Localized Fire Extinguishing System (LFES): Low Pressure Carbon Dioxide Agent Tests (Horn and Projection Nozzles) with Large and Small Machinery Mockups.

摘要

Two trends in merchant vessel design have generated interest in the localized fire extinguishing system (LFES) concept: the increasing volumes of machinery spaces aboard the larger vessels, and the greater amounts of automation being incorporated into vessels of all sizes. This report describes fire tests with two mockups of machinery space equipment: a small semi-enclosed machinery with an internal fire and a main propulsion unit with an external fire. In both mockups, the fuel was Number 2 fuel oil. The extinguishing system was a low pressure carbon dioxide LFES. In the small semi-enclosed machinery with an internal fire mockup, tests were conducted with projection nozzles and conventional horn nozzles. The fire was extinguished in seven out of thirteen tests. In one of the unsuccessful tests, the carbon dioxide discharge rate dropped due to either clogging or freeze-up inside the piping. In the main propulsion unit with an external fire mockup, only projection nozzles were used. The fire was extinguished in four out of nine tests. LFES using horn nozzles and projection nozzles are a feasible fire protection system. Projection nozzles permit the nozzles to be placed further from the machinery being protected. This facilitates maintenance and inspection of the machinery.