aguileraextinción

Extinguishing agents HFC-227ea and FE-13

Table of contents

What is HFC-227ea? What is FE-13? 2Standards 2Application systems 2System types and fire types 2Personal safety 3Discharge pipe sizes 3Pipe supports 3HFC-227ea and FE-13 at a glance 4Applications 6Facility characteristics 7Our commitment: service and guarantees 8

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What isHFC-227ea?

HFC-227ea or heptafluoropropane isthe most used halon replacement gas.Its NOAEL means it can be appliedusing a total flooding system inoccupied areas.HFC-227ea extinguishes fire throughthe absorption and extraction of flameheat; when the gas decomposes, theflame’s temperature is reduced andthe chemical reaction involved incombustion slows down.

What isFE-13?

FE-13 or trifluoromethane is a clean,low-pressure extinguishing agent thatputs out fires essentially through heatabsorption. Its low toxicity makes it thesafest gas for protecting areas usedby people.Thanks to its high vapour pressure atroom temperature (41 Bars at 20ºC),FE-13 does not require nitrogenpressurisation.The low boiling point of FE-13 meansthat any container holding it can bestored in a remote area, far from theprotected space, as well as in otherplaces at room temperature.

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The standards regulating the use of HFC-227ea and FE-13 areUNE-EN 15004-1, UNE-EN 15004-5 and UNE-EN 15004-6.Total flooding systems can be used to put out fires of all kinds.The standards set the minimum design concentrations asfollows:

STANDARDS

*Another factor must be included in calculations as well as thisrequired amount. This factor is to compensate for the amountof residual agent that remains in the containers after the dischargetime (10 seconds). The minimum factor should be 11%.

Application systemsTotal flooding

Storage of a cylinder or battery of cylindersof the extinguishing agent needed toachieve the concentration required forextinction by means of discharge in thespace concerned. This will be connectedto a network of pipes and a series ofdischarge and gasification diffusers thatdistribute the extinguishing agent inside thespace to be protected.To ensure the extinction is effective withthe calculation carried out, it is vital that thedesign concentration be maintained for atleast 10 minutes.

System typesModular systems

Made up of a single bottle with a smallnetwork of pipes and a minimum numberof diffusers that discharge the extinguishingagent uniformly within the space to beprotected.

Fire typesSuperficial fires

Fires involving the combustion ofinflammable liquids and vapours that areextinguished through total flooding of thespace with a concentration of extinguishingagent according to each material and thevolume of the space.Centralised systems

Made up of a set of storage cylinders withthe same pressure and amount ofextinguishing agent, connected via acommon outflow pipe to a distributionnetwork of pipes and a series of diffusersthat are properly laid out and sized so thatthe extinguishing agent is distributeduniformly.

Profound firesFires involving the combustion ofinflammable solids like cotton, cardboard,paper, wood, electrical materials... thatrequire a longer cooling period andmaintenance of the external atmosphere.

Concentration

Risk

Class A superficial 7,9 16,3

Risk higher than class A 8,5 16,3

Class B 9 16,4

HFC-227ea FE-13 *

The risk to people is caused by the discharge of the extinguishingagent in the space. This can be caused by the extinguishing agentitself, products of the combustion or products that arise throughdecomposition of the extinguishing agent resulting from exposure tothe fire.

Personal safety

Minimum safety measurements for occupied areas for HFC-227ea

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Información toxicológicaHFC-227ea

Propiedad Valor %

NOAEL 9,0

LOAEL >10,5

Información toxicológicaFE-13

Propiedad Valor %

NOAEL 30

LOAEL >30

NOAEL (No Observable Adverse Effect Level). Concentración más alta en laque no ha habido ningún efecto adverso fisiológico o tóxico.LOAEL (Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level). Concentración más baja ala que ha sido observado un efecto adverso fisiológico o tóxico.

Maximum concentration Time delay Automatic/manual switch Blocking device

Concentration - NOAEL

NOAEL > Concentration > LOAEL

Concentration > LOAEL

yes

yes

yes

Not required

yes

yes

Not required

Not required

yes

Discharge pipe sizesIn general, pipes and accessories to be used for the distributionnetwork for HFC-227ea and FE-13 systems should be able to withstandthe pressures created inside them.According to the applicable Spanish standard: UNE EN 15004-1, thesystem’s pipes should be able to withstand the pressure that the agentwill create in the vessel at 50 ºC.For HFC-227ea, it is recommended that ASTM A 106 Grade B Sch40 pipes, or similar, be used. The recommended accessories wouldbe ANSI 3000 high-pressure forged pieces or similar.For FE-13, it is recommended that ASTM A106 Grade B Sch 40, Sch80 pipes or similar, be used. The recommended accessories wouldbe ANSI 3000 high-pressure forged pieces or similar.The calculation of the sizes of pipes and the gauging of the diffusersis done using computer programs. However, tables A and B can bechecked for an approximate pre-sizing of pipes.

3/8”1/2”3/4”1”

1 1/4”1 1/2”

2”2 1/2”

3”4”5”6”

Nominaldiameter

0.31.352.53.85.79

13.624.940.856.790.7136.1

HFC-227ea

Dischargeflow Kg/Sec

Table A Table B

Pipe supports

Supports for the distribution network should withstand the dynamicand static loads created, as well as the changes in pipe length dueto thermal effects.The table gives an indication of the maximum separation between thesupports depending on the pipe diameter.

HFC-227ea and FE-13

3/8”1/2”3/4”1”

1 1/4”1 1/2”

2”2 1/2”

3”4”

1 m1,5 m1,8 m2,1 m2,4 m2,7 m3,4 m3,5 m3,7 m4,3 m

Pipe diameter Maximum separationbetween supports

3/8”1/2”3/4”1”

1 1/4”1 1/2”

2”2 1/2”

3”4”5”6”

0.31.224691825406595140

FE-13

Nominaldiameter

Dischargeflow Kg/Sec

HFC-227ea y FE-13

FE-13High-pressure batteries composed of cylinders each with a 67, 80 or 120 L capacity.Made of heat-treated, weldless steel. With an operating pressure of 60 Bars, testpressure of 250 Bars, operating temperature of -20ºC to +50ºC. Engraved and paintedred.

HFC-227eaHigh-pressure batteries composed of cylinders each with a 67, 80 or 120 L capacity.Made of heat-treated, weldless steel. With an operating pressure of 42 Bars, testpressure of 250 Bars, operating temperature of -20ºC to +50ºC. Engraved and paintedred.

FE-13High-pressure cylinders made of heat-treated, alloyed weldless steel, with an operatingpressure of 60 Bars, test pressure of 250 Bars, operating temperature of -20ºC to+50ºC, engraved and painted red.

HFC-227eaHigh-pressure cylinders made of heat-treated, alloyed weldless steel, with an operatingpressure of 42 Bars, test pressure of 250 Bars, operating temperature of -20ºCto +50ºC, engraved and painted red.

Single cylinders

Centralised systems

Continuous weighing system

The continuous weighing system has been developed and patented by the R&Ddepartment of Aguilera Electrónica. It is based on traction and electronic circuitextensometric load cell technology with a microprocessor and display.The display shows the weight of the cylinder (tare + load). The device has lights andalarms that draw attention to any weight loss greater than 200 grams, faults in theequipment and signals from another connected weight control device.

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5

FE-13High-pressure batteries made up of cylinders each with a 67, 80 or 125 L capacity.Made of heat-treated, weldless steel. With a test pressure of 250 Bars, operatingtemperature of -20ºC to +50ºC. Engraved and painted red. The weight of each cylinderis individually controlled by an analogue continuous weighing device Mod. AEX/CPC.Supplied with a turnbuckle that allows the cylinders to be lifted easily, connectors withattached hoses for connection and all other necessary accessories.

HFC-227eaHigh-pressure batteries made up of cylinders each with a 67, 80 or 120 L capacity.Made of heat-treated, weldless steel. With a test pressure of 250 Bars, operatingtemperature of -20ºC to +50ºC. Engraved and painted red.

The weight of each cylinder is individually controlled by an analogical continuousweighing device Mod. AEX/CPC. Supplied with a turnbuckle that allows the cylindersto be lifted easily, connectors with attached hoses for connection and all other necessaryaccessories.

Single cylinders with continuous weighingFE-13High-pressure cylinders made of heat-treated, alloyed weldless steel, with an operatingpressure of 60 Bars, test pressure of 250 Bars, operating temperature of -20ºC to+50ºC, engraved and painted red.

HFC-227eaHigh-pressure cylinders made of heat-treated, alloyed weldless steel, with an operatingpressure of 42 Bars, test pressure of 250 Bars, operating temperature of -20ºC to+50ºC, engraved and painted red.

In both systems, the cylinders are equipped with a continuous weighing device, wherebythe weight of each cylinder is individually controlled by a device. The cylinders areassembled in a special metal frame that allows continuous weighing. The dischargecollector has a thread to connect it to the facility and a decompression valve.

Centralised continuous weighing systems

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ApplicationsThe use of fluorinated gases in ProtectionAgainst Fire (in total flooding systems) is,technically-speaking, a quality, efficient andsafe option. It is of course necessary to takeinto consideration all the design conditions thatensure these systems are reliable. For thispurpose there are frameworks of Spanish andinternational standards that help with theestablishment of correct protection. Typically,these sys tems pro tec t s i tes l i ketelecommunications centres, museums,processing centres and many critical facilitiesin industry and services.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) are reliable andproven solutions for the problems tackled bythe Montreal and Kyoto Protocol processes.They are energy efficient, have low toxicity,show value for money and can be used safely.Governments and industries support use ofthese in applications that satisfy importantenvironmental and social needs.

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Facility characteristicsTo achieve optimum discharge of the extinguishing agent throughthe diffusers, and so a uniform concentration of the agent isreleased in the space to be protected, it is necessary to bear inmind the following points:

The minimum discharge volume for liquid gases must beenough to maintain the velocity needed for turbulent flow, so theliquid phase does not separate from the gaseous phase, whichwould cause unpredictable flow characteristics.

The pressure reached in the discharge diffuser inlet aftersubtracting losses due to friction and height changes shouldbe the minimum needed to allow gasification of theextinguishing agent at this point and also the desired coverageof the agent.

The geometry of the facility and the location of the storagecylinders should be set in such a way that the system is balancedand does not cause unnecessary losses due to long distancesbetween the storage area and the discharge points.

In nitrogen overpressure gases (HFC-227ea), the energy thatpropels the extinguishing agent comes from the added nitrogen

and so there should be a balance between the amounts ofnitrogen and extinguishing agent. That is why, depending on thetotal amount of extinguishing agent to be discharged and on thedistances in the facility, the density to which the storage cylinders arefilled with extinguishing agent should be varied (ratio between amountof extinguishing agent-amount of propelling nitrogen).

The discharge of the extinguishing agent must be carried out in ashort time interval (10 sec.) so that the fire cannot reach a size andtemperature that causes the extinguishing agent to decompose, whichwould harm those inside the protected space.

Any variation in the original design would require changes to thecalibration of the diffusers and size of the pipes in the network fordistributing the extinguishing agent.

To guarantee that the diffusers discharge appropriately, the user musthave a suitable hydraulic calculation program that can calculate thenecessary reiterations, bearing in mind the limitations stated aboveand the variables introduced.

Aguilera Extinción has the best hydraulic calculation program onthe market for the calculation of pipe sizes and diffuser calibrationsfor facilities using the extinguishing agents HFC-227ea and FE-13.

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Our commitment: service and guarantees

Technical serviceWith the aim of guaranteeing the smooth running offacilities, the Grupo Aguilera technical department carriesout operating and commissioning tests on the equipment.Furthermore, it works with the installer throughout theinstallation process. Once the system is in place, withappropriate water and electricity supplies, and with thehydraulic test having been carried out, Grupo Aguilera’stechnical staff carry out the operating and commissioningtests on the equipment.

Personal attentionFor Grupo Aguilera, each customer is important. We areaware that not everyone has the same needs, and so ourteam of professionals provides personal attention that issuitable for your requirements.

Maintenance

Training

Grupo Aguilera promises to guarantee the followingservices: repair, reprogramming and the supply of spareparts, after the guarantee period.

Aware that we all want to know about and takeresponsibility for what we do, independently of the technicalsupport that we provide for facilities carried out with ourproducts, Grupo Aguilera gives training courses regardingthe operation of our equipment, its installation andprogramming.

Equipment guaranteeGrupo Aguilera guarantees sound operation of itsequipment for 2 years starting from the delivery date; wetake responsibility for the replacement or repair of anyequipment in which manufacturing anomalies or faultsare detected, and which is delivered to our factory inMadrid.

ProjectsGrupo Aguilera offers its assistance to engineers when itcomes to projects for the detection, control and extinctionof fires, providing advice regarding systems and coveragefor each built space. The projects department carriesout system design and sizing, hydraulic calculations, thecalibration of diffusers and the facility’s isometrics,advising on the effectiveness of the equipment ineach at-risk space and suggesting operations forinstallation.

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Edición 03/11

HFC

-227ea and FE-13