Fire Fighting Pumping Systems at Industrial Facilities

by Nolan, Dennis P.

• ISBN13: 9781437744712
• ISBN10: 1437744710
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-06-08
• Publisher: William Andrew Pub

Summary

Written from the perspective of industrial users, this is the only book that describes how to install an effective firewater pumping system in a pragmatic and budget-conscious way rather than with purely the regulatory framework in mind. Based on the wide-ranging industrial experience of the author, this book is also the only one that deals with the particular risks and requirements of off-shore facilities. This book takes the reader beyond the prescriptive requirements of the fire code (NFPA, UL) and considers how to make the best choice of design for the budget available as well as how to ensure the other components of the pumping system and supporting services are optimized. The only alternative to guides written by regulatory enforcement bodies, this book is uniquely practical and objective - demonstrating how and why the standards need to be met. Covers a wide range of industries including those with exceptional requirements such as off-shore petroleum facilities and chemical plants. Written by someone who has been responsible for the safety of large numbers of workers and billions of dollars worth of equipment, for those in similarly responsible positions.

Author Biography

Dennis P. Nolan has had a long career devoted to fire protection engineering, risk engineering, loss prevention engineering, and system safety engineering. He is currently part of the Loss Prevention executive management staff of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco), based at Abqaiq, site of some of the largest oil and gas operations in the world. He has also been associated with Boeing, Lockheed, Marathon Oil Company, and Occidental Petroleum Corporation in various fire protection engineering, risk analysis, and safety roles in several locations in the United States and overseas. Dr. Nolan has received numerous safety awards and served as a member of the Fire Protection Working Group of the UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA). He is the author of many technical papers and several books.

Table of Contents

About the author	p. xiii
Acknowledgements	p. xv
Notice	p. xvii
Preface	p. xix
Introduction	p. xxi
List of Tables	p. xxv
List of Figures	p. xxvii
List of Acronyms	p. xxix
Historical Applications of Firewater Pumping Systems	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Ancient Water Pumps	p. 1
Reciprocating Hand and Steam-Driven Fire Pumps	p. 2
Rotary Pumps	p. 3
Invention of the Centrifugal Pump	p. 4
Modern Fire Pumps	p. 4
Municipal Water Pumping Plants and Mains	p. 5
Offshore Facilities	p. 7
Philosophy of Protection	p. 9
Introduction	p. 9
Protection Options	p. 9
Insurance Requirements	p. 10
Internal Company Policies and Standards	p. 12
Firewater Flow Requirements	p. 13
Introduction	p. 13
Risk Areas	p. 14
Exposure Cooling Requirements	p. 15
Fire Control Requirements	p. 15
Suppression Requirements	p. 16
Residual Pressure Requirements	p. 16
Duration of Firewater Supplies	p. 19
Introduction	p. 19
Capability of Public Water Mains	p. 19
Primary Supplies	p. 19
Reserve Supplies	p. 22
Sources of Firewater Pump Supply	p. 25
Introduction	p. 25
Seas and Oceans	p. 25
Rivers, Channels, Ponds and Lakes	p. 26
Water Wells (Natural Underground Reservoirs)	p. 26
Manmade Reservoirs (Impounded Supplies)	p. 27
Storage Tanks	p. 28
Municipal and Private Firewater Distribution Mains	p. 29
Specialized Offshore Raw Seawater Systems	p. 30
Firewater Usage by Other Services	p. 31
Emergency Water Sources	p. 32
Water Quality	p. 32
Enhancements to Fire-Fighting Water	p. 33
Marine Growth	p. 34
Future Use, Sources and Development	p. 36
Pump Types and Applications	p. 37
Introduction	p. 37
Dynamic Pumps	p. 37
Positive Displacement Pumps	p. 43
Firewater Pump Characteristics	p. 44
Main and Standby Firewater Pumps	p. 45
Booster Firewater Pumps	p. 46
Water Mist Firewater Pumps	p. 47
Jockey Pumps	p. 47
Firewater Circulation Pumps	p. 48
Foam Pumps	p. 49
Packaged And Skid Units	p. 50
Retrofit Improvements To Existing Firewater Pumps	p. 51
Future Expansion	p. 52
Reliance On Mobile Firewater Pumping Apparatus	p. 53
Portable Pumps	p. 53
NFPA 20 Versus API 610 And Other Pump Types	p. 53
Pump Installation, Piping Arrangements and Accessories	p. 55
Introduction	p. 55
Code Requirements	p. 55
Listing Requirements	p. 57
Typical Installation	p. 58
Location and Separation from Process Areas	p. 60
Pump Separation	p. 62
Pump Room or Building Construction	p. 63
Special Locations	p. 63
Multiple Pump Installations	p. 66
Pump Rotation	p. 66
Relief Valves	p. 66
Circulation Relief Valyes	p. 68
Pressure and Flow Control Valves	p. 69
Isolation Valves	p. 69
Bypass Capability	p. 69
Pressure Gages	p. 70
Pressure Recorders	p. 71
Flow Measurement Capability	p. 71
Check Valves	p. 72
Air Release Valves	p. 73
Supervision of Isolation Valves	p. 73
Inlet Screens, Strainer and Filters	p. 74
Submerged Pump Intake Openings	p. 75
Cavitation, Net Positive Suction Head and Vortices	p. 76
Water Hammer or Surge	p. 77
Pumping System Hydraulic Design	p. 78
Vibration Limitation	p. 79
Backflow Prevention	p. 80
Area and Task Lighting	p. 80
Ventilation	p. 81
Fire Sprinkler Protection	p. 81
Utility Services	p. 81
Drainage	p. 82
Outside Installations	p. 82
Materials of Construction	p. 83
Introduction	p. 83
Durability	p. 83
Corrosion Considerations	p. 84
Cathodic Protection	p. 85
Coatings	p. 85
Fiberglass Materials	p. 85
Fresh Water Concerns	p. 86
Common Pump Materials	p. 86
Pump Drivers and Power Transmission	p. 89
Introduction	p. 89
Electric Motors	p. 89
Gasoline Engines	p. 91
Diesel Engines	p. 92
Air Supplies and Ventilation	p. 99
Instrument Panel	p. 99
Steam Turbine	p. 100
Power Transmission Options	p. 101
Lineshafts	p. 106
Indirect Hydraulic Drive	p. 107
Acoustical Concerns	p. 111
Maintenance Access	p. 111
Firewater Pump Controllers	p. 113
Introduction	p. 113
Firewater Pump Controllers	p. 113
Controller Power Supplies	p. 115
Dual Power Source Controllers	p. 115
Automatic Transfer Switches	p. 116
Remote Alarm and Shutdown Panels	p. 116
Low Suction Pressure Cut-Off	p. 116
Jockey Pump Controllers	p. 116
Foam Pump Controllers	p. 117
Controller Listing or Approval	p. 117
Multiple Firewater Pump Installations	p. 117
Firewater Pump Startup	p. 117
Color Coding of Panel Indicators	p. 119
Electronic Readout Displays	p. 119
Piping and Intrumentation Diagrams	p. 119
Controller Indicators	p. 120
First-Up Fault Feature	p. 121
Cause and Effects Charts	p. 121
Firewater Pump Shutdown	p. 123
Specialised Installations	p. 124
Controller Location and Access Requirements	p. 124
Reliability	p. 125
Introduction	p. 125
Failure Categories	p. 126
Insurance Industry Experience	p. 126
Fault Tree Analysis	p. 126
Single Point Failures	p. 126
Number of Firewater Pumps	p. 128
Pump Operational Failures	p. 128
Electrical Motor Failures	p. 128
Diesel Engine Failures	p. 129
Gearbox Failures	p. 129
Controller Faults	p. 129
Plant Perils and Pumping System Exposure	p. 130
Classified Area Pump Installations	p. 131
Introduction	p. 131
Diesel Engine Ignition Hazards	p. 132
Hot Surfaces	p. 133
Hot Exhaust Gases	p. 133
Exhaust System (Muffler)	p. 133
Exhaust System Spark or Flame Discharge	p. 134
Engine Overspeeding	p. 134
Flashback in Air Intake	p. 135
Material Selection	p. 135
Rated Instrumentation and Electrical Hardware	p. 135
Decompression Ports	p. 135
Electric Motors	p. 136
Controllers	p. 136
Firewater Pump Acceptance and Flow Testing	p. 137
Introduction	p. 137
Safety Precautions	p. 137
Factory Acceptance Test	p. 138
Site Acceptance Test and Commissioning	p. 139
Periodic Performance Tests	p. 140
Pump Curve Test Points	p. 141
Fuel Examination	p. 141
Specific Speed Verification	p. 142
Accuracy of Text Gages	p. 145
Weekly Testing	p. 145
Controller and Interface Testing	p. 146
Foam Pump Testing	p. 147
Basic Test Procedure	p. 148
Supplemental Checks	p. 149
Correction Factors for Observed Test RPM to Rated RPM of Driver	p. 150
Additional Testing and Maintenance Aspects	p. 150
Human Factors and Quality Control	p. 151
Human Factors	p. 151
Identification	p. 151
Starting Instructions	p. 152
Access	p. 153
Guards	p. 153
Noise Levels	p. 154
Emergency and Pre-Fire Plans	p. 155
Documentation	p. 155
Training	p. 156
Security	p. 156
Quality Control	p. 158
Appendices	p. 159
Bibliography	p. 165
Glossary	p. 169
Index	p. 175
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