Firewater Pumps Capacity

The firewater pump capacity is defined assuming different fire scenarios and calculating
the water requirements for each scenario according o the current norms (regulations).
Analyses of the Norms
The Safety Regulation for the Storage of Hydrocarbons (DS: No. 052-93-EM) presents
the following:
Art 97.
The GLP storage installations must have with a firewater system for cooling purposes
according to the Risk Study of each of the installation and the strict compliance with the
NORM 13, 15 and other applicable.
Art 98
The firewater system capacity for the GLP tanks must be equal to the quantity of water
needed to cool off the affected tank plus the quantity needed to cool off the adjacent
tanks plus another three water cooling sprays of 250 gpm each, which will be applied
directly to the zone where the gas and flame were produced (source of the flame).
Art. 100
The application of water to cool the GLP tanks must have a fixed cooling system with a
system not less than 0.25 gpm/ft2
The most important point to consider with these regulations is the simultaneous
application (of firewater). When a fire is produced in one of the refrigerated LPG tanks,
it does not offer any advantages to apply water over the exterior surface of the tank, since
the internal wall of the tank above the liquid level will be in contact with the flames.
What is necessary is to consider the requirements of water to protect the nearby tank.
Therefore, we have assumed as scenarios, the fire in one of the tanks and it was
calculated the water requirement to protect the nearby tanks.
These scenarios are stated individually as A, B, C, D
The maximum fire water rate required is approximately 10,000 gpm.
We have selected pumps of 5000 gpm which is the maximum capacity normalized by
NFPA 20. Which means that in the worst case scenario two pumps will be in operation.
It was decided that four pumps will be installed, so if we need to apply the most
restrictive regulation, including also the refrigeration of the tank in fire (Cases A1 and
B1), it would be possible to achieve this by starting the third pump and the fourth one
would be for backup.

The flow rates considered for the design of the pipelines, came out of the last two cases.
Propane Tank TKBJ-3005
Diameter 41.6 m
Height 24.8 (considered 23.8)
Lateral Surface 34869 ft2 (at 0.25 gpm ft2: 8717 gpm)
Roof Surface 14622 ft2 (at 0.25 gpm ft2: 3655 gpm)
Butane Tank TKBJ-3010
Diameter 29.5 m
Height 24.8 (considered 23.8)
Lateral Surface 23730 ft2 (at 0.25 gpm ft2: 5932 gpm)
Roof Surface 7353 ft2 (at 0.25 gpm ft2: 1838 gpm)
Naphtha Tank TKBJ-3020
Diameter 65 m
Height 21 (considered 20)
Lateral Surface 44000 ft2 (at 0.10 gpm ft2: 4400 gpm)
Foam Requirement 405 gpm)
Diesel Tank TKBJ-3030
Diameter 29.87 m
Height 18.18
Lateral Surface 18172 ft2 (at 0.10 gpm ft2: 1817 gpm)
Foam Requirement 188 gpm)
Condensate Tank TKBJ-3000
Diameter 14 m
Height 15 m
Lateral Surface 7222 ft2 (at 0.10 gpm ft2: 722 gpm)
Foam Requirement 175 gpm)
LPG Tanks VBA-3190, etc.
Diameter 3.34 m
Length 24.17 m
Surface 2728 ft2 each one (considered 5 at 0.25 gpm ft2: 3410 gpm)
Sphere VBA-3105
Diameter 19.9 m
Height of the Equator 12.65 m
Total Surface 13384 ft2 (at 0.10 gpm ft2: 1338 gpm)

TKBJ-3005
Fire CASE
A TKBJ3005
Fire CASE
B TKBJ3010
Fire CASE
C TKBJ3030

TKBJ-3010
50% Lateral
100% Roof
4804 gpm

50% Lateral
100% Roof
8717 gpm

TKBJ-3030

VBA-3190

Bullets

50% Lateral
50% Lateral
100% Roof
4804 gpm

Fire CASE
D TKBJ3020
Fire CASE
E Bullets
Fire CASE
F Sphere
Fire CASE
G Process
Area
Fire CASE
A1 TKBJ3005
Fire CASE
B1 TKBJ3010

TKBJ-3020

50% Lateral
2200 gpm
100%
Lateral &
Foam
4805 gpm

907 gpm
100%
Lateral &
Foam
2002 gpm
50% Lateral

1338 gpm

8717 gpm
50% Lateral
100% Roof
8013 gpm

Total
5554

750

10374

750

9006

750

6462

750

4160

907 gpm
5 tanks
3410 gpm

100% Lateral

Additional
750

50% Lateral
100% Roof
4804 gpm
100% Lateral

50% Lateral

5932 gpm

907 gpm

750

750

14271

750

15602

Collectors Design (pipe sizing??)

To size the collectors the maximum flow rates will be calculated in each of the section of
the collector for different scenarios.

From the Pumps to the propane

tank
From Propane TK to Butane
TK
From Butane TK to Diesel TK
From Diesel TK to Naphtha TK
From Naphtha TK to Bullets

Case A

Case B

Case C

Case D

Case E

5554

10374

9756

6462

5554

1657

9756

0
0
0

1657
0
0

4952
2950
0

Case F

Case G

Case
A1

Case B1

4160

14271

15602

6462

4160

5554

7589

6462
5555
0

4160
4160
4160

1657

Selection in function of velocity

From the Pumps to the propane tank
From Propane TK to Butane TK
From Butane TK to Diesel TK
From Diesel TK to Naphtha TK
From Naphtha TK to Bullets

Max. Flow Rate (gpm)

Diameter (20)

V (m/s)

15602
9756
6462
5555
4160

20
20
12
12
12

4.8
3
5.5
4.8
3.5

With these velocities, it is assumed that one of the branches of the ring is out of service.
In normal conditions the velocities will be less than these.
Process Area
To determine the size of the collectors for the process area, the water requirement is
calculated in function of the densities according to NFPA 15.
It is adopted for the equipment an application density of 0.25 gpm/ft2 of surface to
protect. In the case of the towers, it was considered the surface up to 25 ft of height.
For the equipment such as pumps on skids or compressors, it was adopted 0.5 gpm/ft2 of
ground area.
For piping manifolds (parrales??), it was also assumed 0.5 gpm/ft2
To define the simultaneous application, it was considered that the process area will be
subdivided in partial areas bermed to contain liquids therefore it is limited the quantity of
equipments that can be affected by the same fire.
In order to perform the analysis, it was considered the following grouping of equipment.
Hot Oil Area
Hot Oil Skid
VBA-3250 Expansion
Vessel

Surface: 500 ft2

Surface Vessel 1100 ft2

250 gpm
270 gpm
520

Stripping Tower Area

VBA-3140 Reflux
Accumulator
EBG-4025 Stripper
Reboiler
Diesel Stripper

Surface Vessel: 850 ft2

215 gpm

Surface Vessel 180 ft2

45 gpm

Surface Vessel 430 ft2

110 gpm

Pumps Skid

Surface 260 ft2

130
500

Surface Vessel: 550 ft2

Surface Vessel 190 ft2

260 gpm
47 gpm

Surface Vessel 190 ft2

47 gpm

Naphtha Tower Area

Naphtha Tower
EBG-4030 Ovhd/feed
exchanger
EBG-4040 Diesel feed
exchanger

354
Debutanizer Area
VBA-3135 DC4 Reflux
Accum.
EBC-4015 DC4 Reboiler
CBA-3070 DC4 Tower
EBC-4002 DC4 Side
Reboiler

Surface Vessel: 527 ft2

131 gpm

Surface Vessel 500 ft2

Surface Vessel 630 ft2
Surface Vessel 200 ft2

125 gpm
157 gpm
125 gpm
538

Depropanizer Area
VBA-3130 DC3 Reflux
Accum.
EBC-4000 DC3 Reboiler
CBA-3065 DC3Tower
EBC-4025 DC3 Side
Reboiler
EBC-4001 DC3 Feed
Heater

Surface Vessel: 890 ft2

225 gpm

Surface Vessel 500 ft2

Surface Vessel 870 ft2
Surface Vessel 250 ft2

125 gpm
220 gpm
63 gpm

Surface Vessel 150 ft2

38 gpm
671

Chillers Area
VBA-3235 Refrigerant
accum.
EBG-4020 Butane Chiller
EBG-4010 Propane Chiller

Surface Vessel: 565 ft2

141 gpm

Surface Vessel 250 ft2

Surface Vessel 250 ft2

63 gpm
63 gpm
267

Refrigeration Compressor A Area

Suction Scrubber
Interstage Scrubber
Lube Oil Coalescer
Compressor and Motor

Surface Vessel: 210 ft2

Surface Vessel 130 ft2
Surface Vessel 85 ft2
Surface 700 ft2

52 gpm
37 gpm
21 gpm
350 gpm
460

Refrigeration Compressor B Area

Suction Scrubber
Interstage Scrubber
Lube Oil Coalescer
Compressor and Motor

Surface Vessel: 210 ft2

Surface Vessel 130 ft2
Surface Vessel 85 ft2
Surface 700 ft2

52 gpm
37 gpm
21 gpm
350 gpm
460

VRU A/B/C Area (one at the time)

Compressor
Air Coolers
VBA 3170

Surface= 180 ft2

Surface= 400 ft2
Surface= 200 ft2

90 gpm
200 gpm
50 gpm
340

Air Coolers Area

For the air coolers it was considered a affected area of 30 x 30 ft (900 ft2) with a density
of application of 0.3 gpm/ft2 with a flow rate of 300 gpm.
It was added to each of the previous cases, the protection of a 100 linear ft section of the
manifold (parral?) (1000 ft2).
Assuming 0.5 gpm/ft2 are 500 gpm
The maximum flow rate is approximately 1200 gpm
If it is added the additional 750 gpm as asked by the specifications, it reaches 2000 gpm
The specifications of drainage of the project ask to design the drainage collector for 5000
gpm.