NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION RESEARCH

FOUNDATION
SUPPRESSION, DETECTION AND SIGNALING RESEARCH AND
APPLICATIONS CONFERENCE (SUPDET®2018)
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC
SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Flow Calculations

Eric W. Forssell – Senior Engineer

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 Introduction
Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression Systems
Characteristics:
◦ Stored as a liquid under Own Vapor Pressure
◦ High Pressure Systems
◦ Cylinder Pressure: 58.75 bar,abs (853 psia)
◦ Density, liquid: 762 kg/m3 (47.6 lb/ft3)
◦ Cylinder Fill Density: 680 kg/m3 (42.5 lb/ft3)
◦ Liquid Fill: 81% (Vol) 95% (Mass)
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NFPA 12 Flow Calculation Method
NFPA 12 Annex C Methodology.
Methodology Characteristics:
◦Single Point Calculation
◦Cylinder Pressure: 51.7 bar,abs (750 psia)
◦Average Mass Flow-Rate

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NFPA 12 Flow Calculation Method – Pipeline Flow
Q – Average Mass Flow Rate Through Branch [lb/sec]
D – Branch Internal Diameter [in]
Leqv – Branch Equivalent Length [ft]
∆Y – Change in Y factor in Branch
∆Z – Change in Z factor in Branch
ρ – Density [lb/ft3]
P – Pressure [psia]

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NFPA 12 Flow Calculation Method – Y Factor
12,000

10,000

8,000
Y Factor

6,000

4,000

2,000

0
300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750
Pressure (psia)

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NFPA 12 Flow Calculation Method – Z Factor
1.80

1.60

1.40

1.20

1.00
Z Factor

0.80

0.60

0.40

0.20

0.00
300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750
Pressure (psia)
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NFPA 12 Flow Calculation Method – Nozzle Orifice Size
𝑄𝑄𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 = 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝐴𝐴𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁 90

80

70

Mass Flux (lb/sec in2)

QNz – Nozzle Mass Flow Rate [lb/sec] 60

M” – Nozzle Mass Flux [lb/(sec in2)] 50

40
ANz – Nozzle Orifice Area [in2]
30

20

10

0
300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750
Pressure (psia)
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NFPA 12 Flow Calculation Method – Discharge Time
For a Total Flooding Application
𝑀𝑀
𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇 = 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶�𝑄𝑄
For a Local Application (Liquid Flow Only)
𝑇𝑇
𝑇𝑇𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿𝐿 = 𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇�1.4 − 𝑇𝑇𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖,𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣
TTotal – Total Discharge Time [sec]
MCyl – Total Mass of Agent [lb]
Q – Mass Flow Rate [lb/sec]
TLiq – Liquid Discharge Time [sec]
Tinit,vap – Initial Vapor Discharge Time [sec]

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NFPA 12 Flow Calculation Method – Initial Vapor Discharge Time
𝑀𝑀𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 𝑀𝑀𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝐶𝐶𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 ∆𝑇𝑇𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
𝑇𝑇𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖,𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 = �𝑄𝑄 =
𝑄𝑄∆𝐻𝐻𝑉𝑉

MVap – Mass Vaporized in Pipe at Start of Discharge [lb]

MPipe – Mass of Pipe [lb]
CPipe – Specific Heat of the Pipe [Btu/(lb oF)] {for Steel = 0.11 Btu/(lb oF)}
∆Tavg – Temperature Difference between Pipe and Agent [oF] {Assumed to be 10 oF}
∆Hv – Heat of Vaporization for the Agent {64 Btu/lb @60 oF}
Q – Mass Flow Rate [lb/sec]

SupDet® 2018
CO2 Flow Calculations
Objective:
The objective of this project was to obtain the experimental data to evaluate the veracity of
the CO2 design method
Approach:
A series of six tests were performed with the results obtained compared to those predicted
with the NFPA 12 Method.

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CO2 Flow Calculations – Test Characteristics
Single Cylinder Discharges
Three Nozzle Configurations
Pipe Volume Ratios: 3% to 75%
Discharge times:
◦ Total Discharge Time: [sec]: 30 to 40
◦ Liquid Discharge Time [sec]: 18 to 25
Tee Split Ratios:
◦ Bull Tees: 50:50 to 80:20
◦ Side Tees: 90:10 to 65:35
Constructed of commercially available hardware ifor use in CO2 systems
Cylinders factory/distributer filled

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CO2 Flow Calculations – Test Characteristics
Limit Description
Value Demonstrated Unit CN01 CN02 CN03 CN04 CN05
50.7 bar 50.7 50.7 50.7 50.7 50.7
Initial Pressure
736 psig 735 735 735 735 735
Cylinder
Size 67 L 67 L 67 L 67 L 67 L
Number 1 1 1 1 1
Fill Density 0.68 kg/l 0.680 0.680 0.680 0.680 0.680
42.5 lb/ft3 42.5 42.5 42.5 42.5 42.5
Maximum 85.7 0.0 s
Discharge Time (Liquid Flow Time) – NFPA 12
Minimum 30.0 18.4 s 21.6 19.6 19.8 18.4 25.7
Maximum 120.0 0.0 s
Discharge Time (SDT) – NFPA12
Minimum 42.0 29.7 s 30.4 32.9 31.8 29.7 36.3
Maximum Pipe Volume to Cylinder Volume Ratio 85 76% % 2.8% 75.5% 57.9% 57.4% 2.8%
Minimum Pipe Volume Ratio before First Tee see table 1.7% % 1.7% 70.5% 48.2% 48.2% 1.7%
Maximum Pipe Volume Ratio After First Tee see table 10% % 1.1% 5.0% 9.7% 9.2% 1.1%
Nozzle Area Ratio of nozzle discharge orifice area to Maximum 0.800 0.24 a/A 0.24 0.23 0.23 0.20 0.16
pipe area (based on nominal internal diameters) Minimum 0.002 0.03 a/A 0.12 0.03 0.03 0.06 0.04
20.6 28.5 bar 32.4 31.4 29.6 28.5 38.9
NLRO
299.5 413.0 psig 470.0 455.0 429.0 413.0 565.0
Minimum Nozzle Pressure -NFPA 12
20.6 28.5 bar 32.4 31.4 29.6 28.5 38.9
SDT
299.5 413.0 psig 470.0 455.0 429.0 413.0 565.0
N/A 9.2 bar 0.0 5.2 9.2 6.0 1.7
NLRO
N/A 134.0 psig 0.0 75.0 134.0 87.0 24.0
Maximum Nozzle Pressure Variance
N/A 9.2 bar 0.0 5.2 9.2 6.0 1.7
SDT
N/A 134.0 psig 0.0 75.0 134.0 87.0 24.0
N/A 3.2 m 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.5
Maximum Elevation Change
N/A 10.3 ft 5.1 5.2 5.2 5.2 5.1
Tee Splits
Standard Maximum 50:50 50.0% % 50.0% 34.7%
Bull Tee
Orientation Minimum 5:95 20.8% % 27.1% 34.1% 20.8%
Standard Maximum 65:35 64.0% % 64.0%
Side Tee

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Orientation Minimum 5:95 89.3% % 89.3% 88.7% 73.0%
CO2 Flow Calculations – Test Layouts

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CO2 Flow Calculations – Test Layouts

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CO2 Flow Calculations – Test Layouts

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CO2 Flow Calculations – Test Layouts

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CO2 Flow Calculations – Test Layouts

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CO2 Flow Calculations – Instrumentation
Pressure and Temperature Measurements
◦ After Flex Hose (Manifold)
◦ Before Each Tee
◦ Before Each Nozzle
◦ After Each Nozzle (Temperature Only)

Agent Mass Delivered

◦ Collected in Bags
◦ Bags Back-Flowed through Flow-Meter

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CO2 Flow Calculations – Instrumentation

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CO2 Flow Calculations – Discharge Time Determination
Total Discharge Time
◦ Start: Drop in temperature at nozzle after air in pipe
cleared
◦ End: <5% remaining in system (cylinders and piping)
◦ Calculated with Peng-Robinson Equation of State and measured
pressure and temperature in Manifold

Liquid Flow Time

◦ Start: Drop in temperature at nozzle after initial
vapor discharge
◦ End: Inflection marking transition from
predominately liquid flow to predominately vapor
flow

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Total Discharge Time Results Compared to NFPA 12
Nozzle Mass Ave Pressure (SDT) Discharge Time (SDT)
Exper. Pred. Error Exper. Pred. Error Exper. Pred. Error
No. Code
System [kg] [lb] [kg] [lb] [%] [bar] [psig] [bar] [psig] [%] [sec] [sec] [sec]
1 8.5 21.9 48.2 22.7 50.0 -3.5% 22.1 320.3 32.4 470.0 -31.9%
2 6 11.8 26.0 11.3 25.0 4.1% 22.3 322.9 32.4 470.0 -31.3%
CN01
3 6 11.7 25.7 11.3 25.0 3.0% 22.2 322.5 32.4 470.0 -31.4%
30.8 30.4 0.4
1 3.5 3.4 7.4 4.9 10.7 -30.9% 21.1 306.3 36.5 530.0 -42.2%
2 5.5 11.2 24.7 11.0 24.2 2.3% 19.2 279.2 34.1 494.0 -43.5%
CN02
3 9.5 30.8 67.9 29.5 65.1 4.2% 16.5 240.0 31.4 455.0 -47.2%
60.6 32.9 27.7
1 3.5 3.4 7.6 5.1 11.3 -32.6% 23.2 336.5 38.8 563.0 -40.2%
2 6.5 15.0 33.0 13.7 30.3 8.8% 19.3 280.5 32.1 465.0 -39.7%
CN03
3 9.5 27.0 59.4 26.5 58.4 1.7% 15.4 223.3 29.6 429.0 -47.9%
52.2 31.8 20.4
1 3.5 3.4 7.5 5.1 11.3 -33.5% 23.4 339.5 38.8 563.0 -39.7%
2 6.5 15.2 33.6 13.7 30.3 10.9% 19.5 282.8 32.1 465.0 -39.2%
CN3A
3 9.5 26.7 58.9 26.5 58.4 0.8% 15.5 224.9 29.6 429.0 -47.6%
52.4 31.8 20.6
1 7 17.6 38.8 16.3 36.0 7.8% 19.1 276.6 34.5 500.0 -44.7%
2 5 5.4 11.9 7.8 17.3 -31.1% 17.1 247.7 33.0 479.0 -48.3%
CN04
3 9 22.4 49.3 21.2 46.7 5.5% 15.4 224.1 28.5 413.0 -45.7%
49.7 29.7 20.0
1 5.5 15.7 34.5 15.7 34.7 -0.3% 28.8 418.4 40.6 589.0 -29.0%
2 3.5 7.1 15.7 6.2 13.6 15.6% 28.1 407.2 39.8 578.0 -29.5%
CN05
3 7 22.6 49.7 23.5 51.7 -3.9% 28.0 406.9 38.9 565.0 -28.0%
37.1 36.3 0.8

SupDet® 2018
 Total Discharge Time Results Compared to NFPA 12
Nozzle Mass Ave Pressure (Liquid Flow Time) Initial Vapor Time Liquid Flow Time
Exper. Pred. Error Exper. Pred. Error Exper. Pred. Exper. Pred. Error
No. Code
System [kg] [lb] [kg] [lb] [%] [bar] [psig] [bar] [psig] [%] [sec] [sec] [sec] [sec] [sec]
1 8.5 21.9 48.2 22.7 50.0 -3.5% 25.3 366.6 32.4 470.0 -22.0% 0.8 0.13
2 6 11.8 26.0 11.3 25.0 4.1% 25.5 369.3 32.4 470.0 -21.4% 0.8 0.18
CN01
3 6 11.7 25.7 11.3 25.0 3.0% 25.4 369.0 32.4 470.0 -21.5% 0.8 0.18
21.5 21.6 -0.1
1 3.5 3.4 7.4 4.9 10.7 -30.9% 26.6 386.2 36.5 530.0 -27.1% 14.5 3.78
2 5.5 11.2 24.7 11.0 24.2 2.3% 24.6 357.5 34.1 494.0 -27.6% 15.4 4.01
CN02
3 9.5 30.8 67.9 29.5 65.1 4.2% 21.5 311.5 31.4 455.0 -31.5% 15.3 3.82
24.6 19.6 5.0
1 3.5 3.4 7.6 5.1 11.3 -32.6% 29.0 420.4 38.8 563.0 -25.3% 10.5 3.00
2 6.5 15.0 33.0 13.7 30.3 8.8% 24.6 356.7 32.1 465.0 -23.3% 11.8 2.98
CN03
3 9.5 27.0 59.4 26.5 58.4 1.7% 20.6 298.5 29.6 429.0 -30.4% 11.5 2.89
22.7 19.8 2.9
1 3.5 3.4 7.5 5.1 11.3 -33.5% 29.0 421.1 38.8 563.0 -25.2% 11.2 3.00
2 6.5 15.2 33.6 13.7 30.3 10.9% 24.7 358.0 32.1 465.0 -23.0% 12.5 2.98
CN3A
3 9.5 26.7 58.9 26.5 58.4 0.8% 20.6 299.5 29.6 429.0 -30.2% 12.5 2.89
21.9 19.8 2.1
1 7 17.6 38.8 16.3 36.0 7.8% 22.4 324.5 34.5 500.0 -35.1% 12.0 2.39
2 5 5.4 11.9 7.8 17.3 -31.1% 20.3 295.1 33.0 479.0 -38.4% 14.7 3.18
CN04
3 9 22.4 49.3 21.2 46.7 5.5% 18.5 268.2 28.5 413.0 -35.1% 14.1 2.89
22.9 18.4 4.5
1 5.5 15.7 34.5 15.7 34.7 -0.3% 34.5 500.6 40.6 589.0 -15.0% 0.8 0.18
2 3.5 7.1 15.7 6.2 13.6 15.6% 33.6 487.9 39.8 578.0 -15.6% 0.8 0.28
CN05
3 7 22.6 49.7 23.5 51.7 -3.9% 33.5 485.4 38.9 565.0 -14.1% 0.8 0.16
24.0 25.7 -1.7

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Results Comparison - CN01

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Results Comparison - CN02

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Results Comparison - CN03

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Results Comparison – CN3A

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Results Comparison – CN04

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Results Comparison – CN05

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Results Comparison – Side Tee Splits

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Results Comparison – Bull Tee Splits

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Discussion
NFPA 12 Method
◦ Single Point using Median Cylinder Pressure and Average Flow Rate
◦ Same Flow Rate used for Average Flow over Entire Discharge, Liquid Flow (for Local App Systems) and
Initial Vapor Flow
Comparison of NFPA 12 Calculations and Experimental Results
◦ Discharge Times
◦ Initial Vapor Discharge Times Under Predicted – Use of Average Flow Rate
◦ Liquid Flow Times Predicted well
◦ Total Discharge Times Predicted Well for Small Systems, Poorly for Larger Systems
◦ Pressures
◦ Experimental Pressure Much Lower than Predicted
◦ Flow Splits
◦ Predicted ok for Bull Tees
◦ Side Tees Predicted Poorly
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Discussion
Unknown implications for actual Installed systems
◦ Total system discharge test required by NFPA12

Project Summary
◦ 6 tests (5 layouts)
◦ Single cylinder configurations
◦ Discharge times on the Shorter End of the Range

SupDet® 2018
Questions
Thank you for your attention
Contact:
◦ Eric W. Forssell
◦ eforssell@jensenHughes.com
◦ (410)737-8677 Ext 10219

SupDet® 2018