self-educting nozzle. The riser and nozzle could look and function
much like the Hollow Point riser and nozzle, without however the
lateral space constraints, the side ports and without the necessity
of an aeration chamber. The adjustment of the nozzle could be fixed
or set with respect to the tank size and other fixed wands such
that the nozzle covers a relevant center portion of the tank
surface with foam. No separate ambient air aeration chamber would
be required, as known in the master stream fire fighting nozzle
field. A separate fixed riser and nozzle need not be limited to
being located near a tank ladder and landing. Only so many fixed
center directed riser and nozzles need be included as will
adequately cover the center portion of the tank surface with foam,
in context.
[0083] An Ambush System provides a tailored design of three nozzle
units, or wands, preferably with all nozzles using one or two
proximate ambient air aeration chambers and all working off of one
or two associated risers. These three nozzle units are designed to
be installed as units around a tank.
[0084] The three nozzle, fixed, aerated foam wand system includes a
set of fixed aerated foam nozzles. This set of nozzles, each
referred to as a fixed "wand," has left and/or right and over the
top (toward the center) capability, all with enhanced landing
footprints. Preferably the units of three nozzle wands are spaced
around, and proximate to, the inner tank wall, each unit preferably
providing two nozzles that discharge predominantly left and right,
along inner tank wall portions, and a third nozzle that discharges
toward the center. Preferably the "toward the center" nozzle
discharges at least beyond an approximate 80' annular ring of foam,
anticipated to be created upon an open tank surface by the left and
right discharging nozzles. (In some cases the three nozzle wand
unit also provides a fourth small port or nozzle to discharge
directly beneath the wand and on the inside of the tank wall.) Any
disablement of a fixed wand due to a particular fire or hazard or
incident can be supplemented by large portable nozzles staged on
the ground, throwing foam over the tank wall, as is known in the
art.
[0085] The perimeter of a 405' tank runs approximately 1,250 feet.
Testing shows that the instant novel fixed foam wands (Ambush
System) should be able to direct foam to run at least 80' to 90' in
each direction, preferably 120 feet, and to also run the foam 80'
or so inward toward the center of the tank. (Again, in addition, a
small amount of foam may be discharged directly below the fixed
foam wands.) These nozzles could cover the inner tank wall with a
roughly 80' wide annular foam ring, relatively quickly. A third
nozzle attached to each fixed wand, preferably with its own
aeration chamber, projects foam toward the center of the tank and
at least toward the inside of the 80' annular foam ring being
established. Preferably, for a large tank, the third nozzle lands a
footprint of foam with a footprint midpoint approximately 90 to 120
feet radially inward of the tank wall. The length of the landing
footprint should preferably extend at least 20 to 30 feet forward
and backward from the landing midpoint, along the discharge
projection line. The landing footprint should preferably spread at
least 15 to 20 feet laterally from the discharge projection line.
Such a discharge of foam has been shown to be capable of running
foam toward and through the center of a 405' diameter tank. Taking
the center projected foam together with the peripherally discharged
foam, a total gpm of foam should be selected such that the surface
of the tank would be covered with an adequately deep and lasting
foam blanket. That is, the gpm of the wands and nozzles should take
into account the desired and/or required application rate density
for the tank surface.
[0086] This fixed three nozzle open system and methodology has an
advantage of concentrating a foam blanket on portions of the tank
liquid surface adjacent to the tank walls. The portions adjacent to
the tank walls are important because the tank wall itself can
retain significant heat. The tank wall typically needs the most
cooling. For a 405 foot diameter tank, for instance, seven or eight
large three nozzle fixed foam wands might be utilized, each large
three nozzle foam wand discharging approximately 2,000 gpm of
water/foam concentrate total from its nozzle cluster. In a
preferred embodiment a nozzle discharging to the left and to the
right might discharge approximately 700 gpm each. A nozzle directed
toward the center might project approximately 500-900 gpm toward
the center. A small port discharging immediately under the fixed
wand might discharge approximately 100 gpm downward.
[0087] Again, to the extent that one or more fixed foam three
nozzle wands are disabled by the fire or an explosion, large
portable fire fighting nozzles can be staged on the ground and used
to supplement the non-disabled portions of the fixed system.
[0088] In the three nozzle fixed aerated foam wand system the
discharge orifices for the nozzles preferably contain fins, or
stream shapers, to minimize the turbulence in the discharge of
aerated foam out of the nozzles. Minimizing turbulence enhances the
range and the run of the foam, and tightens the landing
footprint.
[0089] One preferred three nozzle fixed aerated foam wand
embodiment includes two aeration chambers. The aeration chamber(s)
typically consist of tubular jets inserted inside of piping
proximate a series of air intake ports, and the chamber is situated
proximately upstream of the nozzle discharges. The jets, in a known
manner, create a low pressure zone, sucking air in through the
ports and mixing the water/foam concentrate with air to create an
aerated foam for discharge. Bends incorporated in the conduit
between an aeration chamber and a discharging nozzle may enhance
the aeration of the foam. No bend may be included between an
aeration chamber and a center projecting nozzle, however, to
minimally aerate that foam in order to enhance foam throw and run.
Discharge from that nozzle has a longer flight time in which to
further aerate. Two aeration chambers enable tailoring the aeration
more closely to the nozzle purpose.
[0090] Although the three nozzle system was initially designed to
address the problem of a very large, fully engaged, full surface
liquid tank fire (no fixed roof), such as a fire in an industrial
tank having a diameter of 405 feet, the fixed three nozzles aerated
foam wand system was quickly seen to have application to tanks of
all diameter sizes, and in the situation of either a fully engaged
fire or a rim seal fire or simply a need for vapor suppression. The
large fixed wand is useful even if a floater remains in place and
there is only a seal fire or a need for vapor suppression over the
floater. A valve can be provided to eliminate foam discharged
toward the center in the case of a rim seal fire.
Fixed Roof Fixed Nozzle System--Hollow Point Summarized
[0091] A fixed roof fixed nozzle wand system has been designed as a
direct response to the issues faced by foam chambers when installed
on a closed roof tank for the purpose of full surface protection.
One wand of the instant fixed roof fixed nozzle system projects
foam directly toward the center of the tank as well as left and
right to protect near the inner tank walls. The wand unit
preferably incorporates a Teflon vapor seal to prevent tank vapors
from escaping the tank via the aeration holes in the wand system's
supply piping.
[0092] In contrast with foam chambers that simply pour foam onto
the surface from the circumference of a tank, such that the foam
must run across the liquid surface using only gravity as its means
of propulsion via the static head from the piled up foam near the
tank wall, the instant fixed roof aerated foam wand discharge head
projects foam out into the tank with significant velocity, to push
the foam toward the center of the tank. From the same wand foam
from interior left/right discharge ports is projected to protect
the area near the tank walls.
[0093] As foam accumulates in the center, it will begin to flow
outwards back toward the tank walls. The foam at the tank walls
will meet and flow toward the center of the tank, closing the gap
between the two.
[0094] Each fixed roof wand discharge head is preferably designed
to flow 1000 gpm; 600 gpm is delivered through the center stream
projecting toward the center of the tank with 200 gpm projecting
left and right against the tank wall. This flow rate can be
regulated by an internal jet just upstream of the aeration holes.
Air is introduced to the stream at the aeration holes by the
Venturi effect created by the internal jet. This aerates the foam
before it leaves the wand to allow for aerated foam to land on the
liquid surface. The ambient air aeration chamber is preferably
intended to create a relatively low expansion foam compared to
other devices, in order to maintain small bubble foam. This foam is
best suited for quickly and effectively running across a liquid
surface, thus providing a quick coverage and extinguishment of the
tank. One main objective of the fixed roof wand system is to
improve upon current methods of closed roof storage tank
protection. The fixed roof wand system does so by projecting foam,
rather than pouring foam, and by carefully engineered discharge tip
sizes and designs coupled with an efficient ambient air aerator and
favorable flow rates, stream shapers and stream straighteners.
[0095] One fixed roof wand system recommended layout, for example,
is as follow:
TABLE-US-00002 Number of Hollow Point Systems Required for Full
Surface Protection 1000 gpm Discharge from Each System Tank
Diameter Discharge Heads Required 0'-103' 1 104'-146' 2 147'-178' 3
179'-206' 4 207'-221' 5 222'-242' 6 242'-262' 7 263'-280' 8
281'-297' 9 298'-313' 10 314'-316' 11 317'-330' 12 Williams Fire
and Hazard Control 1-800-231-4613 Note: The application densities
used in the above calculations are based upon an escalating scale
from .12 gpm/ft{circumflex over ( )}2 to .14 gpm/ft{circumflex over
( )}2. These numbers are based upon Williams experience with
extinguishing large full surface storage tank fires.
Special Methodology--Alcohols
[0096] Alcohols and related liquids and polar solvents are known to
attract water out of foam bubbles. Foam, therefore, is preferably
landed "lightly" on alcohols or like fluids to minimize the depth
of any plunge of the foam below the liquid surface. The inventors
teach that a swirl pattern may be preferable for running foam
landing on alcohol or the like liquids in the case of fire. Thus
the inventors teach, for tanks of alcohol or related liquids or
polar solvents, a method of banking discharged foam against inner
tank walls prior to landing the foam on the liquid, and discharging
the foam predominantly all left or all right, from a plurality of
nozzles, to develop a swirl pattern run for the foam in the
tank.
Aerated Foam
[0097] The preferred foam for producing the requisite aerated foam
for the instant fixed systems is to use an ambient air aeration
chamber located just upstream of the nozzles. It is known in the
art to produce an aeration chamber just downstream of the nozzle
discharge orifice gap. In this sense the word nozzle is used to
reference the portion of the barrel that contains the gap, or the
swedging down to the narrowest orifice, thereby recovering the
greatest head pressure for discharge. Such nozzle discharge orifice
gap can discharge into an aeration chamber where aerated foam is
produced and is then discharged from the aeration chamber into the
atmosphere. U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,752 to Kolacz, in particular FIG.
3, illustrates this type of foam aeration nozzle. Also, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,944,460 to Steingass illustrates this type of aeration foam
nozzle. All things being equal, a separate aeration chamber
upstream of the nozzle gap is preferred. However, one of skill in
the art would recognize that such is not the only way to create
aerated foam.
SUMMARY OF MAJOR COMMERCIAL EMBODIMENTS
[0098] The Point and Shoot system, at a minimum, includes
installing a one or two nozzle aerated foam wand system, as a fixed
system, preferably every 100' to 240' around the perimeter of a
tank, which should be sufficient to extinguish tank "rim seal
fires."
[0099] A good reason for also installing at least one fixed riser
proximate a landing, for releasably affixing a portable monitor and
nozzle, together with the above one or two nozzle system, would be
to provide redundancy and backup foam protection, in case some
fixed system units were damaged due to an explosion, and to provide
as well a full surface foam "blanket" for "vapor suppression"
should a floating roof of the tank sink. Such a fixed monitor riser
would have a fire department connection at the bottom of the tank
and a monitor quick disconnect fitting at the top. During an event,
if needed, a firefighter could carry a lightweight aluminum monitor
and nozzle to the top of a tank and install the monitor on the
riser pipe using the quick disconnect fitting (approximately 2
minute installation). From this vantage point, the fire fighter
could directly apply foam to needed areas. This maximizes the
effectiveness of the resources available to the firefighter. The
danger and hazard from laying fire hoses up a ladder on the side of
the tank to implement a portable system are avoided. Williams
recommends installing a fixed monitor riser pipe at locations near
landings of the tank. This fixed monitor riser pipe could also be
used to apply foam if necessary to any exposed areas due to a
"cocked" roof or in the event a foam wand head has been compromised
due to an explosion. This elementary semi-fixed system minimizes
initial capital investment for protection of a tank without a fixed
roof, at least from a rim seal fire and a sunken roof, while
providing a proven system that is easy to operate and to maintain.
The equipment eliminates the need to drag multiple hoses up a
tank's ladder which impedes firefighters from getting onto or off
of the tank quickly.
[0100] The Ambush system is a fixed system particularly applicable
for full surface liquid tank fires and/or rim seal fires, including
in large tanks, again as above, preferably for tanks without a
fixed roof. The Ambush system preferably includes three nozzle
aerated foam wands, with two nozzles that discharge in roughly
opposing directions and that can be oriented with respect to a tank
to discharge roughly horizontally. The third nozzle projects in a
direction roughly perpendicular to the discharge axis defined by
the first two nozzles. When oriented with respect to the tank, the
third nozzle projects roughly toward the center of the tank with an
appropriate angle of inclination. The third nozzle is preferably
structured to land aerated foam at least 100 feet distant. All
three nozzles significantly directionally project aerated foam.
[0101] The Hollow Point system is a fixed system particularly
applicable to hazards and fire in large tanks with a fixed roof,
and preferably can be installed in and through existing upper tank
wall openings. The Hollow Point system is characterized by a
conduit ending in a nozzle tip, the conduit having two side
discharge ports with associated, largely interior "deflectors." The
ports, conduit and nozzle are structured to pass through existing
tank wall openings and to be oriented with the ports discharging in
roughly opposing directions, roughly horizontally, and the nozzle
tip discharging roughly toward the center. Both the nozzle and
ports preferably discharge a substantially focused stream.
[0102] The heightened projection capability and foam run capability
of each system described above results in the installation and
servicing of significantly fewer units per tank than with previous
fixed systems. The new systems can protect significantly larger
tanks with less fixed equipment and in less time. A stream shaper
installed in the tip of the nozzles contributes to the heightened
projection capability of the nozzles, and together with the
development of a properly aerated foam, produces a focused stream
and optimized foam run.
Testing
[0103] As discussed above, the current accepted fixed system for
protecting storage tanks comprises "foam chambers" (sometimes
called "foam pourers.") Fixed foam chambers have limitations, one
main limitation being their method of applying foam to a seal area.
Either because of (1) the degree of aeration produced by the foam
chamber and/or (2) a perceived delicacy of the foam bubble and/or
the (3) dispersed footprint discharged, the chamber is structured
to only gently "pour" a greatly expanded foam down onto a tank's
seal. The foam chamber pours; it does not throw or project. The
foam chamber relies on gravity and the head created by the pile of
foam to push the foam left and right of the foam chamber. This
system severely limits the distance the foam can "run," left and
right of the foam chamber in the seal rim periphery area. This
system requires a tank to have a large number of foam chambers
spaced around the circumference, every 40 or 80 feet, depending
upon whether the "foam dams" of the floating roof are 12'' or 24''.
Many tanks are now greater than 300 foot diameter. Some are greater
than 400 foot diameter. A 400 foot diameter tank with a 12'' foam
dam would require about 23 traditional foam chambers to protect the
periphery. The instant invention requires only about 6 units to
protect the same periphery.
[0104] In contrast with the currently accepted fixed systems,
Williams has developed an improved aerated foam nozzle system to
discharge a proven effective foam surprisingly farther, many times
farther, in both left and right directions, than traditional foam
chambers. Tests show, below, that the instant system covers a
larger area in less time with foam that effectively extinguishes
fire. Further, a rim mounted nozzle has been also demonstrated that
can run foam to the center of a 400 foot diameter tank.
[0105] In December of 2010 a "proof of concept" test was run at the
Williams Fire and Hazard Control test facilities. The purpose of
the test was to compare and contrast, by observation, two foam
application devices flowing into a simulated tank "rim seal
periphery area," the ones between a tank wall and a floating roof
"foam dam."
[0106] The purpose of the test was to determine whether the
relative foam flow performance of the novel Williams projecting
foam wand could provide the anticipated benefits compared to a
conventional "foam chamber." Foam from both devices was discharged
into a simulated floating roof "periphery," the ones between a tank
wall and a floating roof foam dam. For each device the foam
traveled through this simulated wall/foam dam "periphery" to reach
and extinguish a liquid hydrocarbon pan fire, which was simulating
a storage tank floating roof "rim seal fire." Flow rates and
distances were recorded as elements of performance along with the
delivered foam quality, foam expansion ratio and drain time.
[0107] The concept being tested was whether the foam applied
through a high flow rate projecting foam wand would cover the
distance in the seal area more rapidly and protect a larger segment
of a floating roof seal along the periphery.
[0108] The observed test confirmed the concept. Foam from the
projecting foam wand traveled 3 times the distance (120 feet versus
20 feet) in 25% less time (74 seconds versus 101 seconds from the
chamber.) Both successfully extinguished a pan fire at their
terminus. The novel foam wand applied foam more rapidly on the
target area than the conventional foam chamber. In addition, the
novel foam wand provided a gpm per square foot application rate 50%
greater (0.6 versus 0.4 US gpm per square foot) than the foam
chamber. Simulated periphery dimensions were 2 four inches wide and
2 four inches deep.
[0109] To summarize the test and the results, a novel aerated foam
nozzle was set up on a mock seal area with a foam dam and flowed
alongside a traditional foam chamber. The NFPA recognized maximum
distance for a traditional foam chamber to cover is 80' total, 40'
to the left and right, for a 24'' foam dam. The traditional foam
chamber was able to cover this distance in 1 minute 40 seconds. The
novel aerated foam nozzle was able to cover an area three times
greater in significantly less time. The aerated foam nozzle covered
an area of 240' (120' to the left and right) in 1 minute 14
seconds. It was shown that foam applied through the novel high flow
rate wand projecting left and right would cover a foam dam seal
area more rapidly, travel further per device, and protect a larger
segment of floating roof seal along the periphery.
[0110] Further testing of a fixed Hollow Point wand, discussed
above, showed that a roughly 80'.times.170' pond of water (13,600
square feet) could be covered in foam with a Hollow Point wand in
approximately 1 minute and 25 seconds. The furthest corner of the
tank from the nozzle was 145' away. That furthest corner received
ample foam coverage. The speed, run and authority of the foam was
surprising.
[0111] Testing of the center nozzle of the Ambush wand, discussed
above, also indicated a capacity to achieve an approximately 150'
end range of a center nozzle landing footprint with the mid-point
of the landing footprint at about 130'.
[0112] In August 2011 a full Ambush system was tested on a 277 foot
diameter empty tank. Six three nozzle wand units were spaced around
the periphery of the tank. The total flow per device was 1500 gpm
giving a total system flow of 9,000 GPM. The measured footprint
size of the center pointing nozzle was approximately 60 feet long
by 20 feet wide with a mid-point range of approximately 90' away
from the nozzle. By observation, the total surface of the tank
floor was covered with foam. Photographs show testers wading knee
deep in foam toward the middle of the tank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0113] The invention includes a nozzle for projecting fire fighting
foam in a substantially focused stream particularly for use with
fixed or semi-fixed systems. The invention preferably includes a
nozzle structured for projecting at least 100 gpm (at 100 psi) of
aerated foam, the nozzle having a tip portion defining a
longitudinal axis and terminating, in contain preferred
embodiments, in a solid bore discharge orifice. The tip portion has
a stream shaper. The stream shaper can include at least four fins
with a longitudinal dimension in the tip portion greater than a
radial dimension in the tip portion and with the fins terminating
substantially flush with a nozzle tip solid bore discharge
orifice.
[0114] The invention also includes a nozzle for projecting fire
fighting foam in a substantially focused stream including a nozzle
structured for projecting at least 100 gpm (at 100 psi) aerated
foam, the nozzle having a tip portion defining a longitudinal axis
and terminating in a discharge orifice that is not necessarily a
solid bore. This tip portion preferably has a stream shaper having
greater than four fins, the four fins having a longitudinal
dimension in the tip portion greater than twice a radial dimension
in the tip portion, with the fins terminating substantially flush
with the nozzle tip discharge orifice.
[0115] Preferably a focused stream, aerated foam projecting nozzle
is proximately attached downstream of, and in fluid communication
with, an ambient air aeration chamber. Preferably an ambient air
aeration chamber, in combination with a nozzle, is structured to
project foam with an expansion of between 2-to-1 to 8-to-1, and
more preferably, with an expansion of between 3-to-1 to 5-to-1.
[0116] Preferably at least one aerated foam projecting nozzle is
attached proximate the top of an at least a 100 foot diameter
industrial tank wall and placed in fluid communication with a riser
attached to, or proximate to, the at least 100 foot diameter
industrial tank wall.
[0117] The invention preferably includes a wand having at least one
aerated foam projecting nozzle for projecting foam in a
substantially focused stream and in a roughly horizontal direction
around an inside tank wall surface. The invention can include a
first ambient air aeration chamber located upstream of, proximate
to and in fluid communication with at least one aerated foam
projecting nozzle, the aerated foam projecting nozzle having at
least four fins and a tip portion, the fins having a longitudinal
dimension greater than a radial dimension and terminating
substantially flush with a nozzle tip discharge orifice. The
aeration chamber is preferably structured together with a nozzle to
project at least 100 gpm of aerated foam (at 100 psi) having an
expansion of between 2-to-1 to 8-to-1. The nozzle and chamber are
preferably attached to a riser for communicating water and foam
concentrate and the at least one nozzle and riser are preferably
structured in combination for attachment to a tank wall of at least
100 feet diameter such that the nozzle projects foam in a roughly
horizontal direction around an interior top tank wall surface.
[0118] The invention can include a wand having at least one aerated
foam projecting nozzle for projecting foam in a substantially
focused stream in a roughly horizontal direction around an inside
tank wall surface and a first ambient air aeration chamber, located
upstream of, proximate to and in fluid communication with the at
least one aerated foam projecting nozzle, the nozzle structured for
projecting aerated foam in a substantially focused stream. The
chamber is preferably structured together with a nozzle to project
at least 100 gpm of aerated foam having an expansion of at least
2-to-1 to 8-to-1. The nozzle and chamber are preferably attached to
a riser for communicating water and foam concentrate and the at
least one nozzle and riser are preferably structured in combination
for attachment to a tank wall of an at least a 100 foot diameter
tank such that the nozzle projects foam in a roughly horizontal
direction around an interior top tank wall surface.
[0119] Preferably the invention includes two aerated foam
projecting nozzles, the two nozzles structured in combination to
project in roughly opposing directions. Preferably the aeration
chamber and nozzles are structured together to project aerated foam
with an expansion of between 3-to-1 to 5-to-1.
[0120] Preferably a wand system includes an at least two inch riser
structured to extend from proximate a ground location to a wand
head located proximate an at least 45 foot high industrial tank top
wall portion, and the system includes a plurality of such wands
attached around the tank wall at at least 150 feet apart, or at at
least 200 feet apart or at at least 220 feet apart or at least 240
feet apart.
[0121] Preferably included with a wand system is an at least four
inch riser located proximate the tank wall having either a fitting
for attaching a portable monitor and nozzle or having attached a
fixed nozzle. A portable monitor and nozzle and/or fixed nozzle can
provide a center pointing nozzle for discharging aerated foam
toward the center of the tank.
[0122] The invention preferably includes a method for projecting a
substantially focused stream of aerated foam that includes
supplying water and foam concentrate to an ambient air aeration
chamber proximately attached upstream of, and in fluid
communication with, a fire fighting nozzle. The invention can
include projecting aerated foam with an expansion of between 2-to-1
to 8-to-1 from the nozzle in a substantially focused stream, the
nozzle having a tip with at least four fins, the fins having a
longitudinal dimension greater than a radial dimension, and the
fins terminating substantially flush with a nozzle tip solid bore
discharge orifice.
[0123] The invention also preferably includes a method for
projecting a substantially focused stream of aerated fire fighting
foam that includes supplying water and foam concentrate to an
ambient air aeration chamber proximally attached upstream of, and
in fluid communication with, a fire fighting nozzle and projecting
aerated foam with an expansion of between 2-to-1 to 8-to-1 from the
nozzle in a substantially focused stream. The nozzle preferably has
a tip with greater than four fins, the fins having a longitudinal
dimension greater than twice a radial dimension and terminating
substantially flush with a nozzle tip discharge orifice, which is
not necessarily a solid bore.
[0124] The method preferably includes projecting foam with an
expansion of 3-to-1 to 5-to-1 and projecting foam into an at least
100 foot diameter industrial tank from a position proximate a top
tank wall portion, and wherein the nozzle is attached to a riser
proximate the tank wall.
[0125] The invention can include a method of providing fixed wands
around a tank wall for projecting foam against interior tank wall
portions as well as providing risers and one or more center
pointing nozzles for projecting foam toward the center of the
tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0126] A better understanding of the present invention can be
obtained when the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments are considered in conjunction with the following
drawings, in which:
[0127] FIG. 1A illustrates three "wand head" embodiments with
nozzles for projecting fire fighting foam in a substantially
focused stream and aeration chambers.
[0128] FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art foam chamber, for
contrast.
[0129] FIG. 1C illustrates an alternate embodiment for a fire
fighting nozzle wherein the discharge orifice comprises an annular
discharge orifice (no stream shaper shown.)
[0130] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a 3 inch foam wand head
having two nozzles for projecting fire fighting foam in roughly
opposing directions, together with associated riser portions.
[0131] FIG. 3 illustrates a further embodiment of a wand with a
wand head attached to a riser, the wand head and riser being
attached to a tank wall.
[0132] FIG. 4 illustrates in a cross section the wand head of FIG.
3.
[0133] FIG. 5 illustrates, with cross section, a further embodiment
for a wand head with center pointing nozzle for projecting fire
fighting foam including a riser portion and an ambient air aeration
chamber.
[0134] FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 5 attached to a
tank wall portion and retrofitted to an existing tank with a fixed
roof.
[0135] FIGS. 7A-7F are drawing sheets for the embodiment of FIG. 2,
giving a general overview for a foam wand together with detailed
drawings of various parts of a foam wand system.
[0136] FIGS. 8A-8M provide drawing sheets for a wand head as in
FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, with various parts identified, including nozzle
parts and a stream shaper and an ambient air aeration chamber.
[0137] FIG. 9 illustrates portions of a free standing riser to be
attached proximate to an industrial tank wall and suitable for
servicing a nozzle or nozzle and monitor. In this embodiment the
riser is broken into a top riser top portion, a riser extension
pipe and a riser inlet pipe.
[0138] FIG. 10 illustrates a riser foot rest for a lower end of a
riser.
[0139] FIGS. 11A-G provide drawing sheet depictions for the monitor
riser embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0140] FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a free standing riser
for attaching a portable monitor and nozzle and with a portable
monitor and nozzle attached.
[0141] FIGS. 13A and B provide drawing sheets for a point and shoot
system including a wand and a free standing riser with a portable
monitor and nozzle attached.
[0142] FIGS. 14 and 15 give a side view and a view from inside the
tank of the point and shoot system of FIGS. 13A and B, including
the wand with a pair of aerated foam nozzles discharging in roughly
opposing directions and an independent riser having a portable
monitor and nozzle attached.
[0143] FIG. 16 illustrates a designed deployment of the point and
shoot system for a 300 foot storage tank for rim seal and vapor
protection. Foam wand locations are indicated and one riser is
indicated at the landing for placement of a portable monitor and
nozzle.
[0144] FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 relate to the deployment of the point
and shoot system. FIG. 17 illustrates the ladder around a typical
tank leading up to a tank landing. FIGS. 18 and 19 provide an
estimate of the number of foam wand location needed for full
encirclement seal protection assuming a 24 inch foam dam on the
floating roof or a less than a 24 inch foam dam on the floating
roof.
[0145] The drawings are primarily illustrative. It would be
understood that structure may have been simplified and details
omitted in order to convey certain aspects of the invention. Scale
may be sacrificed to clarity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0146] FIG. 1A illustrates three embodiments of a wand head WH with
one or more nozzles NZ for projecting fire fighting foam in a
substantially focused stream. Each nozzle NZ has a tip portion TP
defining a longitudinal axis. The embodiments of FIG. 1A all
terminate in a solid bore discharge orifice. The tip portion TP of
each nozzle NZ has a stream shaper SS comprised of fins FN.
[0147] As is common in the industry each nozzle includes a
swedge-down area SW for recovering head pressure in order to
enhance the range of the discharge.
[0148] The nozzle of these preferred embodiments utilize a solid
bore discharge orifice DO. However, it is anticipated that roughly
equivalent nozzles can be constructed using an annular bore
discharge nozzle. An annular bore discharge nozzle is illustrated
in principle in FIG. 1C. An annular bore discharge nozzle is
created by a deflector or bafflehead BH placed in a fluid flow
conduit. The deflector or bafflehead creates the swedge-down effect
for the recapture of head pressure for discharge, and the nozzle
"gap."
[0149] The three wand head embodiments of FIG. 1A illustrate one or
more nozzles NZ, typically connected to a conduit CD, and thence to
an upstream ambient air aeration chamber AAAC. A support plate SP
is illustrated as one means of helping to affix the foam projecting
nozzles to a top portion of an industrial tank wall at a desired
height.
[0150] FIG. 1A also briefly illustrates connection of a wand head
WH with one or more nozzles to a riser portion RS. The riser RS is
simply a pipe or a line or the like used to bring water and foam
concentrate up the tank wall to the wand head and the nozzles.
[0151] FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art foaming chamber FC with a
typical "pouring" foaming chamber discharge orifice FCDO.
[0152] As discussed above, FIG. 1C illustrates a wand head with
projecting nozzles having not a solid bore discharge orifice but an
annular discharge orifice, created by a deflector baffle head
BH.
[0153] FIG. 2 illustrates in greater detail a three inch wand head
WH comprising a combination of a pair of nozzles NZ, each with a
tip portion TP, each tip having a stream shaper SS. The pair of
nozzles are connected by conduit CD to an ambient air aeration
chamber AAAC. Also in the drawing is a riser pipe RS (in two
sections) that can be connected to the lower portion of the wand
head. An inlet pipe RSL is illustrated that can be connected to an
upper portion of the riser pipe and provide a connection to water
and foam concentrate hose or piping.
[0154] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate in full as well as in cut-away a
further embodiment incorporating three of the instant aerating foam
projecting nozzles into a wand head WH. Each nozzle NZ has a tip TP
and a stream shaper SS. Upstream of the nozzles are first and
second ambient air aeration chambers AAAC. A support plate SP helps
to assist affixing the nozzles NZ to the top of a tank wall TW in
desired locations, as shown in FIG. 4. A partial section of a riser
RS below the wand head is shown in FIG. 4, including brackets BR in
FIG. 3 useful for affixing or stabilizing the riser RS with respect
to the tank wall TW. Wind girder WG is also illustrated in FIG.
3.
[0155] FIG. 5 illustrates a cut away of a different version of a
nozzle NZ having tip portion TP with stream shaper SS. Conduit CD
is shown connecting nozzle NZ with ambient air aeration chamber
AAAC having tubular jet TJ. A portion of riser RS is also
illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0156] FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 5 with riser RS
attached to tank wall TW using brackets BR. Nozzle NZ is inserted
through an opening TWO in the tank wall TW. The tank is shown with
a tank fixed roof TFR.
[0157] FIGS. 7A-7F provide drawings for an embodiment of a foam
wand in general overview. The wand head WH is shown resting on a
wand support plate SP. Foam wand riser RS is shown affixed to a
wand head portion. Foam wand mounting clamps or brackets BR are
illustrated for mounting riser RS to the side of a tank wall TW.
The assembly of the foam wand riser pipe and wand head together
with foam wand support plate is illustrated in FIG. 7F.
[0158] FIG. 8 illustrates a foam wand head WH in greater detail
including in particular an embodiment of a stream shaper SS
comprised of fins FN that fits in a tip portion TP of the nozzles
on the foam wand head WH. FIG. 8B illustrates a crosswire screen CW
placed in the ambient air aeration chamber just downstream of the
tubular jet TJ, with one eighth inch cross wires to break the jet
stream at that portion of flow.
[0159] The foregoing figures illustrate various embodiments of an
aerated foam projecting nozzle to project fire fighting foam in a
substantially focused stream, and in particular a nozzle structured
for projecting at least 100 gpm of aerated foam at 100 psi. As can
be seen the nozzle has a tip portion defining a longitudinal axis
and preferably terminating in a solid bore discharge orifice.
However, an annular discharge orifice should also work. The tip
portion of the nozzle incorporates a stream shaper and, as
frequently included, a swedge-down portion. The stream shaper has
at least four fins with a longitudinal dimension in the tip portion
greater than the radial dimension in the tip portion. It can be
seen that the fins terminate substantially flush with the nozzle
tip discharge orifice in the preferred embodiments. FIG. 8E
illustrates that preferably greater than four fins are employed and
preferably the fins have a longitudinal dimension LD greater than
twice the radial dimension RD (See FIGS. 8E, 8H, 8I.). Also
preferably, the nozzle is structured to flow between 100 gpm and
900 gpm at 100 psi.
[0160] As further illustrated by the foregoing figures, a nozzle
for projecting aerated fire fighting foam in a substantially
focused stream is proximately attached downstream of, and in fluid
communication with, an ambient air aeration chamber, AAAC. The
ambient air aeration chamber preferably includes a tubular jet
structure TJ, preferably also with crosshairs CW or a cross haired
screen just downstream of the tubular jet structure TJ to further
break up the flow. (See FIG. 8B.)
[0161] Preferably the nozzle and ambient air aeration chamber are
structured in combination to project foam with an expansion of
between 2 to 1 to 8 to 1. More preferably, the nozzle and aeration
chamber are structured in combination to project foam with an
expansion of between 3 to 1 to 5 to 1.
[0162] The nozzles for projecting fire fighting foam in a
substantially focused stream are particularly adapted for being
attached proximate a top portion of an at least 100 foot diameter
industrial tank wall, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7F. A riser RS
preferably places the nozzle for projecting aerated fire fighting
foam in a substantially focused stream proximate a top portion of
an industrial tank wall and provides the nozzle and aeration
chamber with a source of fire fighting water and foam
concentrate.
[0163] In operation a substantially focused stream of aerated fire
fighting foam is projected by supplying water and foam concentrate
to an ambient air aeration chamber proximately attached upstream
of, and in fluid communication with, an aerated foam projecting
fire fighting nozzle, and by projecting aerated foam with an
expansion of between 2 to 1 to 8 to 1 from the nozzle in a in a
substantially focused stream, the nozzle having a tip of at least
four fins, the fins having longitudinal dimension greater than a
radial dimension and terminating substantially flush with a nozzle
tip solid bore discharge orifice DO. (See FIG. 8A.)
[0164] In operation also, a substantially focused stream of aerated
fire fighting foam can be projected by supplying water and foam
concentrate to an ambient air aeration chamber proximately attached
upstream of and in fluid communication with an aerated foam
projecting foam fire fighting nozzle. The method includes
projecting aerating foam with an expansion of between 2 to 1 to 8
to 1 from the nozzle in a substantially focused stream with the
nozzle having a tip of greater than four fins and the fins having a
longitudinal dimension greater than twice the radial dimension, the
fins terminating substantially flush with a nozzle tip discharge
orifice.
[0165] Preferably the methodology includes projecting foam with an
expansion of between 3 to 1 to 5 to 1 into an at least 100 foot
diameter industrial tank from a position proximate a top portion of
a tank wall.
[0166] Again, FIGS. 1A, 2, 7A and 8A illustrate a wand head WH for
a wand W, the wand head having at least one aerated foam projecting
nozzle NZ for projecting foam in a substantially focused stream in
a roughly horizontal direction around an inside tank wall surface.
See in particular FIG. 2 and FIGS. 7A-7F. See also FIGS. 13 and 14
for an embodiment of a wand W including a riser RS and wand head
WH.
[0167] FIGS. 1A, 2 and in particular FIG. 8B illustrate an ambient
air aeration chamber AAAC located upstream of, proximate to, and in
fluid communication with, at least one aerated foam projecting
nozzle NZ.
[0168] FIGS. 1A, 2 and in particular 8A, 8D, 8E, 8H and 8I
illustrate a nozzle NZ having at least four fins FN in a tip
portion TP of the nozzle NZ. The fins FN have a longitudinal
dimension LD greater than a radial dimension RD and terminate
substantially flush with a nozzle tip TP discharge orifice DO.
[0169] FIGS. 1A, 2, 8A, 8E, 8H and 8I, as well as FIG. 13,
illustrate an embodiment of an aeration chamber structured together
with a nozzle to project at least 100 gpm at 100 psi of aerated
foam having an expansion of between 2-to-1 to 8-to-1.
[0170] FIGS. 2 and 13 illustrate the nozzle NZ and chamber AAAC
attached to a riser RS for communicating water and foam
concentrate.
[0171] FIGS. 7A-7F, and in particular and FIGS. 13 and 14,
illustrate at least one nozzle and riser structured in combination
for attachment to a tank wall of at least 100 foot diameter tank
such that the nozzle projects foam in a roughly horizontal
direction around an interior top tank wall surface.
[0172] FIGS. 1A, 2, 7A, 8A and 13 and 14 show two aerated foam
projecting nozzles NZ, the two nozzles structured in combination to
project roughly horizontally in roughly opposing directions.
Roughly opposing directions should be taken to mean directly
opposite plus or minus 15.degree.. Alternately stated, each nozzle
should project within 15 degrees of 1 common average longitudinal
axis for the pair of nozzles. A roughly horizontal direction should
be taken to mean within 15.degree. of the horizontal.
[0173] FIGS. 1A, 2, 7A-7F, 8A-8M, 13 and 14 also illustrate
aeration chambers and a nozzle or nozzles that can be structured to
project aerated foam with an expansion of between 3-to-1 to 5-to-1.
FIG. 8D illustrates a discharge port PT structured in a fluid
conduit between the nozzles and an aeration chamber, the discharge
port structured to discharge up to 150 gpm of aerated foam
predominantly in a direction roughly perpendicular to the said
opposing direction.
[0174] FIGS. 1A, 2, 7A-7F, 8A-8M, 13 and 14 illustrate a nozzle or
nozzles that can be structured to project aerated foam at between
100 gpm and 900 gpm at 100 psi.
[0175] FIG. 15 illustrates a plurality of four wands spaced around
a tank periphery, approximately 190 feet apart.
[0176] FIG. 7F illustrates an at least 2 inch riser RS structured
to extend from proximate a ground location to proximate an at least
45 foot high industrial top tank wall portion. One of skill in the
art knows that industrial storage tanks of 60 foot diameter and
greater have a wall height of approximately 45 feet or greater.
[0177] FIGS. 9-12 illustrate an at least four inch riser RS,
preferably comprised of riser top portion RTP, riser extension pipe
REP, and riser inlet pipe RIP. See FIG. 9. FIG. 10 illustrates a
riser foot rest kit for stabilizing an at least four inch riser RS.
FIG. 11G further illustrates an at least four inch riser RS. FIG.
12 illustrates riser RS located proximate a tank wall. FIGS. 12 and
13 illustrate riser RS located proximate a tank wall and structured
to extend from proximate the ground to proximate a tank wall
portion. A fire fighting nozzle capable of at least 150 gpm is
shown attached to the monitor riser in FIGS. 12 and 13. The monitor
riser is indicated attached to monitor M and nozzle N. It can be
seen from FIGS. 12 and 13 that the monitor and nozzle is structured
to discharge from proximate the top tank wall, and including an
ability to discharge roughly toward the center of the tank. Roughly
toward the center of the tank should be interpreted as toward the
center of the tank +/-30.degree..
[0178] Again, FIG. 9 illustrates a riser for a portable monitor and
nozzle, the riser RS comprised of three sections, RTP, REP and RIP,
and structured to communicate fire fighting fluid from proximate a
ground location to proximate the top of an at least 45 foot high
industrial storage tank, as illustrated by FIG. 13A.
[0179] A fitting FT is illustrated attached to the distal end of
the riser RS, structured to releasably affix an at least 150 gpm
portable monitor M and nozzle N. In this case the fitting is
comprised of exterior male threads upon the upper portion of the
riser pipe. A removable cap as well as the portable monitor and
nozzle will have mating interior female threads, probably assisted
by a pair of turning ears, to effect quick attachment and
release.
[0180] FIG. 16 illustrates staging the riser RS with monitor and
nozzle at a landing LN of a tank. As is known in the art a ladder
is affixed to a tank, leading to the landing. FIG. 17 illustrates a
typical tank with a ladder LD and landing LN.
[0181] In operation an aerated foam projecting nozzle would
preferably project aerated foam roughly horizontally in a
substantially focused stream around an inside top tank wall surface
of an at least 100 foot diameter tank. The nozzle would produce
aerated foam having an expansion of between 2-to-1 to 8-to-1.
Preferably the foam would have an expansion of between have an
expansion of between 3-to-1 to 5-to-1. Preferably two aerated foam
projecting foam nozzles would be included, projecting roughly
horizontally in substantially focused streams and in roughly
opposing directions. Preferably the nozzle or nozzles would be
affixed to an upper wall portion of an industrial storage tank.
[0182] In a point and shoot method, fire fighting fluid from
approximately the ground is also provided to approximately the tank
top through an at least four inch riser located proximate the tank
wall, the at least four inch riser attachable to an at least 150
gpm portable monitor and nozzle by virtue of a fitting on a distal
end of the at least four inch riser. Alternately an at least 150
gpm nozzle could be fixedly attached to the at least four inch
riser. The fixed nozzle would be structured with the riser to
discharge proximate to a tank top wall portion and toward the
center of the tank. The portable monitor and nozzle can be aimed
and turned by a fire fighter.
[0183] In the point and shoot method if the at least four inch
riser is structured to releasably attach to a portable monitor and
nozzle, then the at least four inch riser should be located
proximate a landing at the top of the tank wall. Alternately, if
the at least four inch riser is structured to fixedly attach to a
fire fighting nozzle, then the riser can be located any place
around the periphery around the tank including a plurality of
places. The riser and the fixed nozzle would be structured such
that the nozzle discharges roughly toward the center of the
tank.
[0184] FIG. 17 illustrates a typical ladder LD and landing LN of an
industrial storage tank T. FIGS. 18 and 19 provide a table
estimating the number of foam wands required for a point and shoot
system as a function of the height of the foam dam of a floating
roof. These are the number of foam wands needed for full
encirclement seal protection.
[0185] The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the
invention is presented for purposes of illustration and
description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise form or embodiment disclosed. The
description was selected to best explain the principles of the
invention and their practical application to enable others skilled
in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments.
Various modifications as are best suited to the particular use are
contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention is not
to be limited by the specification, but to be defined by the claims
set forth below. Since the foregoing disclosure and description of
the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, various
changes in the size, shape, and materials, as well as in the
details of the illustrated device may be made without departing
from the spirit of the invention. The invention is claimed using
terminology that depends upon a historic presumption that
recitation of a single element covers one or more, and recitation
of two elements covers two or more, and the like. Also, the
drawings and illustration herein have not necessarily been produced
to scale.
* * * * *