ADVANCED FIRE FIGHTING

FTOPS2
korytarl@yahoo.ca
LPG - LNG HAZARDS AND CONTROL

INTRODUCTION

Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) are
petroleum products which are quite safe when contained in their
storage containers.
Released into the atmosphere they condense the moisture in the air
producing vapor clouds these vapor clouds pose a serious hazard to
the safety of personnel and plant alike should they be ignite.
Knowing how to properly respond to releases of LNG and LPG products
can make the difference between a small leak or a catastrophic event
which kills many people and destroys property.
No LPG - LNG release should be considered a minor event. The
potential for it to rapidly escalate into a catastrophe is ever present.

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LPG - LNG COMPOSITION

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LPG CHARACTERISTICS
LPG is predominantly a mixture of propane and butane in a liquid state
at room temperatures when under moderate pressures of less than
200 psig.

LPG is:
Colourless
Odourless
Non-Corrosive
Specific Gravity (H2O = 1) 0.60
Vapor Density (Air = 1) 1.92
A gas at atmospheric pressure
Boils at -42.1 C
Flammable (2.1 % - 9.5 %)
Auto ignition temp 450 0 C
0.307 mill joule ignition temp
Expansion ratio of 275:1
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LNG CHARACTERISTICS
LNG is made up mostly of methane. The liquefaction process removes
the non-methane components like carbon dioxide, water, mercury,
H2S, propane, butane, ethane from the natural gas.

LNG is:
Colourless
Odourless
Non-corrosive
Lighter then air (> -1070 C)
Specific Gravity (H2O = 1) 0.42
Vapor Density (Air = 1) 0.47
A gas at atmospheric pressure
Boils at 1620 C
Flammable (range 5% to 15%)
Auto ignition temp 537 0 C
0.29 mill joule ignition temp *
Expansion ratio of 600:1
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MAJOR EVENT CONSEQUENCES

There are numerous conditions which can result in a leak of flammable
vapors any of which can result in unwanted events.
The main consequences to be aware of are:

Unconfined vapor clouds resulting in flash fires (LNG)

Unconfined vapor cloud explosions (Propane, Ethane)
Pools of liquid products resulting in pool fires
Confined vapor clouds and resulting vapor cloud explosions (VCE)
Spill containment basin and trench fires
Pressurized leaks and resultant jet fires
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE)
Secondary events to be aware of:
Metal failure due to brittle effect
Direct flame contact
Radian heat
Blast overpressures
Fragmentation impact
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MAJOR HAZARDS
In addition to the most obvious hazards that come with a flammable
gas . When we combine LPG characteristics we realize a situation can
quickly become much more complicated and dangerous.
The key points to consider and remember are:
Cryogenic injuries
Metal failure due to brittle effect
Large leaks develop large vapor clouds
Vapor clouds will travel down wind, possibly to an ignition source
LPG Vapor clouds explode (UVCE), unconfined LNG clouds do not
Obstructions reduce cloud spread but increase blast overpressures
It takes little energy to ignite LPG/LNG vapors
LNG gas fires are 2 times hotter then any other hydrocarbon fire
Jet fires can cause adjacent supports, pipes and vessels to fail
When subjected to fire, pressurized vessels can BLEVE

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CONGESTION vs OVERPRESSURE
The effect of congestion on the propagation of explosions is well
known. The following gives a clearer picture of the effects of
congested plant areas and the respective explosion overpressures
that can be generated.

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THE GOOD NEWS

LNG is safer then Propane, Ethane, Butane, etc.

The key points to remember are:

Natural gas is less reactive than other fuels and potential plant
explosions are less severe than with, say, hydrogen, propane or
ethylene.

Detonations of natural gas/air mixtures in the open are not considered

to be credible design accidental events, because of the restrictive
conditions under which they could happen.
Rapid Phase Transition explosion phenomenon are confined to rich
LNG not lean LNG which lacks the heavy ends that are involved in the
development of the explosion such as Propane and Ethane.

Unconfined RPT are not considered hazardous since they are less
energetic then combustion explosions.
RPT

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FLAME SPEED vs OVERPRESSURES

In an accidental situation, we can expect that hydrogen and ethylene
will give higher explosion pressures than fuels like propane and
methane for the same size of gas cloud and with other conditions
being similar as well.

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CONTROL MEASURES
Two types of controls are considered to manage plant emergencies.
One at the design phase and the other in the operating phase.

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DESIGN

OPERATIONS

Spill prevention
Spill detection
Spill minimization
Spill containment
Ignition control
Fire detection
Fire control
Exposure protection

Shutdown of the affected fire zone

Isolation of electrical equipment
Shutdown of ventilation systems
Isolation of ignition sources
By pass equipment
De-pressure equipment
Activation of fire protection systems
Evacuation of personnel

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DANGERS OF RADIANT HEAT

LNG pool fires burn between 150 kW/m2 to 340 kW/m2. The following
table should bring this information and impact on personnel safety into
perspective. Emissive power of a pool fire decreases with height (or
length along the axis).

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RADIANT HEAT RISKS

This simple graph demonstrates the effects of radiant heat on
personnel safety. Note that 5kW/m2 with a 10-15 second exposure
(clothed) time is considered the threshold for personnel exposure.

Heat emissions are the principal cause of damage from LNG fires,
capable of causing severe damage to personnel, structural steelwork,
plant and adjacent facilities if left unchecked.
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LNG FLAME CHARACTERISTICS

In the absence of wind an LNG pool fire column will burn upwards as
the burned gas rises with convection. The lower part or base of the
flame generates the most amount of heat. This heat diminishes with
height.

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VAPOUR CLOUD FLAMMABLE RANGE

LNG gas is flammable between 5% 15 %. The LFL is normally found
outside the clouds visible boundary.

When an LNG vapor cloud disperses in an atmosphere of relative

humidity higher than 55 percent the entire flammable concentrations
are within the white, visible cloud
Wind direction

Oxygen rich, too lean to burn

Fuel rich, too rich to burn
Explosive range
LNG IGNITION

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WIND EFFECTS / FLAME TILT

When an LNG fire does occur its important to understand that wind has
a direct effect on the flame direction (tilt) and radiant heat affecting
adjacent equipment. (Note the absence of smoke)*
Rule of thumb: flame height is 2 to 2.5 times pool diameter.

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LARGE LNG FIRES

Unlike small LNG pool fires which burn smokeless. Large LNG pool
fires (> 20m dia.) burn with smoke.

The main effect of this condition is that the smoke of these fires reduces
the fires radiant heat. The cause is suspected to be the lack of sufficient
oxygen in the middle of the fire to complete the combustion cycle.
The reduced flame surface emissive power is due to the smoke .

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SHIP RELATED EVENTS

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LPG-LNG EVENT CONTROL

Responders are limited in the things they can do to manage vapor
cloud control and fire extinguishment . What they do however needs
to be done very quickly in order that the situation does not
escalate to a major event.
The following options exist:
Isolate the leak!!!!!!

Inject water to raise the level above the leak * (propane sphere)
Vapor dispersion with water curtain and or fog streams
Vapor control and dispersion with high expansion foam (HEF)
Fire intensity and radiant heat control with HEF
Exposure protection with cooling water streams
Fire extinguishment with dry chemical powder
Let the fire burn itself out!!!!!!
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VAPOUR DISPERSION
A major consideration in LNG releases is to prevent the vapor cloud
traveling to a source of ignition. An effective means of containing
and dispersing an LNG vapor cloud is to install flat fan water
curtains down wind of the vapor cloud.

As the cloud enters the water curtain it is heated resulting in its further
warming, evaporation and dispersion. The most effective tools are
monitors set at approximately 40 degrees which helps to entrain air
into the vapor cloud lowering its LFL.
(Water must not be allowed to run into the pool)*
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VAPOUR SUPPRESSION
Experience has shown that HEF is very effective in reducing LNG
flammable vapour concentrations at ground level during an LNG spill.
High-Expansion Foam Systems
(HEF)
provide
vapour
suppression and dispersion by channelling the vapours upwards.
This same foam blanket reduces heat release and radiant heat
feedback on involved LNG pools allowing responders to approach for
extinguishment purposes.

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LNG

LPG

500:1

300:1
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FIRE INTENSITY CONTROL

High expansion foam has been proven to reduce suppression vapors
as well as to reduce radiant heat levels by up to 60%.
A minimum of 1.8m of HEF foam needs to be applied to be
effective and maintained until all the vapors have evaporated. For this
purpose specialized TURBEX HEF generators are installed at spill
basins.

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EXTINGUISHMENT
Applying high volumes of dry chemical powder (DCP) is the only
way to extinguish a large LPG/LNG fire. Its important to use DCPs
which are compatible with the HEF used to blanket the pool since it
can degrade the foam blanket quality.

Potassium bicarbonate or Monnex powders are widely used.

LNG DCP 2

LNG DCP 1

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UNIGNITED LPG/LNG STRATEGY

1. Perform SIZE UP and provide initial SITREP to command.
2. Evacuate personnel located downwind or downhill of the leak!!!
3. Isolate all sources of ignition down wind of the vapour cloud.
4. Establish exclusion zones (HOT, WARM, COLD)
5. Approach un-ignited liquid pools from an upwind direction.
6. Install water curtain sprays to confine / disperse gas clouds.
7. Blanket un-ignited LPG/LNG pools with HEF.
8. Top up foam blanket as required.
9. Be prepared to implement exposure protection.
10. Be prepared to implement fire extinguishment tactics with DCP.

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LPG/LNG FIRE STRATEGY

1. Perform SIZE UP and provide initial SITREP to command.
2. Evacuate Rescue personnel.
3. Establish exclusion zones (HOT, WARM, COLD)
4. Where possible isolate the fuel supply!!!
5. Bypass and de-pressure the equipment.
6. Apply cooling water on vessel supports and skirts.
7. Apply cooling water on nearby pipelines and structures.
8. Water must be sprayed over the whole area of the vessel.
9. Replace hand lines with portable/trailer mounted monitors.

10. If relief valves open cooling must be increased.

11. If relief valves fail to close and the noise increases evacuate!!

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR

ATTENTION!

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