FireDOC Search

Author
Back, G. G. | DiNenno, P. J. | Hill, S. A. | Leonard, J. T.
Title
Evaluation of Water Mist Fire Extinguishing Systems for Flammable Liquid Storeroom Applications on U.S. Army Watercraft.
Coporate
Hughes Associates, Inc., Baltimore, MD Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
Sponsor
Department of Transportation, Cambridge, MA
Report
NRL/MR/6180-95-7795, November 30, 1995, 41 p.
Distribution
Available from National Technical Information Service
Keywords
water mist | extinguishing | flammable liquids | fire extinguishment | scenarios | temperature measurements | heat flux | optical density | nozzles
Identifiers
gas concentration measurements; video cameras; Grinnell AquaMist Nozzle (AM-10); Kidde-Fenwal Mixt Nozzle; Marioff Water Mist Nozles; Semco Marine; Securiplex System 2000; generic nozzles
Abstract
A series of tests was conducted to evaluate the capability of water mist nozzles for extinguishing fires in flammable liquid storerooms. Three types of nozzles were evaluated: single fluid low pressure, single fluid high pressure and dual fluid (air/water) nozzles. The fire threats included: wood cribs, trash cans containing fuel-soaked rags, heptane pan fires and cascading fuel (heptane) fires. With a nominal 1.5 m (5.0 ft.) nozzle spacing, all of the nozzles could extinguish all of the fires except certain small [5.0 cm (2.0 in.)] heptane pan fires that were scattered throughout the compartment to evaluate the distribution patterns of the nozzles. However, water mist nozzles were found to have limitations with respect to horizontal obstructions.