Means of Prevention and Elimination of Emergency Situations with Fires at the Objects with Liquefied Gases Handling
The article is devoted to the analytical research of the problems related to ensuring fire safety of the objects where liquefied flammable gases are handled. Modern foreign and Russian standards that regulate the use of the most effective methods and means of preventing and eliminating emergency situations with liquefied flammable gases are analyzed. The review is given concerning the scientific research that contributes to improving the level of fire safety of the objects with liquefied gases handling. Based on the results of the analysis of the foreign standards it is noted that, in particular, the NFPA documents establish fire safety requirements for the objects with the presence of liquefied gases and recommend the use of powder extinguishing agents for fire extinguishing purposes. Domestic research data on using powder compositions for extinguishing liquefied natural gas fires are presented. For extinguishing liquified natural gas fires the domestic documents recommend using special fire trucks AP-3 (130) capable to supply PSB when using hydraulic monitor with powder flow rate to 20 kg/s. This article presents the results of the research work made by FGBU VNIIPO of EMERCOM of Russia on fire-extinguishing efficiency of liquid nitrogen when extinguishing different centers of the liquified gases fires. It is noted that FGBU VNIIPO EMERCOM of Russia at an interagency polygon base together with the related organizations conducted experiments on studying the effect of water curtains on reducing fire hazard of air-gas clouds formed during the spill of hydrogen and methane. The experiments pointed to the efficiency of using water curtains for limiting the scale of clouds of hydrogen combustible mixtures and liquefied natural gas. The data obtained based on the study results can facilitate the rational selection of means for preventing and eliminating emergency situations with the liquefied gases fires.