FLACS FIRE SIMULATION FOR EFFECT OF

FIN-FAN COOLER ON POOL FIRE

FLACS User Group Meeting
Bergen Norway
22nd - 23rd May 2018

Hiroki Orihara
JGC Corporation
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Contents
1. Background
2. Purpose
3. Step of Simulation
4. Condition
5. Fin-fan Cooler Ventilation Study
6. Pool Fire Condition
7. Pool Fire Simulation Under Fin-fan Cooler Using FLACS Fire
8. Consideration
9. Findings & Further Research
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1. Background (Module)
• Very high construction cost
in developed countries or
remote locations

To reduce the site

construction activity

Module
• A prefabricated piece of the
plant
• Transported by sea barge
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1. Background (Layered Equipment Layout)

• Transportation of modules
• Minimizing of hookup

Need to realize the

compact foot-print
Layered Equipment Layout
Pipe racks, process equipment and
fin-fan coolers are vertically
arranged

Possibility of high leak

potential equipment located
under fin-fan cooler
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2. Purpose
When a pool fire occurs under the fin-fan cooler

The fire is expected to be accelerated by induced airflow

To optimize the safety design for the layered equipment layout by fire
simulation using FLACS Fire
• appropriate extent of fireproofing to avoid the escalation of fire
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3. Step of Simulation
Ventilation study under fin-fan cooler condition

To find the location of pool fire where the fin-fan cooler induced
airflow effect is highly expected

Pool fire simulation to evaluate the effect of fin-fan cooler induced airflow
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4. Condition - Simulation Object & Condition

LNG Process Module With Fin-fan Cooler

• Atmospheric Condition: 30 degC, Pasquill class F
• Wind Speed: 0 m/s
• Fin-fan Cooler (FFC) Spec. Velocity: Approx. 6 m/s
• Deck Material: Grating
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4. Condition - Ventilation Calculation

Property Value
CFLC/CFLV 20/1
Boundary condition Nozzle (All direction)
Grid Status Total no. of control volumes defined: 1546280
Max. percentage difference: (X) 25.48 (Y) 31.81 (Z) 29.08
Max aspect ratio: 271.48
Leak (Fin-fan Cooler) Type: Fan
Open sides: +Z
Leak options: Area Leak
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5. Fin-fan Cooler Ventilation Study

Forward Streamlines from ground level

Side View from South

Airflow at ground level, which has

potential of affecting the pool fire

Effect to fireproofing extent

Side View from West

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6. Pool Fire Condition

LNG Process Module With Fin-fan Cooler

• Pool Service: Propane
• Pool Diameter: 2 (small), 5 (medium) and 10 (large) meter
• Fin-fan Cooler (FFC): On and Off
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6. Pool Fire Condition

Property Value
Simulation type Fire
CFLC / CFLV 80 or 40 / 2
Pool Model Static Circular (PM1)
Ground Type Concrete
Radiation Discrete Transfer Method (DTM)
DTM Domain - Automatic
Combustion Eddy Dissipation Concept (EDC)
Grid Status Total no. of control volumes defined: 1022085
Max. percentage difference: (X) 19.35 (Y) 19.83 (Z) 19.68
Max aspect ratio: 100.66
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7. Pool Fire Simulation Under Fin-fan Cooler Using FLACS Fire

2 m Pool Fire (view from west) 5 m Pool Fire (view from west)
Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On
In both 2 m and 5 m pool fire case, the airflow directs outside the module in “FFC On”
The high temperature portion of pool fire is tilted to outside by the ventilation of fin-fan cooler
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7. Pool Fire Simulation Under Fin-fan Cooler Using FLACS Fire

2 m Pool Fire (ground level plan view) 5 m Pool Fire (ground level plan view)
Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On

The high temperature portion of pool fire is tilted to outside by the ventilation of fin-fan cooler
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7. Pool Fire Simulation Under Fin-fan Cooler Using FLACS Fire

Comparing the height of high temperature portion,
the escalation effect of ventilation by fin-fan cooler is not observed significantly

2 m Pool Fire (view from south) 5 m Pool Fire (view from south)
Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On
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7. Pool Fire Simulation Under Fin-fan Cooler Using FLACS Fire

2 m Pool Fire (view from south) 5 m Pool Fire (view from south)
Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On
From the Streamlines, the upward airflow inducing effect by fin-fan cooler
does not have much higher effect than the upward airflow of flame itself
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7. Pool Fire Simulation Under Fin-fan Cooler Using FLACS Fire

10 m Pool Fire (view from south) 10 m Pool Fire (view from west)
Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On Left: FFC Off Right: FFC On

In 10 m pool fire case, the height of high temperature portion

seems to be extended in “FFC On” condition.
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7. Pool Fire Simulation Under Fin-fan Cooler Using FLACS Fire

In 10 m Pool
large poolFire
fire,(view from south)
the upward airflow of flameFin-fan Cooler
itself is Ventilation
higher than Study
Left: FFCinduced
Off Right: FFC On
horizontal (View from south)
airflow by fin-fan cooler
The fireproofing design for fin-fan cooler condition to be determined
considering the balance of vertical and horizontal induced airflow
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8. Consideration – Extent of Fireproofing -

Considering the tilt of high temperature portion of pool fire by fin-fan cooler
induced airflow, dimension or shape of fire scenario envelope (FSE), which
is the base of extent of fireproofing, to be evaluated

Standard dimension
of FSE per API2218

Extended
The contribution of natural
Or wind effect to be considered
Eccentric
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9. Findings & Further Research

Up to 5 m (middle size) pool fire:
 Significant escalation of high temperature portion is not observed
 Tilt of high temperature portion of pool fire by fin-fan cooler induced airflow is
observed

In 10 m (large size) pool fire,

 The effect of upward airflow of flame itself may be higher than
the fin-fan cooler horizontal induced airflow
 The vertical escalation of flame to be evaluated rather than the horizontal tilt

 To identify the practical extent of fireproofing based on the size of

pool fire and the tendency of fin-fan cooler ventilation
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Appendix
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4. Fin-fan Cooler Ventilation Study using FLACS

Airflow at ground level, which has potential of effect for the pool fire
North

North

Plan View Side View from West

Backward Streamlines from fin-fan cooler