PIPENET VISION

TRAINING MANUAL
TRANSIENT MODULE

CHAPTER 10 – 2B

APPLICATIONS – AUTOMATIC CONTROL IN FIRE

PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Revision 2.5, September 2017

PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 1 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017

1. OVERBOARD DUMP VALVE CONTROL – PRESSURE SENSOR .................................................................. 2

1.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 NETWORK SETTINGS .......................................................................................................................................... 2
1.3 CALCULATION RESULTS...................................................................................................................................... 3
2. OVERBOARD DUMP VALVE CONTROL – FLOW SENSOR ........................................................................... 5
3. ELASTOMERIC DELUGE VALVE CONTROL ................................................................................................... 7
3.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................... 7
3.2 NETWORK SETTINGS .......................................................................................................................................... 7
3.3 CALCULATION RESULTS...................................................................................................................................... 9
PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 2 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017

1. Overboard Dump Valve Control – Pressure Sensor

1.1 Introduction

A typical water based fire protection system used on offshore platforms is discussed in Chapter
6 – Spray Examples. Here, we will use sections of that chapter showing where control systems
would be appropriate. In the pump priming scenario (section 3.2), a particularly dangerous
pressure surge is seen when the caisson is primed. An effective solution to this problem is to
introduce an overboard dump valve downstream of the caisson. Some overboard dump valves
are operated manually (as seen in section 3.3), however here, we will control one automatically.
This example is based on the network in Chapter 6, but with an overboard dump valve
controlled automatically, using a switch control system.

1.2 Network Settings

1.2.1 Switch Controller

In this scenario, the overboard dump valve is initially opened and then begins to close once the
caisson is primed. Therefore the initial setting is “on” and will switch “off” once the inlet pressure
exceeds 0 Bar G after the caisson is primed. This example does not simulate the valve opening
scenario and as such, the setting of “Switch On” is given an impractical value of -1 Bar G.
PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 3 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017

1.2.2 Transfer Functions

The transfer function is set as a limiting power ramp, with 0.2/s ramp limits, as the overboard
dump valve can be linearly closed in 5 seconds.

1.3 Calculation Results

The overboard dump valve closes immediately after the caisson is primed, with the expected
closure time of 5 s.
PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 4 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017
PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 5 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017

2. Overboard Dump Valve Control – Flow Sensor

Alternatively, the control signal for the overboard dump valve can be set by a flow sensor. The
valve is initially fully open, meaning that the flowrate will immediately be above zero when the
caisson primes. The switch will then be set to close when the flowrate is non zero.
PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 6 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017

The calculation results are seen below.

PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 7 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017

3. Elastomeric Deluge Valve Control

3.1 Introduction

The simulation of elastomeric deluge valves has been discussed in chapter 6, section 3.6. In
this example, a combined control system provides a more sophisticated method for modelling
the actual operating procedure of elastomeric deluge valves, using control logic as defined
below.

 The valve is initially closed and is activated (opened) upon receiving the fire signal.
 The valve is closed if the inlet pressure drops below 2.5 Bar G, if activated.
 The valve attempts to control the downstream pressure to 7.0 Bar G if the valve is
activated and the inlet pressure is above 2.5 Bar G

3.2 Network Settings

Please note that this example is given for illustration purposes and is not intended for inputting
the network. However, if you want to run the calculation, you can use the existing schematic
from Help | Learning | Training Materials | Data Files.

The deluge system is initially dry. A switch is used to close the valve when the inlet pressure
drops below 2.5 Bar G, as seen below.
PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 8 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017

A PID Controller adjusts the valve position to get the desired 7.0 Bar G downstream pressure,
with the settings as shown below.

A signal selector switches input signals at the time of 1 s, acting as the fire signal. One of the
input information nodes of the signal selector is set to a constant 0 value, with the other being
connected as seen in the diagram. This means that at t = 1s, the signal switches from “off” to
“control” and given the switch should be open, this would result in an opening of the deluge
valve. Signal selector settings are shown below.
PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 9 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017

Another signal selector is used as the equivalent to a logical “and” gate. Here, the PID controller
begins to control the elastomeric deluge valve, only when the valve is activated and the inlet
pressure is greater than 2.5 Bar G.

A transfer function is used to control the operating speed of the deluge valve, here the
maximum speed is 0.2/s.

3.3 Calculation Results

The control valve works as expected, as shown below. The valve remains closed until the 1s
mark (point A), then starts to open when the fire signal is received and the inlet pressure is
above 2.5 Bar G (point A – point B). The deluge valve then closes again when the inlet pressure
drops below 2.5 Bar G (point B – point C) and then stays closed until the inlet pressure recovers
to above 2.5 Bar G (after point D). Following this, the valve position is adjusted automatically
until the desired outlet pressure of 7 Bar G is reached.
PIPENET VISION TRAINING MANUAL TRANSIENT: CHAPTER 10 – 2B
PAGE 10 OF 10 REVISION 2.5, SEP 2017