Design Basis for Tank Farm Area
Methodology
For effective designing of a water spray system a detailed layout of the tank farm area
and the tank GA drawings are necessary.
System is designed based on IS: 15325, Design and Installation of Fixed Automatic High
and Medium Velocity Water Spray System- Code Of Practice or NFPA 15, which is the
Standard for Water Spray Fixed Systems for Fire Protection.
Water Spray Systems are basically used for fire control, extinguishing, cooling,
prevention and/or exposure protection of industrial hazardous locations.
As per the standard for a typical water spray system, the design density of spray ranges
from 4.1 lpm/sq. m to 20.4 lpm/sq. m – depending on the application and hazard type.
The minimum operating pressure of any nozzle protecting an outdoor hazard is
stipulated at 20 psi (1.4 bar).
Major steps in designing effective water spray system
Establish design area (area to be sprayed)
Determine dimensions
Determine water density (application rate)
Calculate water demand
Establish nozzles required (K-factor & Spray Angle)
Determine Nozzle Orientation
Determine number and type of nozzles required to give adequate water coverage
Adjust K-factor & Spray angle - Recalculate
Finalize the design
Water Spray Application Rates – Design Density (as per code)
Design Objective Hazard Type LPM / Sq. Meter
Exposure Protection Vessel surface 10.2
Extinguishment Conveyor belts 10.2
Pumps and compressors 20.4
Control of Burning
Liquid pool fires 12.2
Design Calculations- Medium Velocity Spray System for Ethanol Tanks
A Medium Velocity Water Spray system shall be provided for the Ethanol tanks.
Discharge patterns of water spray nozzles shall envelop, at a net rate of not less than 0.25
gpm/ft2 [10.2 lpm/m2], as per standard 6 row is required as the tank diameter is more than 6-
meter horizonal above ground where flammable materials are stored [IS15325, Clause
8.3.2.3].
Open nozzles shall be located to direct water spray onto the surfaces to extinguish fire via
deluge valve which actuate from the Detector placed on the tank. The tapping of the system
shall be from nearest Hydrant ring main. Water Requirement of the same has been added to
fire water tank.
Calculation of Sray nozzle Water Demand As Per IS 15325 for FO Tank 180KL
Total Total
Design Design Coverage/ Minutes
Total Total Demand Water Water
Density Area Sprinkler of
Sprinklers (LPM) Demand Demand
(LPM/M2) (m2) (m2) Pumping
(Liters) (m3)
10.2 192.26 9 21 1961+1900=3861 90.00 347490 347
Inference
As observed at site the number of rings were less than the minimum requirement as per
the standard, also the design, pipe sizes, nozzles and accessories were not as per the
requirement. A detailed GAP assessment and design review of the fire protection system
is required and based on that the system needs to be redesigned.
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