Protecting Machinery &Power Generation Equipment

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ndustrial applications such as machinery spaces, gas turbine enclo-

sures and special hazard machinery spacesare areas where effective fire protection isrequired. The protected equipment typi-cally involve the use of flammable liquidsin connection with hot surfaces or electric-ity, creating a substantial risk for people,property and business continuity.

Historically, such hazards have beenprotected against fire with gaseous agentssuch as carbon dioxide and halons. More recently, alternatives such as halocarbonagents and inert gases have been proposedfor the protection of industrial applications.

Well-engineered, high-pressure water mistfire protection systems provide superior extinguishing properties, cooling to preventre-ignition and further damage, and radiantheat absorption to prevent fire spreading.They are safe for people and the protectedequipment in case of fire or accidental discharge, containing only natural elements– water and air – that will never be banned.

Water mist – first choicein industrial fire protection

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CCTV footage showingHI-FOG extinguishing the engine room fire on cruise ship ‘Explorer of the Seas’3rd June 2002.

Aft Main Engine Room at the time ofthe plug failure

The fuel ignites, resulting in anexplosive fire

The fire engulfs the top of the engine

15 seconds after the fire started, theHI-FOG system is released

HI-FOG quickly knocks down the fire

In 35 seconds the fire has beenextinguished

Crew members enter the area

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Factory Mutual ResearchCorporation

‘“... In a study of fire protectionin gas turbine installations... a 49 % failure rate for total flood-ing Halon or CO2 systems wasfound. Of these failures, 37 %were attributed to the exting-uishment agent leaking from the protected compartmentthrough open doors or vents.This failure rate would also beexpected to occur for the newgaseous alternatives to Halon..."

Ref. OY3R1.RA

I-FOG solutions range from simple, self-contained pressure cylinder systems protect-

ing small enclosures, to powerful pump systemsfor protecting the largest of machinery spaces.

Because HI-FOG systems utilize highpressure and velocity, the average water dropletsize in the ‘mist’ can be very small* and the combinedsurface cooling area becomes very large. As wellas ensuring highly efficient extinguishing, the space

is quickly cooled, surrounding equipment is protected from the heat, and chance of re-ignitionis minimized. Additionally the discharge is totallysafe for people, equipment and the environment.Which makes HI-FOG the system of choice forprotecting flammable liquid fire risks!

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* drop size Dv90 <200µ

HI-FOG minimizes downtimeWhen the fire has been extinguished, the machinerycan be back in operation in no time, ensuring business continuity. The time for repair, clean-upand system reactivation will be minimal comparedwith traditional fire protection systems.

HI-FOG saves livesHI-FOG uses potable water as extinguishing media. It is therefore harmless to people and can beactivated prior to evacuation of personnel. The fire is attacked and restricted, while still in itsinfancy. Smoke development is significantly reducedand personnel can then safely be evacuated.

No chemical additivesUnlike some systems, HI-FOG uses plain water,sometimes with the addition of nitrogen gas. There are no chemical additives, which could beharmful to people or equipment, as well as beingcostly to clean and recharge.

Testing ensures safetyExtensive HI-FOG fire tests have been witnessedby major classification societies and approval bodies.The HI-FOG system can be tested at any time– a short duration water mist discharge will ensurethat everything is fully operational if a fire occurs. HI-FOG GPU and MAU systems bear the respected Factory Mutual type approvals.

I-FOG Total Flooding systems are becomingthe ‘first choice’ fire protection solution for

all machinery spaces. This includes turbine andgenerator enclosures, transformer and compressorrooms, engine test cells, indeed any enclosed spacewith risk of liquid fuel fire.

For small areas a MAU (Machinery SpaceAccumulator Unit) is normally suitable, whereasfor larger spaces and multiple space protection, the

GPU (Gas-driven Pump Unit) is more appropriate.Systems are self-contained and do not requireelectric power.

For very large spaces where completeprotection is required, HI-FOG MT3 total floodingsystems can be supplied. In this case the electricallydriven SPU pump unit is used with additionalnitrogen cylinders.

Total Flooding Systems

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Wärtsilä France made the decision to specifyHI-FOG MAU 150 systems to protect thegenerator enclosures of the factory-built modularpower plants, which are supplied all over the world, because of environmental benefits,ease of installation and world-wide acceptance.

1. HI-FOG activated bydetection or by manualactivation.

2. Water mist is dischargedfrom horizontal nozzles into theenclosure. Fire is extinguishedwithout thermal shock.

3. Mist is circulated aroundspace to cool the environment,preventing re-ignition

HI-FOG MAU system for < 260 m3 (9,175 ft3) turbine enclosures

Twenty-two fully fitted HI-FOG ‘dual shot’ MAU systems, in purpose-designedheated and weatherproof skid mounted enclosures, were supplied to variouslocations of the UK gas distribution company Transco.

Machinery space protection

Full scale fire test programs have shown that HI-FOGMachinery Space systems can extinguish spray andpool fires caused by ruptured fuel or lube oil lines. Thesystem provides dramatic space cooling which lowersrisk of re-ignition and radiant heat blocking, whichmeans that equipment near the fire is protected fromdamage. Systems are normally deluge type, activatedmanually or by a suitable listed detection system, soall HI-FOG spray heads operate simultaneously in thespace.

Gas Turbine protection

Marioff has developed HI-FOG systems specificallyfor protecting against potential oil fires in gas turbineenclosures. The FM approved systems have few nozzles and a single tubing network, making instal-lation easy and keeping costs low.

HI-FOG systems have passed the FM and other distortion tests with a ‘continuous discharge’technique using small quantities of water, initiallyat a rate, droplet size and density adequate for flamesuppression, and subsequently at a rate to preventre-ignition. This means efficient fire extinguishing

with no possibility of turbinecasing distortion. Enclosure in-tegrity is not crucial as fire testinghas been successful even withdoors to test enclosure partiallyopen. And the self-containedMAU power unit requires noexternal power or water supply.4

Offshore Oil & Gas protection

Marioff has supplied one of many HI-FOG systemsto the world’s largest energy companies to protectgas turbines, gas compressors, emergency generatorsand other machinery spaces on offshore oil & gasplatforms around the world. These are typically smallmachinery spaces where HI-FOG total floodingMAU or GPU systems are specified.

One of hundreds HI-FOGsystems installed on severalNorth sea platforms. Systemswere fully hazardous area ratedand supplied in stainless steelenclosures to meet the highestoffshore standards.

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HI-FOG systems protect key areas on the giant 300,000 tonFloating Production, Storage and Off-loading (FPSO) vesselbeing built for Shell’s Bonga oil and gas production project,offshore West Africa.

HI-FOG protected areas on Bonga FPSO• 7 decks of accommodation & service areas• oil purifier rooms• fire pump compartments• hydraulic power pack compartments• incinerator & transformer rooms• generator room• emergency and essential diesel generator rooms• top sides power module

n the past it has been almost impossible to effectively protect against flammable liquid

fire risks in a very large space. Local gaseoussystems can be dangerous to personnel, have limiteddischarge time and provide no cooling to preventre-ignition. Conventional spray systems can beineffective and cause extensive damage to propertyand equipment with large volumes of water.

Marioff is now able to offer a range ofHI-FOG solutions, based on extensive fire testexperience, which provide appropriate local pro-tection for oil fire risks without high volume wateruse. Fire protection is enhanced, personnel safetyis assured and equipment damage is minimized.

The system can be designed to give extended timeprotection, alternatively a short duration protectionif local fire brigade can arrive within a guaranteedtime. The local protection can be enhanced by abackground mist system in the whole space whichprovides cooling and radiation blocking to protectother equipment in the space.

Local Application systems

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Full scale HI-FOG test discharge at Transco’s Churchover gascompressor room

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HI-FOG Fire Testing

Marioff supplies local applicationHI-FOG systems which meet theIMO (International Maritime Organization) MSC/Circ. 913 standards.

HI-FOG Local application firetest at VTT (TechnicalResearch Centre of Finland)

Example 1

A HI-FOG Local Application system was installedto protect the 14MW Solar Turbine drive setand Dresser Rand compressor in Transco’s 2350m3

(83,000 ft3) gas compressor room at Churchover, UK.Marioff has supplied a system which protects thehigh risk zones with local application discharge, andthe rest of the space with cooling / radiant protectionmist density. The system’s GPU (Gas driven PumpUnit) sits in a weatherproof and heated enclosurewhere the dedicated water storage unit and supplypiping is trace heated and monitored.

Example 2

A very different fire risk is protected by a self-contained HI-FOG Local Application system atMetso Paper’s Technology Centre, Järvenpää inFinland. Here the GPU system protects the oil heated soft rolls, thermo rolls as well as rotatingcouplings, as well as two adjacent machinery roomsassociated with R&D paper finishing machinery.The HI-FOG system has dual manual activation andguarantees 20-minute fire suppression over the three protected areas.

ver 5000 full scale fire tests have helped Marioff receive more

approvals than any other water mist systemmanufacturer.

For machinery space fire risk, Marioff can provide either pre-engineeredor engineered HI-FOG solutions whichtake into account the client’s requirementsand are appropriate for the particular space.

MAUMachinery SpaceAccumulator Unit

GPUGas-driven Pump Unit

SPUSprinkler Pump Unit

HI-FOG Technology

= Pre-engineered systems = Engineered systems

Total protection MAU GPU SPU

< 260 m3 (9,175 ft3)

< 500 m3 (17,650 ft3)

> 500 m3 (17 ,650 ft3)

Local Protection

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* type approved by major Classification Societies

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Suitable for total protection ofsmall enclosed spaces from flam-mable liquid hazards and specialhazards.

Key Features & Benefits:• nitrogen or air powered

• non-pressurized water cylinders

• easy installation & maintenance

• easy integration to detectionsystems

• manual, pneumatic or electricrelease

Specify a GPU system where normal water supply or electricpower may not be available orwhere water discharge must beminimised.

Key Features & Benefits:• nitrogen or air driven pump

• no external power needed

• manual, pneumatic or electric release

The HI-FOG MT3* system usesthis pump with additional nitro-gen cylinders for protection oflarge machinery spaces. A versionis available with diesel motor.

Key Features & Benefits:• modular motor/

pump assembly

• water tank or water supply

• continuous operation providing extended protection time

Your local supplier:

Marioff Inc.611-M Hammonds Ferr y Road

Linthicum, MD 21090Tel # (410) 354-9020Fax # (410) 354-9030

Canada • Denmark • Finland • France • Germany • Italy • Norway• Singapore • Spain• Sweden • UK • USA

Details of Marioff companies, agents, distributors, references and other information from:www.hi-fog.com

Marioff reserve the right to change or modify the technical details and information given in this brochure without notice. The information is forguidance purposes and does not constitute design or installation instructions or form part of any contract. The contents of this brochure have

been prepared as at 13.04.2004. All rights are reserved. Copyright Marioff Corporation Oy 2004.

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