Automatic CO2 fire extinguisher in rolling mill

[grack757]

I think it is time to explain a bit more about the system.

The systems are located in Sweden. When the mill is spinning, it's 0 seconds time delay, staff are not allowed near the mill.

When the mill is standing still, it is 10 second pneumatic time delay. Staff can now be close to the mill. If the staff are going into the mill, they have to manually block the fire suppression system with a ball valve.

And no accidents for the past 20 years.



[CLAUDIOPEIXOTO]

@grack757

No meu pais possuimos 17 grandes usinas siderurgicas (Mills). Temos centenas de SPCI's (Sistemas de Proteção Contra Incendio) e todos eles são projetados para proteger locais onde não existem homens trabalhando. O mundo todo sabe que este sistema é asfixiante. Por exemplo, nesta situação só se utiliza o sistema de diluvio, nunca CO2.

[grack757]

@CLAUDIOPEIXOTO

sorry did not get a good translation from google translation, so I did not quite understand what you meant

[SKarmytech]

@grack757

CLAUDIOPEIXOTO said that workers nearby the machine die from inhaling too much CO2.

[djhaloeight]

@grack757

Interesting. At our mill staff are allowed near the mills while they are running. If there is a fire, (a rare occurrence) the operator pulls a release control to dump the co2. If the operator does not do this, the heat detectors will set off the system automatically after a 20 second delay. 9 times out of 10 the operator pulls the release on as he exits the control booth. We also require the system to be locked out with a valve when employees are in the mill stands or pit.

[grack757]

@djhaloeight

Staff are able too be neer the mill while it´s running but everybody is well aware of the danger of Co2 and/or the fire

The highpressure system is activated by flamedetectors or manually by the operator. The flamedetectors is not working while the mill not running. The lowpressure system is activated by heatdetecors or manually.

[CLAUDIOPEIXOTO]

Operadores morrem asfixiados pelo CO2

[grack757]

@CLAUDIOPEIXOTO

No

[UMARWAGANA]

it's great work ,, that's our responsible.

[maxrage69]

The reason oil based coolants are used is for strip appearance,

You can use water based but staining and film will be rolled into the strip.

If you have ever wondered why aluminum foil is shinny on 1 side and not the other, that we be because 2 coils are rolled through the gap at once the shinny side is touching the roll and the matte or dull side the other coil.

[maxrage69]

Incorrect, the ignition of the coolant on the mill is cause from simple heat caused by the pressure from the roll stack applied to the strip, and coolant vapor.

For instance you are rolling at 500,000 force pounds and lose control in the roll gap that force has now at least doubled as it starts to fold and tear thus causing red hot or even flaming metal to ignite the vapors.

[djhaloeight]

@maxrage69

i understand what you're saying but at our mill most of the fires occur on our light gauge finishing mill...we run pretty fast 1200fpm up to 1750fpm on gauges varying from .012 to .019...if the incoming sheet has edge cracks it can cause the mill to crash and the metal will spark on the work rolls or the inside of the mill stand. you are correct tho in saying that if the metal folds and tears (or as we call it "pinches out") that can cause a fire as well.

[nightwing36s]

Anyone know what the cause of this explosion was?

[Ryantron9000]

@nightwing36s

looks like a electrical fire ignited oil.

[djhaloeight]

@nightwing36s

when the sheet of running thru the mill "crashes" (you can see it wreck right at the beginning of the video...on the left) the metal can spark in the mill on the work rolls or on the mill housing itself. the coolant used during the rolling process is oil based and has a flash point and the vapors themselves are very flammable.

[DjGisME]

Inergen is awesome

[SlimySnail44]

isn't CO2 very very flammable?

[nightwing36s]

@SlimySnail44 No, CO2 is an end product of combustion and does not burn - it kills fires very effectively, but also renders the air unlivable for other organisms too (too little O2 compared to other gases [CO2])

[SlimySnail44]

@nightwing36s I know heh I'm just trolling around xD

[mikej2004]

@nightwing36s mostly CO. There is some CO2 biproducts from burning gasses and wood

[DjGisME]

@SlimySnail44 CO2 isn't flammable but you cannot be inside the room when it discharges while Inergen lowers only O2 amount from 22% to 15% and that doesn't support combustion but still safe for human to be inside the room.

[SlimySnail44]

Like I said in a comment after that one, I was jut trolling, Didn't think anyone would take me seriously lol.

[almann1117]

swift and awesome, but it would kill any human inside if he did not vacate, right?

[djhaloeight]

@almann1117

correct, everyone has to vacate the area until the carbon dioxide clears out

[djhaloeight]

i'm a mill operator and luckily i haven't had one of these fires yet! lol

[MadOzZy]

what if someone was in there tho . ..

they would die from all that c02.. if its enough to kill the oxygen to the fire then surely it would kill a person.....

cool tho... good way to get back at someone who is a nasty twat... fake a fire and BAM..... no oxygen dead...

[tjohnson1050]

usually those type systems have an audible alarm that sounds before any extinguishing agent is discharged to give occupants ample time to get out. Anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes.

[Alientank]

@tjohnson1050 Actually most are only 30 seconds and there is a requirement that the delay can only be a maximum of so many seconds but it varies by state/province. 2-5 minutes the entire room would be engulfed.

[tay14arizona]

@Alientank They may have a 30 second delay in your area, but with systems like these where I live, the warning time is 2-5 minutes, because it gives the people working there enough time to exit the area (which may be large because it is a manufacturing facility) before the system opens up. The only reason I could think of where there is a 30 second delay is in some type of facility where there were no people that would be working around the machinery, requiring less time for the alarm.

[Alientank]

@tay14arizona I have been to facilities like this one and the maximum time that was ever allowed was 45 seconds evac. 2-5 minutes I guarantee does not exist in any system. If it does, it's illegally set up. There is no special reason for 30 seconds. Large facilities like this one are required to have many emergency exits set up all across the plant so that there is not a 5 minute run to an exit for an employee way in the back. The 30 seconds is more than enough time to get out of the building.

[tjohnson1050]

@Alientank Okay fire marshall whatever you say haha.

[Alientank]

@tjohnson1050 I'm a fire prevention officer for a major city. So yea, pretty much a marshall. I know what I'm talking about.

[Zachman1124]

Awesome, this probably cost the factor 20,ooo to fix this fire instead of 20,000,000 to replace the WHOLE factory

[lokkerma]

Impressive

[BFMVpwnage5168]

...and this is what happens when someone smokes by a spool of paper...

[BliMedlem]

haha. It is aluminum, not paper..

[dcool96]

badass

[mitchikael]

this video is good for understanding a CO2 dump