Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
PAGE 1 OF 45
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
1.
Introduction
2.
One of the most important aspects of successful hydraulic calculations for the design of
firewater systems is to perform the calculations for deluge systems and firewater ringmains
separately. The reason is because the objectives of the calculations for the two
requirements are somewhat different. Therefore, we recommend separating the system
into a deluge system and firewater ringmain before the calculations are performed.
2.1
Check the velocities and keep them below the specified limits.
Firewater systems generally do not suffer from erosion problems, as they do not
operate for 24 hours a day. However, it is still important to keep the velocities
below a reasonable limit, in order to minimise the frictional losses in the pipes.
Normally, high velocities arise because the pipe diameter is small. For a given flow
rate, the frictional loss per unit length is inversely proportional to the fifth power of
the diameter. Therefore, one must be careful with reducing the pipe sizes with the
view of reducing costs.
2.2
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The ability to generate sufficient pressure at the inlet to the deluge systems
and other users:
It is not just the sizing of the fire pumps that is important. The pipes have to be
sized adequately too. Pipes must be small enough to reduce the weight and cost,
but large enough to offer acceptable pressure drops.
It is clear that the objectives of the calculations for deluge systems are somewhat different
from those for firewater ringmains. Therefore, the best designs are obtained by separating
the deluge-system calculations from the ringmain calculations.
In this chapter of the training manual, we shall consider the range of calculations that are
typically performed with deluge systems.
3.
3.1
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The first calculation almost always relates to the most remote nozzle. When the most
remote nozzle option is chosen, PIPENET VISION will set the flow rate through the
hydraulically most remote nozzle to be the minimum required flow rate. This calculation is
usually the first calculation that is performed for a deluge system, because it corresponds
to the optimal operating condition. This is the optimal condition because, if the inlet
pressure is less than what is required by this criterion, the flow rate in at least one nozzle
will be less than its required value. If the inlet pressure is higher then too much water will
flow through the system. In an extreme case, it could lead to the need for a larger fire
pump.
In this exercise, we shall use the most remote nozzle option as the first calculation.
3.2
Typically, the following calculations will also be performed in this exercise. In the real
design environment, the supply side may not be exactly what is required.
3.3
The network that we shall be working with is shown below. This network schematic was
developed in the PIPENET VISION Spray/Sprinkler Module, and is shown here for
illustration purposes only. Please do not input the network at this stage.
-3-
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
4.
Open PIPENET VISION, and set up the desktop using the steps that are shown below.
4.1
Desktop Arrangement
Firstly, make sure that all four windows are open. Then, arrange the screen to look as
shown below, by using the View Menu and moving the windows on the desktop.
-4-
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
You may also need to follow the steps described in Options | Display options (shown
below). Please note that, throughout the PIPENET VISION training manuals, notation like
Options | Display options denotes the action of choosing Display options from the
Options Menu.
4.2
Display Options
Select Options | Display options, and choose the display options that are shown in the
following dialog box.
-5-
4.3
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The menu style that has been illustrated in this document so far is the Windows Menu
Style (which is used in the diagram below).
If you are an experienced user of PIPENET VISION, you might prefer to use a menu bar
that is similar to that of PIPENET Classic. This menu bar may be selected as shown in the
following diagram.
-6-
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The menu bar arrangement under the PIPENET VISION Menu Style is shown below.
The main differences between the two menu styles are (a) the menus appear in a different
order and (b) there is an Options Menu with the Windows Menu Style, whereas there is an
Init Menu with the PIPENET VISION Menu Style.
For the remainder of this document, the Windows Menu Style will be used.
5.
In PIPENET VISION, initialisation and libraries go hand in hand with each other. For
example, the units need to be selected before nozzle data and pipe schedule data can be
entered into the libraries. Equally, a user-defined pipe schedule must be entered into the
library before it can be selected (in the initialisation stage) as the pipe schedule to be used.
For this reason, both initialisation and libraries are covered in this section.
For initialisation, please use the Options Menu and select Module options (i.e., Options |
Module options).
-7-
5.1
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Initialisation Phase
5.1.1 Title
It is recommended that the title should relate to the calculation that is performed,
especially for models that are to be kept. Therefore, choosing an appropriate title could
potentially save a lot of time later when you wish to study the results.
-8-
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The above dialog box shows a typical set up, which has been used for the calculations in
this chapter of the training manual. The fluid properties depend on whether water or
seawater is being used as the fire protection medium.
NFPA 1996/2001 refers to the 1996 and 2001 editions of the NPFA rules. The option
NFPA refers to earlier editions of the NFPA rules. The difference lies in the way that
equivalent lengths for fittings are used. In earlier editions, it was assumed that Schedule
40 pipes were being used in calculating the values of the equivalent lengths of fittings. In
the later editions of the NFPA rules, there is a correction for the actual inner diameters for
pipes other than Schedule 40. The NFPA option is still retained for historical reasons; it
is used to ensure that older data files produce the same results as before.
For restriction orifices, which may be used in firewater systems, the Crane Option is
generally used. BS 1042 is a flow-metering standard, and the Heriot Watt Option is
proprietary Sunrise Systems correlation.
-9-
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
With the Spray Option, all of the nozzles are kept open; with the Sprinkler Option, all of the
nozzles are closed. The sprinkler heads may be opened individually afterwards, if
required.
5.1.3 Units
A comprehensive range of units is available in PIPENET VISION. In this example, we
shall use metric units, but with lit/min for the flow rate. Therefore, select Metric, and then
select User defined. Next, double-click on Flow type, doubleclick on Volumetric flow,
an then select lit./min.
Please note the Save as defaults Button. If you click on this button, the default units on
the specific computer will be set to the units currently shown on the screen. In this case,
PIPENET VISION will then default to this unit selection every time a new model is created.
The next step is to select the pipe schedule that is to be used. Before performing this
step, we shall take a diversion into the Libraries Menu, and return to options later.
- 10 -
5.2
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
At this point, we take a diversion and set up our library. The Libraries Menu is used to
store items that are likely to be used several times. Typical examples are user-defined
pipe schedules, nozzle data and pump curves. We are considering the modelling of
deluge systems in this section. As these systems do not contain pumps, we shall not input
pump curves into the library. However, we shall input a pipe schedule and three nozzle
types.
In order to access the Libraries Menu, simply click on Libraries in the Menu Bar.
Choose Libraries | Schedules, and click on New Button. Then enter the data from the
above table, as illustrated below.
- 11 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
K-factor
(lit/min, bar)
52
48
42
Minimum Pressure
(barg)
2
2
2.5
Maximum Pressure
(barg)
8
7
9
Please note that the minimum and maximum pressures in the above table specify the
pressure range in which the nozzle spray will form correctly. Note that these maximum
and minimum values are not used in the calculation. It is preferable that the expected
operating pressure lies strictly within this range, rather than being equal to the minimum
pressure.
Enter this data by choosing Libraries | Nozzles, clicking on the New Button, and then
typing in the data from the above table, as indicated below.
- 12 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Click on the Apply Button and then the OK Button. Enter the data for the other nozzles in
the same way.
After you have entered all of the data for the nozzles, the dialog box should look as shown
below.
- 13 -
5.3
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
We now return to the initialisation phase. The next step is to select the pipe type.
However, it is worth considering a few discussion points beforehand.
The difference between a pipe schedule and a pipe type is as follows. A pipe schedule is
standard pipe data that is entered into a library. A pipe type, on the other hand, is a pipe
schedule (from the library) that is to be used in the current network. It, also, has
associated maximum velocities (or maximum pressure drops per unit length), C-factor and
pipe lining, if applicable. For our network model, we use the following.
C-factor
=
Maximum velocity =
Lining
=
140,
6 m/sec,
none.
To enter this data, choose Options | Pipe types, click on the New Button, and then type in
the values.
A short cut for entering the maximum velocity is (a) enter 6 m/sec in one cell, (b) click on
another cell, and (c) click and hold the left button on the cell that has the 6 m/sec already
entered, and drag the cursor down over the other cells in the maximum velocity column.
- 14 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Of course the maximum velocity could also be entered individually in each cell.
We shall return to the Calculation Tab again later, but, for the time being, the initialisation
and library phases are complete. We can now return the input phase for the network.
6.
Network Input
6.1
From the Tools Bar, choose the Pipe Tool as shown below.
Pipe Tool
For the data-input stage, it might be preferable to display the grid (by ticking the Display
grid box from Options | Display options).
- 15 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
In your schematic diagram, try to use the pipe and node labels that are shown in the
diagrams in this section, as it will then be easier to input the attributes later. It may
be easier if the nodes and links are displayed (from either the Display Tools or Options |
Display options).
Display node
labels
Display link
labels
In the drawing area, click on a grid point, preferably near the lower left-hand part of the
drawing area.
Drag the tool in the Northeast direction, until you reach the point at which you wish to
change the direction of the pipe, and then press and hold down the Shift Key (on the
keyboard). Click on the left-hand mouse button every time you want to change direction.
(In the network schematic that we are drawing, there are two changes of direction.) When
you want to create the end node, release the Shift Key and click on the left-hand mouse
button.
- 16 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Then draw the other pipes as shown below, ending with Pipe 8 (which is highlighted in
red).
From the Tools Bar, choose the Nozzle Tool, as shown below.
Nozzle Tool
- 17 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
6.2
At this point, we can turn off the grid, node labels, and link labels (using Options | Display
options or the Display Toolbar).
It is generally more efficient to input the attributes using the Data Window. However, it is
also possible to input data using the Properties Window.
- 18 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Diameter (mm)
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
Length (m)
10
5
5
5
5
10
5
5
Elevation (m)
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Next, right click on any cell in the Diameter Column, and then select Paste in column
from the context-sensitive menu. The diameters of all of the pipes then become 25 mm.
- 19 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
- 20 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Click on a cell that has an unset length. Next, click on the cell for the length of Pipe 2
again, right click on the cell, and then choose Copy.
Then hold the control (Ctrl) key on the keyboard, select the cells to which this value is to
be pasted, and then right click and select Paste.
- 21 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
In the cell headed Nozzle type for Nozzle 1, select the HV-45 nozzle type from the pulldown menu, and then click on another cell. Then, click on the Nozzle type cell for
Nozzle 1 again (which now contains HV-45), right click, and then select Paste in
column. All of the nozzles should then be of type HV-45.
- 22 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
In the cell named Required flow rate for Nozzle 1, enter 100 lit/min. Next, click on
another cell, click on the required flowrate cell again (it now contains 100), right click, and
then select Paste in column.
6.3
The final stage of input consists of setting up specifications and calculation options. Both
of these aspects depend on the scenario that is being considered.
Specifications have two purposes:
The specifications that the user needs to input depend on the type of calculation that is to
be performed. For example, if the most remote nozzle option is selected then no
specification will need to be given, because PIPENET will calculate the inlet pressure and
flowrate. On the other hand, if the User defined specification option is chosen then it is
necessary to specify the inlet pressure or flow rate.
- 23 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
So, the first step is to select the calculation options. Firstly, choose Calculation | Spec
for calculation.., as shown below.
The mass-
7.
Scenarios
7.1
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
cannot define a pressure or a flowrate with the most remote nozzle option, we must still
supply a specification to inform PIPENET VISION where the inlet is. This process is
carried out as follows.
Click on the input node (Node 1) in the Schematic Window, and select Input from the
pull-down menu under Input/Output node in the Properties Window.
- 25 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
In order to perform the calculation, either (a) click on the Calculate Button or (b) choose
Calculation | Calculate.
Calculate Button
- 26 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Display the legend for colour code by clicking on the Display Button for Link Classes.
Display Button
for Link Classes
- 27 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The system requirement is 636.6 lit/min at 18.42 barg, and the inlet pressure is clearly too
high. As a consequence of the high velocities, the frictional pressure losses are too great.
In order to gain experience of viewing results in PIPENET VISION, display several link and
node results, and familiarise yourself with the display of results in the Schematic Window.
We can also look at the results in a Data Window.
The results in the Data Window can also be sorted. For example, the nozzles can be
shown with increasing value of the deviation (by clicking on % Deviation).
Click to reorder
- 28 -
7.2
Scenario 2:
Diameters
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
It is possible to open more than one Data Window (by using View | Data window
repeatedly), and we shall use this feature in this scenario. In the diagram below, the
selected pipes are highlighted in red in the Schematic Window, the initial diameters are
shown in one Data Window, and the calculated results are shown on the other Data
Window.
We now increase the diameters of the highlighted pipes (i.e., Pipes 1, 2, 4, and 6) to
50 mm nominal size.
- 29 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
After recalculation, the diagram in the Schematic Window indicates that the velocities in all
of the pipes are less than 6 m/sec.
In this scenario, the pipe velocities are more acceptable, with the maximum being
4.76 m/sec.
The system requirement at the inlet is 606.9 lit/min at 4.555 barg. The recalculated value
is much better, and is more acceptable.
- 30 -
7.3
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Normally, deluge systems are supplied with water by a firewater ringmain system, which
does not normally supply water at exactly the required pressure. In other words, there is
usually a mismatch between what the firewater ringmain supplies and what the deluge
systems requires.
The most remote nozzle option is the usual first calculation for a deluge system. However,
in order to perform a complete analysis, it is often necessary to perform further
calculations to study the effect of the inlet pressure.
In this scenario, we consider what would happen if the inlet pressure available to the
deluge were 4.25 barg, instead of the required 4.555 barg.
In order to perform this calculation we need to make two changes.
The first change is to select User-defined specifications under Calculation | Spec for
calculation...
The second change is to set the inlet pressure to 4.25 barg. To facilitate this change, we
introduce an analysis specification for Node 1, as per the screenshot below.
- 31 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The velocity in Pipe 1 is approximately 4.59 m/sec, and the pressure loss in this pipe is
about 0.57 bar (= 4.25 3.68 bar), of which 0.375 bar is due to pipe friction. It is clear that
we can reduce the frictional pressure loss by increasing the pipe size. We do not know
whether the system will work properly if the nominal size of the diameter of Pipe 1 is
increased to 80 mm. This change will be considered in Scenario 4.
- 32 -
7.4
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
As we saw in Scenario 3, the system does not meet the design criterion if the inlet
pressure is decreased to 4.25 barg. One possible solution is to increase the diameter of
Pipe 1 to 80 mm (which constitutes Scenario 4), as shown below.
After the calculation is performed, it can be seen from the results in the Data Window that
the system is well behaved in terms of the most remote nozzle option.
- 33 -
7.5
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
In this scenario, we assume that the pressure made available by the firewater ringmain
system is 4.955 bar, which is 0.4 bar more than the required inlet pressure for generating
exactly the required flowrate at the most remote nozzle. We wish to know the extra flow
rate that the pump needs to supply as a result of the higher input pressure.
This is a variant on Scenario 3, and so the nominal size of Pipe 1 is reset to 50 mm, as
shown below.
After we have changed the pressure at Node 1 and performed a recalculation, we obtain
the nozzle flow rates that are shown below.
- 34 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
As expected, the results show a significant increase in the flowrates through the nozzles,
which are now delivering significantly more than the required flowrates. For two reasons,
this situation is not desirable. Firstly, the velocities in the deluge system increase as a
consequence of the higher flow rates. Furthermore, the increased flow rate might cause
the pump to operate beyond its recommended operating flowrate. For this reason, it is
generally a good idea to reduce the flowrates to their required values, even though the
inlet pressure is higher than the minimum required pressure.
The solution that is often implemented is to place a restriction orifice plate (which is
considered in the next scenario).
The nozzle deviations are displayed in the following diagram.
- 35 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The calculated flow rate at the inlet to the deluge system is shown below.
Our objective is to reduce the flowrate by bringing the inlet pressure back to 4.555 barg, by
installing an orifice plate with a pressure drop of 0.4 bar. This will be Scenario 6.
7.6
We now add an orifice plate to Pipe 1. Firstly, we click on the Orifice Plate Tool in the
Tools Toolbar.
Orifice Plate
Tool
We place an orifice plate on Pipe 1 by clicking on Pipe 1 in the Schematic Window. Note
that the symbol for the orifice place is located at the point where we clicked.
- 36 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Orifice plate
The calculated nozzle results are shown below. The flow rates through the system are
identical to those of the most remote nozzle option, even though the input pressure has
increased to 4.955 barg.
- 37 -
8.
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The tank-protection deluge system in this section is an example of a real deluge system,
and is formed by three semi-circular rings with a riser pipe. There are, of course, two
deluge systems of this type per tank, one on either side.
The tank itself is relatively small, being approximately 9 m high and 50 m in circumference.
The tank is protected using 72 wall-drench nozzles, each of which is required to deliver a
minimum flow rate of around 65 lit/min.
It is not necessary to set up the system using curved range pipes. Typically, the pipes will
simply follow the isometric grids.
8.1
The pipe sizing was carried out on the basis of 4 m/sec. Please note that an experienced
engineer is generally better than PIPENET VISION at determining pipes sizes. The pipe
sizing from PIPENET VISION should be regarded as an initial guess.
Information about the system prior to the calculation is shown below.
- 38 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
- 39 -
8.2
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Results
- 40 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The calculated system requirement is shown in the Properties Window for the input node
after the calculation.
System
Demand
- 41 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Please note that a negative velocity indicates that the flow is in the opposite direction to
that in which the pipe was drawn.
The pressures at the nodes (with colour coding) are displayed on the following schematic
diagram.
- 42 -
9.
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
The system below is a real system from an offshore platform complex. Although it is pretty
complicated, it is not the most complex system that has been modelled using PIPENET
VISION (which has been used to model systems of around 3 times as large).
9.1
The Network
- 43 -
9.2
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
Results
Some of the pipe volumetric flow rates, near the top left-hand corner of the model (with
colour coding) are shown below.
- 44 -
SPRAY: CHAPTER 2
REVISION 2.1, OCT 2010
- 45 -