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DESIGN MANUAL
99-0500-03
Minimax GmbH
UL File EX5248
IMPORTANT
Minimax GmbH assumes no responsibility for application of any system other than those
addressed in this manual. The technical data contained herein is limited strictly for
information purposes only. Minimax GmbH believes this data to be accurate, but it is
published and presented without any guarantee or warranty whatsoever. Minimax
GmbH disclaims any liability for any use that may be made of the data and information
contained herein by any and all other parties.
Any questions concerning the information presented in this manual should be addressed to:
Minimax GmbH
Industriestr. 10-12
23840 Bad Oldesloe
Germany
80
6
70
8
60
LOEL
10
50
12
40 NOEL
14
30
16
20
18
10
20
0 20,9
0,0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1,0 1,2
All calculations in this manual are for fire extinguishing systems. Should an inerting system be
required consult Minimax Engineering Office.
8.1 Argon Quantity Calculation
The amount of Argon gas required to achieve the design concentration, assuming normal efflux
during discharge, shall be calculated from the following formula:
V ⎡ 100 ⎤
Q= ln (1)
S ⎢⎣100 − C ⎥⎦
S = K1 + (K2 x T) (2)
Where:
log e = hyperbolic or naperian logarithm (natural log ln)
T = minimum anticipated temperature of the protected area, oC
K1 = 0.56119 at 1013 m bar (0.5685 at 1000 m bar)
K2 = 0.00205 at 1013 m bar (0.00208 at 1000 m bar)
C = extinguishant concentration, % by volume
V = net volume of hazard, m3 (enclosed volume minus fixed structures)
Q = design quantity, kg
The resulting relationship between the mass of Argon supplied and the achieved Argon
concentration and hence the residual oxygen level is shown in Graph 1.
8.2 Argon Concentration Check
To check Argon percentage concentration values the following formula can be used:
⎡ 1⎤
C = 100 ⎢1 − n ⎥
⎣ e ⎦
Qf S
Where n=
V
e = 2.718
S = K1 + (K2 x T)
NOTE: maximum anticipated temperature of the protected area must be used in this
calculation.
NOTE: The value for Qf in the Argon concentration calculation above should reflect
the possible overfill of the Argon cylinder. Qf should then be calculated as
nominal cylinder fill plus a 5% tolerance multiplied by the number of cylinders.
-40 0,479 0,8674 0,9317 0,9646 1,0664 1,1372 1,3254 1,4057 1,811 2,2
-35 0,4893 0,8492 0,9121 0,9443 1,044 1,1133 1,2976 1,3762 1,773 1,9776
-30 0,4996 0,8318 0,8934 0,9249 1,0226 1,0904 1,2709 1,3479 1,7365 1,9369
-25 0,5098 0,815 0,8754 0,9063 1,002 1,0685 1,2453 1,3207 1,7016 1,8979
-20 0,5201 0,7989 0,8581 0,8884 0,9822 1,0474 1,2207 1,2946 1,6679 1,8604
-15 0,5304 0,7834 0,8415 0,8712 0,9631 1,0271 1,197 1,2696 1,6358 1,8243
-10 0,5406 0,7686 0,8255 0,8546 0,9448 0,0076 1,1743 1,2454 1,6048 1,7897
-5 0,5509 0,7542 0,8101 0,8387 0,9272 0,9888 1,1524 1,2222 1,5746 1,7563
0 0,5612 0,7404 0,7953 0,8233 0,9103 0,9707 1,1313 1,1999 1,5458 1,7242
5 0,5715 0,7271 0,781 0,8085 0,8939 0,9532 1,111 1,1783 1,518 1,6932
10 0,5817 0,7143 0,7672 0,7942 0,8781 0,9364 1,0914 1,1576 1,4912 1,6633
15 0,592 0,7019 0,7539 0,7805 0,8629 0,9201 1,0724 1,1374 1,4654 1,6344
20 0,6023 0,6899 0,741 0,7671 0,8482 0,9044 1,0541 1,118 1,4404 1,6065
25 0,6126 0,6783 0,7286 0,7543 0,8339 0,8893 1,0364 1,0992 1,4162 1,5796
30 0,6228 0,6671 0,7166 0,7418 0,8202 0,8746 1,0194 1,0811 1,3928 1,5535
35 0,6331 0,6563 0,7049 0,7298 0,8069 0,8604 0,0028 1,0636 1,3702 1,5283
40 0,6434 0,6458 0,6937 0,7181 0,794 0,8467 0,9868 1,0466 1,3484 1,5039
45 0,6536 0,6357 0,6828 0,7069 0,7815 0,8334 0,9713 10301 1,3272 1,4803
50 0,6639 0,6259 0,6722 0,6959 0,7694 0,8205 0,9563 1,0142 1,3066 1,4574
55 0,6742 0,6163 0,662 0,6853 0,7577 0,808 0,9417 0,9987 1,2867 1,4352
60 0,6845 0,6071 0,652 0,675 0,7463 0,7958 0,9276 0,9838 1,2674 1,4136
65 0,6947 0,5981 0,6424 0,6651 0,7353 0,7841 0,9138 0,9692 1,2487 1,3927
70 0,705 0,5894 0,633 0,6554 0,7246 0,7727 0,9005 0,9551 1,2305 1,3724
75 0,7153 0,5809 0,6239 0,646 0,7142 0,7616 0,8876 0,9414 1,2128 1,3527
80 0,7256 0,5727 0,6151 0,6368 0,7041 0,7508 0,875 0,928 1,1956 1,3336
now V= 8m × 5m × 3m
120 ⎡ 100 ⎤
Q= x ln ⎢ ⎥
0.58169 ⎣100 − 36.2 ⎦
Q = 92.71 kg Argon
Hydraulic flow calculations are based on 95% of minimum design concentration discharged in
60 sec. therefore Q60 = Q × 95% = 88.08 kg
By alternative calculation:-
Q = V × flooding factor in table 4
Design concentration of 36,2% (say 36%)
Q = 120 × 0.7577
Q = 90.92 kg Argon
If there is any doubt concerning the suitability of an Argotec® system for a particular fuel gas
or liquid fire or if a material is not listed in the above table consult the Minimax Engineering
Office.
∗ When calculating Argon quantities for gas or liquid fires the minimum concentration should
not be less than that for a Class A fire i.e. 36,2% by volume.
8.6 Uncloseable Openings
To prevent loss of agent through openings to adjacent hazards or work areas, openings shall be
arranged to close automatically before or simultaneously with the start of the Argon discharge.
This can be done by self-closing door devices, fire curtains or steel shutters. Where reasonable
confinement of agent is not practicable, protection shall be expanded to include the adjacent
connected hazards or work areas.
Minimax GmbH 99-0500-03/30.10.03 Page35
Special considerations should be taken into account when designing a fire suppresion system
for an enclosure that can not be sealed or closed before the fire suppresion system is
discharged. The loss of agent through the opening needs to be compensated for by some
method.
Compensating for uncloseable openings can be handled through extending the discharge time,
which in turn extends the period of agent application. A method of determining the additional
agent required / rate of application can be accomplished by conducting an enclosure integrity
test.
8.7 Forced Ventilation
Forced-air ventilating systems shall be shut down or closed automatically where their continued
operation would adversly affect the performance of the fire extinguishing system or result in
propagation of the fire. Completely self-contained recirculating ventilation systems shall not be
required to be shut down. The volumen of the ventilation system and the associated ductwork
shall be considered as part of the total hazard volumen when determining the quantity of agent.
If there is a short run down time but the quantity of air removed is significant, additional Argon
must be applied. The additional Argon must be discharged within the discharge time laid down
for the system.
This additional gas must be added to the basic Argon quantity as calculated in Section 8.1.
All such cases must be referred to the Minimax Engineering Department.
8.8 Altitude Adjustment
The design quantity of Argon shall be adjusted to compensate for ambient pressures that vary
by more than 11% (equivalent to approximately 1000m of elevation change) from standard sea
level pressures 760 mm Hg at 20o C). The ambient pressure is affected by changes in altitude,
pressurisation or de-pressurisation of the protected enclosure, and weather related barometric
pressure changes. The adjusted Argon quantity is determined by multiplying the quantity
determined in section 8.1 by the ratio of average ambient enclosure pressure to standard sea
level pressure.
The ratio's relating to variations in altitude are given as correction factors in table 7.
This additional gas must be added to the basic Argon quantity as calculated in Section 8.1.
4,0
3,8
3,6
3,4
3,2
3,0
Flow factor FF
2,8
2,6
2,4
2,2
2,0
1,8
1,6
0,400
0,450
0,500
0,550
0,600
0,650
0,700
0,750
0,800
0,850
0,900
0,950
1,000
275
250
225
200
175
150
125
-40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Temperature (°C)
15 - SCH SCH
80 80
20 - SCH SCH
80 80
8 1 - -
12 1,5 - -
15 - SCH SCH
80 80
20 - SCH SCH
80 80
8 1 - -
12 1,5 - -
8 1 - -
12 1,5 - -
Argon extinguishing agent is delivered to the protected area through a distribution pipe network
and liberated into the area through discharge nozzles.
When establishing a route for the pipe the system designer should take into consideration the
following:
a) It should not, if possible, pass through any other high risk area.
b) It should be direct as possible from cylinder bank to protected area.
c) It should, if possible, be run at one elevation, however even high changes in
elevation are possible, but must be checked by hydraulic flow calculation.
d) It should be endeavored to achieve a balanced pipe configuration as this makes the
hydraulic flow calculations easier, however unbalanced systems can be
accommodated.
e) Ideally it should not pass through an occupied area.
f) Downstream pipework should not exceed a 80 mm nominal bore. If, due to the
mass flow of Argon, a larger pipe is needed then two distribution pipe runs are
preferred.
g) Where exposed electrical conductors are present and, where practicable,
clearances no smaller than those given in Table 12 shall be provided, between the
electrical conductors and all parts of the system that may be approached during
maintenance. Where these clearance distances cannot be achieved, warning
notices shall be provided and a safe system of maintenance work shall be adopted.
See also NFPA 2001, Sec. 1-6.2.
h) It should be provided with a dirt trap at the end of each line, after the last nozzle.
The system should be so arranged that all normal operations can be carried out with safety to
the operator.
DRAWING 1
15 2.6
33 2.75
44 2.90
66 3.10
88 3.20 2.5
110 3.35
132 3.50
165 3.80
220 4.30
275 4.60
NOTE 1. This table is based on Table 3 ISO/DIS 14520-1.
NOTE 2. The term insulator includes all forms of insulating supports, such as pedestal and
suspension insulators, bushings, cable sealing ends and the insulating supports of
certain types of circuit breaker.
SCREWED
WELDED
Accepted by US EPA
Refer to Installation Manual for the installation and erection of distribution pipework.
This section shows the actual printouts of the input and output for the computer program based
on the sample already used in section 8 and 9.
To demonstrate the situation of other design temperatures then 20°C the calculation is extended
to 30°C storage temperature.