ESI Oil and Gas Brochure - Engineering for Science and Industry ...

Conventional
sprinkler /
water spray
Low-pressure
water mist
While many monitors are permanently fixed to pipework and designed to protect specific
installations, it is sometimes convenient to mount monitors on trailers that can be moved
from hazard to hazard. In addition, small monitors can be designed to be moved by hand
and placed on the ground to provide a rapid response in the event of a fire. However, mobile
monitors require a water supply usually provided by hoses or from portable pumps.
High Pressure Water Mist
Typical drop
size range (mm)
Number of droplets
per litre of water
In suppressing 1…5 a 15 fire, thousand traditional to 2 low-pressure million sprinkler 1…6 and deluge systems often cause significant
water damage that can be greater than the damage caused by the fire itself. Such systems can also
be difficult to install, especially in retrofit projects. Traditional gas-based systems are unsuitable
0.2…1 2 million to 250 million 6…30
for many high-risk areas because of the difficulty involved in guaranteeing enclosure integrity,
high recharge costs and personnel and environmental safety issues. Traditional foam-based
systems 0.025…0.2 cause collateral 250 million damage to 150 billion and present 30…250 the problem of toxic run-off to sewage systems.
Superior cooling and
local inerting
In many applications it is necessary to operate a monitor remotely.
Motors are fitted to achieve this by moving the monitor body in the
horizontal and vertical planes. In addition, if the monitor is fitted
with an adjustable nozzle, this will also need to be moved with a
motor or actuator. Remote control monitors often need to meet the
standards for operation in an area subject to explosive gases such
as ATEX in Europe or NEC in North America. Some applications
require a master panel/slave panel arrangement while others require
feedback to show the operator where the monitor is pointing so
that it can be operated even when smoke obscures the view.
Surface
area (m2 )
Superior blocking
of radiant heat