Compost Silo Fireproofing

[RaccoonV]

Hi,
I'm currently working on a project for fireproofing a compost Silo. The fireproofing is supposed to be done using gas nitrogen. I am just trying to know what the nitrogen flow needs to be to prevent the compost material from catching fire. The current dimensions of the silo are 620 m3. Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[Tmoose]

"silo inerting systems"

"SILO inerting" NFPA

 

[EdStainless]

These systems usually have some oxygen detectors as safety.

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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[TugboatEng]

Using nitrogen to insert a tank is more complicated than simply providing sufficient flow. Nitrogen is not heavier than air and does not displace air in the same way that CO2 would, for example. Here is an article that mentions the use of computational fluid dynamics to design nozzles that aid in the mechanical removal of air and methane.

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=18451

I believe this is very relevant to your question.

 

[MintJulep]

If you take away oxygen from composting stuff then you drive the process towards anaerobic decomposition.

And that produces methane.

Are you sure?

 

[TugboatEng]

Composting in a silo will be anaerobic. Without motion any oxygen in the compost will quickly be consumed turning the process anaerobic.