Victaulic VortexVictaulic Vortex

2014 SME Annual Meeting and ExhibitSalt Lake City, UtahProtecting Prep Plant Control Rooms With Hybrid Inert Gas / Water Mist Fire Suppression Systems

VICTAULIC IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF VICTAULIC COMPANY. © 2013 VICTAULIC COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Victaulic Vortex

• Hybrid Fire Extinguishing System (FM 5580):

– System of nozzles delivering Hybrid Media intended to control, suppress, or extinguish fires.• Victaulic Hybrid Media

– All natural• Nitrogen• Water

Victaulic Vortex

• As an inert gas – Atmosphere by volume

• 78.1% N2• 20.8% O2

– Addition of Nitrogen gas to an enclosure• Oxygen dilution

– Below 15%

• As water mist – Water

• Heat Capacitance• Vaporization

Victaulic Vortex– Victaulic Patented low pressure twin fluid emitters

• Available Sizes 1/8”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2” and 5/8”• Operating Pressure range 25 - 40 psi• Water Flows .26 – 1 gpm

– Emitter Principals, Atomization• Shockwave• Water Injection• Coanda / Shear• Vortex Effect

– Effects of Combining Inert gas / Watermist

Victaulic Vortex ½” Orifice EmitterQuantity of droplets

½” Sprinkler vs. Water Mist vs. ½” Vortex Emitter

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200000

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Standard Sprinkler High Pressure Mist Vortex

SSP ½” Sprinkler – 1000 m

Water Mist – 100 m

Vortex – 10 m

Droplet ComparisonRelative Surface Area ½” Sprinkler vs. Water Mist vs. ½” Vortex Emitter

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1000

2000

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Standard Sprinkler High Pressure Mist Vortex

SSP ½” Sprinkler – 1000 m

Water Mist – 100 m

Vortex – 10 m

Victaulic Vortex– Homogenous suspension of nitrogen gas and water, 10

microns• Buoyancy• Room Integrity

– Reference:Hughes AssociatesClean Agent System DesignNFPA World Fire Safety Congress & Expo10’x10’x10’ Enclosure

Victaulic Vortex– Recap

• A Hybrid system Incorporates the best of:– Inert gas system– Water Mist system

• Inert Gas Strengths – Effective for small fires– Attacks the oxygen of the fire triangle– Green system– Fewer nitrogen cylinders– Inexpensive gas replacement

• Water Mist Strengths– Very effective on large fuel based fires– Attacks the heat of the fire triangle– Low pressures– No high pressure pumps

Vortex …Mining Applications Mineral Processing & Mine Sites MCC Rooms Control Rooms VFD Rooms Hoist Rooms Fan Control Rooms Overland Belt Drive Control Centers Fuel Storage Areas

Battery Storage Areas

Chemical Storage Areas

Typical MCC Room

Vortex Project

Bench Test - 4 Zone System

Main Panel

Zone Panels

Vortex MCC Room Protection

Nitrogen Tanks

Stand-alone water tank:

– No costly water lines– No fire pumps– No large

tanks/storage

– 30 gallon tank for 15,000 cubic foot room

MCC Room with Emitter Placement

Vortex System Scalability

Single room to large multi-room protection

Mine Personnel Who Have Made the Decision to Go Vortex

Safety DirectorPresident of CompanyRisk Management DirectorPlant SuperintendentCompany Director of Preparation

Questions…Visit our booths 800 and 945