Page 95 - Impiantistica industriale

TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATION

A new Sanco experience:

A deluge foam system

installed into a Blast Proof

Resistant Module (S-BRM)

In the continuous effort to improve
its performances, Sanco successfully

designed and manufactured 14 water/
foam deluge fire-fighting modules

named S-BRM, with dimensions
up to 13x2.5x3 m

Nico Zorzetto, Director, Export & Marketing
Domenico Porzio, Director, Technical Department
Sanco S.p.A.

his technological application was de-
veloped after the Texas City Refinery Sanco has been involved in a project related to Fig. 1 - The picture shows
explosion occurred on March 23 , LNG production that includes the construction of S-BRM module in medium
rd
2005, when a vapour cloud of natu- three trains with a capacity of 6.6 mtpa of LNG size.
ral gas and petroleum was ignited and each. The total LNG capacity of the three trains is
Tviolently exploded at the ISOM isome- about 20mtpa and about 1.6 mtpa of stable gas
rization process unit. The blast killed 15 workers, condensate. The project employs an innovative
injured 180 others and severely damaged the refi- construction concept using gravity-based structu-
nery. The Texas City Refinery was the second-lar- res (GBS).
gest oil refinery in the state, and the third-largest in
the U.S.A. with an input capacity of 437,000 bar- Modules and components must comply with fol-
rels (69,500 m ) per day. lowing contents:
3
The investigation report stated that the direct cause • Water/foam deluge systems entirely made of
of the accident was air hydrocarbon vapors com- Super Duplex;
busting after coming into contact with an ignition • The minimum operating temperature (-52°C)
source, perhaps a running vehicle engine. has to be applied to all components;
• Compliance with all destination country laws
Blast-resistance has many components, because and standards;
during an explosion there are many factors at play • Certification of conformity released by destina-
that determine the amount of damage: tion country authorities;
• Environmental conditions; • Fire resistant rating;
• Building structure; • Accessibility inside the module for maintenan-
• Material of module; ce and operating activities;
• Proximity of the blast wave; • Environmental conditions (maritime corrosion);
• Blast intensity; • Safety equipment inside the module to protect
• Duration of the blast. workers during emergency activities.

Impiantistica Italiana - Luglio-Agosto 2022 89