Cellular Glass Barrier for Hydrocarbon Fire Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrocarbon fires pose significant risks due to high temperatures and potential for equipment damage and human harm, with existing solutions failing to effectively suppress vaporization and thermal radiation from these fires.
Innovation Solution
Deployment of cellular glass blocks before an ignition event to act as a floating barrier, reducing vaporization and thermal radiation risks by providing a non-flammable, closed-cell insulation that is buoyant on hydrocarbon liquids, with a design that allows for drainage and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If cellular glass is used as a floating barrier on hydrocarbon spills, then thermal radiation and vaporization are suppressed, but the material must maintain buoyancy and structural integrity at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The cellular glass is formulated as a composite material combining glass cullets (70-90 wt%), binder (5-20 wt%), and cellulating agent (1-10 wt%). This composite structure provides both thermal insulation properties for radiation suppression and mechanical strength for maintaining buoyancy and integrity when exposed to hydrocarbon fires and high temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The cellular glass density is controlled within a specific range (15-45 lb/ft³) to ensure sufficient buoyancy on hydrocarbon liquids while maintaining structural integrity. The closed-cell structure with controlled cell size (0.5-5mm) and cell density (50-200 cells/inch) optimizes both thermal insulation performance and mechanical strength at elevated temperatures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cellular glass blocks are deployed before ignition to suppress vaporization, then fire safety is improved, but the system complexity and deployment logistics increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cellular glass is produced as modular blocks or pre-formed structures that can be easily transported, stored, and deployed. This segmentation allows the material to be placed in containment areas or floated on hydrocarbon spills without requiring complex deployment mechanisms, simplifying logistics while maintaining effective vaporization suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The cellular glass is designed to be deployed proactively before ignition events occur, allowing it to form a protective barrier on hydrocarbon spills in advance. This preliminary deployment eliminates the need for complex reactive suppression systems, reducing overall system complexity while improving fire safety through preventive protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If cellular glass is used to limit thermal radiation from hydrocarbon fires, then equipment protection is enhanced, but the material must maintain stability and coverage throughout the fire event
Solution Approach 1:
The cellular glass is formulated with specific physical parameters including density (15-45 lb/ft³), cell size (0.5-5mm), and cell density (50-200 cells/inch) to ensure long-term stability and coverage maintenance during fire events. These parameter optimizations allow the material to withstand high temperatures while maintaining its insulating properties and physical integrity throughout the duration of the fire.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-component composite formulation (glass cullets, binder, cellulating agent) provides enhanced thermal stability and structural durability compared to single-material systems. This composite structure maintains coverage and stability throughout extended fire exposure, enabling long-duration thermal radiation attenuation and equipment protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Significantly reduces thermal radiation flux and flame severity, delaying or stopping combustion, while maintaining coverage and stability at high temperatures without liquid absorption or reapplication needs.
Implementation Method 1
Since cellular glass is closed-cell and lightweight, it is buoyant on most liquids including water, liquid natural gas (LNG) and oils
Implementation Method 2
Since cellular glass is inorganic and made primarily from glass, it has a natural ability to attenuate thermal radiation and resist fire for extended periods of time
Implementation Method 3
The cellular glass insulation properties are due in part to the ability of cellular glass to resist fire and protect equipment from thermal damage
Data Source
AI summary
A passive fire suppression system including at least one tapered cellular glass block and having a cap with a tapered shape disposed on the top of the at least one cellular glass block. The passive fire suppression system allows drainage from the upper surface to the bottom of the system. The drainage is beneficial for both environmental conditions such as rain as well as for incidents where combustible liquids are spilled on the top surface of the system. Therefore, the system will not only shield any combustible materials that are under the system but will also quickly drain any combustible liquids that may spill onto the top of the system to the lower surface.