big tanks big problems
TRANSCRIPT
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Big Tanks
Big Problems
Storage TankEmergencies
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Historical Tank Emergencies Jan. 21, 1924 Pittsburg, PA Roof collapse on
wooden tank roof collapsed killing 9 firefighters Jan. 2, 1993 Jacksonville, FL Internal floating roof
gasoline tank is overfilled and burns for extended periodwhile multiple different attack strategies are tried June 10, 1995 Addington, OK Crude oil tank boilover
kills 2 firefighters July 19, 1996 Sarnia, Canada - 140 raffinate tank
extinguished in record time after 6 hour burn time June 11, 2001 Norco, LA 270 fully involved gasoline
tank extinguished June 13, 2010 Greensboro, NC Lightning strike
ignites storage tank which is extinguished 5 hours
later
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Types of Tank Construction
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Most Common TankTypes Encountered
Cone Roof Tanks
External Floating Roof Tanks Internal Floating Roof Tanks
Low Pressure Horizontal Tanks
Pressure Tanks Sphere
Bullet
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Cone Roof Tanks Construction
Welded
Weak seam at roofline
Conservation valve
Flame arrestor Vapor space above
liquid level area
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Internal Floating Roof Tank Construction
Shell with wind girder
Floating roof
External roof
Roof drains
Seal(s)
Vent
Roof legs
Ladder systems
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Most Common Tank Emergencies Tank / piping leaks without fire
Dike area fires
Without piping / equipment involvement With piping / equipment involvement
Fixed roof vent fires
Sinking of floating roof without ignition
Floating roof seal fires
Full surface fires Without obstructions
With obstructions
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Causes Of Tank Emergencies Tank Overfill
Piping / TransferSystem Leak
Lightning Strikes
Sunken Roof
Mechanical
Excessive Water
Maintenance /
Operations Activities
Heating Coil Failures
Tank Vent Failures Tank Failure
Seam Leakage
Tank BottomDeterioration
Tank Support Failure
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Tank EmergencyDecision Making Offensive
Establish Cooling Lines / Protect Exposures
Assemble Resources
Extinguish
Defensive
Protect Exposed Equipment Contain Fire in Tank
Non-Intervention Let Fire Burn
Is It Acceptable?
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Tank Firefighting Progress1975 2010
Foam Nozzle Flow Rates 500 1000 gpm 500 14,000 gpm
Supply Hose Size 2 3, 4 5, 6, 7.25, 8, 10 12
Pump Size 1,000 1,500 gpm 1,500 6,000 gpm
Foam Types 3%, 6%, 3% x 6% 3%, 6%, 1% x 3%, 3% x3%, 3% x 6%
Tank Sizes Up to 200 diameter Up to 350 diameter
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Tank Emergency Size Up Personnel
Accountability
Problem Definition
Fire
Leak
Tank Status Product/Chemistry
Amount
Piping/Valve Status
Intake/Discharge
Roof Drain
Pump Status
Dike Status
Product in dike Dike valving
Weather Conditions
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Tank Emergency Size Up
Fire Involvement
Tank Full Partial
Vent
Seal
Piping/Manifold Dike
Multiple Tanks
Exposures Other Tanks
Pressure Vessels Pipe Racks
Community
Response Equipment
Availability of fixedsystem Integrity of system
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Secure The Tank Understand status of facility, tank, and
support systems
Gain control of product flow
Protect piping/valves/pumps to tank to aidin product movement/subsurface injection
Shutdown mixers
Shutdown heaters
Consider roof drain and dike drain status
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General Response Tactics Protect exposures
Tank wall cooling should only becompleted if 100% coverage of the wallcan be cooled
Liquid levels in tanks aid the coolingprocess.
Transfer product out of involved tank.
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General Response Tactics Use wind to your advantage.
Do not overextend water on exposures. Do not attack till adequate foam and water
supplies are on-site.
Extinguish dike fire before the tank fire. Large streams (foot prints) are required to
overcome the thermal updraft.
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General Response Tactics Operate outside the dike area.
Monitor the level of water in the dike. Establish water supply and foam supply
groups/divisions.
Monitor the level of water in the tank. Consider atmosphere in roof/seal area.
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Post Emergency Concerns Keep the fire out
Secure the area (maintain hot zone status) Secure the assets
Restock foam and equipment
Note: Suppressing vapors and securing thetank after extinguishment may requirelarge amounts of foam.
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Special Considerations Constant air monitoring
Extremely manpower extensive Strong ICS system required
Obtain process operations support
Obtain technical assistance Conduct safety briefings
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Sunken Roof or Spill to Dike Area
Control all ignition sources
Maintain integrity of tank / dike Apply foam for vapor suppression
Remove product from tank / dike
Conduct constant air monitoring Develop firefighting plan
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Cone Roof Tank Fires Cool exposed metal.
Beware of tank lids/tank integrity. Transfer product.
Extinguish dike/ground fires.
Apply foam Over the top application Fixed systems
Sub-surface injection
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Open Floating Roof - Seal Fire Extinguish fire with portable foam streams
or fixed systems
Provide tank side cooling to prevent re-ignition
Points to consider: Chemical content in floating roof area Possible damage to seal area
Access to seal area may be difficult
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Open Floating Roof Tank Fire Establish exposure protection streams
Attempt to pump out product. Apply foam via portable equipment.
Sunken or cocked roof will severely
hamper extinguishing operations. Beware of tank dike problems.
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Internal Floating Roof Tank Fire
Apply cooling streams.
Attempt to pump off product. Foam may be applied via fixed equipment
or through eye brow vents.
Very difficult fires to extinguish. Special fabricated equipment may be
required.
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Leaking Tank Shell/Piping Control ignition sources.
Apply foam to spill areas. Attempt to displace product with water if
material has low specific gravity.
Pump out product in tank. Recover leaked product.
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Pressurized Tank Fires Do not extinguish pressure fed fires unless
they can be isolated Establish large cooling streams
De-pressure tank
Watch for signs of BLEVES
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Calculations for 150 GasolineFloating Roof Tank
Surface area = 3.14 x 75 x 75 = 17,662 squarefeet
Foam rate = 17,662 x .2 = 3532 gpm
Required Solution = 3532 x 65 = 229,580
gallons of foam solution Concentrate Required = 229,580 x .03 = 6,887
gallons of 3% foam concentrate
These calculations are for tank extinguishment
only.
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NFPA Foam Requirements .10 gpm/sq. ft. for fixed system
applications for hydrcarbons
.30 gpm/sq. ft. for fixed system applicationfor seal protection
.10 gpm/sq. ft. for subsurface application
.10 gpm to .16 gpm/sq. ft. for portableapplication for hydrocarbon spills
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NFPA Foam Requirements .16 gpm/sq. ft. for portable application for
hydrocarbon storage tanks
.20 gpm/sq. ft. minimum required rate forportable application for polar solvent storagetanks
Note: Williams Fire Control recommendations
Up to 150 diameter 0.16 150 to 200 diameter 0.18
201 to 250 diameter 0.20
251 to 300 diameter 0.22
Greater than 301 diameter 0.24 or greater
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NFPA Foam Rate Durations Flammable liquid spill - 15 minutes
Storage tank with product with flash pointof 100 - 200 degrees - 50 minutes
Storage tank with product with flash point
of < 100 degrees - 65 minutes Storage tank with crude oil product - 65
minutes
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Special Considerations
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Special Considerations Special Hazards
Boilover
Slopover Frothover
Facility Impact Value of Tank and
Contents Environmental Impact
Adverse PublicRelations
Environmental reportingrequirements
Storage tankemergencies are HAZMAT emergencies
Water runoff - OPA
90/Facility ResponsePlan
Foam Cost - $12 - $30per gallon
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Items To Consider Storage tank
emergencies will be
government regulated Major risk factors for tank
emergencies
Production loss
Asset loss Public Image
Fixed equipment must bebacked up by portableequipment
Extinguishment of largefloating roof tanks and
ethanol tanks largelyunproven
Pre-planning, training,and exercising of plans isessential to success
Pre-fire planning isessential for all tankfacilities
On-site visits need to beroutinely conducted
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Items To Consider Lack of knowledge in key
areas will hinder
response to tankemergencies Foam chemistry
Foam application
High volume water supplies
Tank design Storage tank fixed fire
suppression systems Foam chambers
Subsurface foam systems
Seal area systems
Tank emergencies aremuch different than
structure fires Initial operations aredefensive in nature
Extended operations maytake place beforeextinguishment is started
Specialized equipment willbe required for success
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Instructor Contact InformationChief Rick Haase
ConocoPhillips Wood River RefineryP.O. Box 76
Roxana, IL 62084
Phone: 618-255-2624E-mail: [email protected]