Field experiments on high expansion (HEX) foam application for controlling LNG pool fire

Area of Science:

• Fire Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Safety Engineering

Background:

• High expansion foam (HEX) with a 500:1 expansion ratio is recognized for controlling land-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) pool fires.
• The efficacy of HEX is contingent upon critical factors including application rate, foam generator placement, and LNG spill containment dike design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of high expansion foam (HEX) in controlling liquefied natural gas (LNG) pool fires.
• To analyze the impact of varying HEX application rates and containment dike configurations on fire suppression.
• To examine LNG fire behavior and the influence of dike wall height during fire events.

Main Methods:

• Conducted five full-scale LNG pool fire experiments at Texas A&M University's Brayton Fire Training Field.
• Utilized ANGUS FIRE's Expandol solution for 500:1 HEX generation and Turbex Fixed High Expansion Foam Generators.
• Collected and analyzed data on fire behavior, foam application, and containment parameters.

Main Results:

• Evaluated the effectiveness of HEX across different application rates in two distinct containment pit designs.
• Presented and discussed data on LNG fire dynamics and the influence of dike wall height on fire control.
• Demonstrated the performance of HEX in mitigating LNG pool fires under varied experimental conditions.

Conclusions:

• High expansion foam (HEX) shows significant potential for controlling land-based LNG pool fires.
• Optimizing HEX application rates and containment dike design is crucial for maximizing fire suppression effectiveness.
• Field experimentation provides essential data for understanding and improving LNG fire control strategies.