Full-Scale Machinery Space Water Mist Tests: Final Design Validation
Abstract
The water mist nozzle developed in the early stages of the Navy's investigation into the use of water mist in machinery space applications was redesigned and revaluated during this test program. The nozzle was evaluated in a system design consisting of two levels of nozzles installed with a nominal 3.0 m (10 ft) nozzle spacing. With the space secured (doors closed and the ventilation system secured), the water mist system was capable of extinguishing all the unobstructed fires in less than one minute, and all of the obstructed fires 1.0 MW or larger in less than three minutes and thirty seconds. The results of these tests were then scaled to the larger machinery spaces on the LPD-17. The scaling analysis suggests that the unobstructed fires would still be extinguished in less than one minute, and all of the obstructed fires 2.0 MW or larger would be extinguished in less than three minutes and thirty seconds. These extinguishment times were based on fires produced using heptane as the fuel and should be significantly less for typical Navy fuels (i.e., F76). It was also shown that fires requiring a longer time to extinguish can be easily approached and extinguished using a standard Navy portable extinguisher. This prototype system (nozzles and system design) has been validated for use in the machinery spaced on the LPD-17.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 12, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA365070
Entities
People
- Frederic W. Williams
- G. G. Beck Iii
- P. J. Dinenno
- R. L. Darwin
- S. A. Hill
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory