Fire Suppression for Residual Fuel Oil burner 1

[carol2005]

Dealing with steam boilers burn Residual Fuel Oil (*heavy fraction hydrocarbons that are the residues after very high temperature distillation, or so called Vacuum Residual Fuel Oil). The existing fire suppression system is auto water sprinklers (not diluge system). A debate is weather or not FOAM should be added. The MSDS indicates extinguishing media can be dry chemical/foam/CO2/water fog/water spray.
If foam is added, there are concerns of environmental considerations related to foam contamination of plant water drainage and effluent system. From my stand of point, even the fire fighting water for RFO should not drain to the existing water effluent system considering the risk to spread fire to other plant area.
Fuel oil burners are very common in refineries. Can you share your knowledge and experience with fire suppression and fire fighting water containment?
Appreciate your comments and recommendations!

 

[equimo]

I have designed fire protection with foam. It is regularly used for hydrocarbons and many other chemical products. Foam has to cover a fired surface (It does not work for 3 dimensions fire). It is a recommendation to use foam to combat fires on oil tank surfaces (on top of the tank). The foam acts as a barrier to exclude air and Oxygen from fired surface. The area in which you could have hydrocarbon fire has to be protected again spills that could reach waterways. This is possible by rising dikes or walls around the equipment and the volume inside has to be calculated for the maximum volume expected. You see dikes around tanks in every station. In this way you protect waterways from foam.