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U.S. Department of Energy
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Thermal response of process equipment to hydrocarbon fires

Journal Article · · Plant/Oper. Prog.; (United States)

Requirements for active fire-fighting equipment such as fixed and portable powder extinguishers, foam generators, water guns, and deluge systems, are given in various codes and standards. However, very little is to be found about fire design conditions and passive fire protection. For safety verification of process plants and for designing adequate passive fire protection it is necessary to know the total incident heat fluxes which can occur under realistic conditions and the effects that such heat fluxes may have on process equipment and structures. During the last few years, Det Norske Veritas has been invloved in investigations aimed at estimating realistic fire loads from different types of hydrocarbon fires and the thermal response of process equipment and structures exposed to such fires. These investigations are still in progress and are especially focused on the conditions on off-shore oil and gas production platforms. However, many fire problems will be the same in the land-based process industry. The present paper concentrates on the thermal response of pipes and vessels exposed to a severe hydrocarbon fire with a defined thermal load. (JMT)

Research Organization:
Det Norske Veritas, Oslo, Norway
OSTI ID:
5728612
Journal Information:
Plant/Oper. Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Plant/Oper. Prog.; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN POPPD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English