Guideline to design of deluge water spray system

1. Deluge Water Spray System:

An automated water spray system where the water distribution piping is equipped with
open spray nozzles for discharging over a protection area or equipment.
Deluge water Spray systems designed according to NFPA 15, API 2030, IP 19 guidelines
and local regulations.
The main objectives are any one or combination of the following :
o Extinguishment of fire
o Control of burning
o Exposure protection
o Prevention of fire

Typical Application rates for Deluge Water Spray System: (API 2030):
2. Factors determining the requirement of Deluge Water Spray System:
Spray System for Process Pumps:
o When pumps handle hydrocarbon liquids (flammable or combustible) at
temperatures above its flash point.
o Located Close to equipment that can be quickly damaged by pump fire.
o Where protection of pumps is impractical by monitors/hydrants and potential of
fire escalation is possible.
Spray System for Pipe racks:
o To be evaluated based on potential of pool fires or severe exposures below the
pipe rack.
Spray System for Vessels & Columns :
o High pressure vessels (>10 barg) handling flammable / combustible liquids with
inventory above 5 tons and also based on project philosophy.
o Vessels handling flammable / combustible liquids and located in a congested
area.
Spray System (cooling) for Atmospheric Storage Tanks:
o API 2001 recommends protection of the portion of shell and roof not in contact
with the liquid content of tank. (@4.1 lpm/m2)
o Sectionalization of the spray rings should be done for optimization of water
quantity.

Figure 1 Example of a Water Spray System Installation

3. Type of Deluge Valves:
Type of Deluge Valves (based on operation):
o Complete On/off deluge Valve: These are deluge valves which open fully upon
activation and closed fully upon resetting.
o Variable Pressure Control Deluge Valve: Preset constant Valve downstream side
pressure is maintained irrespective of the upstream pressure.
Type of Activation of Deluge Valves :
o Hydraulic Activation : By means of hydraulic Quartzoid bulb detection
o Electrical Activation : By means of F&G detection system
o Electro-Pneumatic Activation : By means of pneumatic Quartzoid bulb and/or
F&G detection system
Figure 2 Deluge Valve (Body)

Figure 3 Internal Deluge Valve Construction

4. Deluge valve Principle of Operation:
Area of upper chamber of DV is twice that of the lower chamber
Force in Upper Chamber = Pressure x 2 Area
Force in Lower Chamber = Pressure x Area
Pressure is same on both sides.
Force in upper chamber is more than that of the lower chamber

Figure 4 Electric & Pneumatic Release Trim

Figure 5 Operation of Variable Pressure Control type Deluge valve

5. Deluge Valve & By-Pass Valves & Location:
Deluge valves are always 15 meter away from the protected equipment and any other
process equipment. (from pipe racks at least 6 m preferred where 15 not possible)
Manual by-pass valves shall be located opposite side or tapped from another part of the
ring main.
Manual valve shall be 30 meter from the protected equipment.
Both valves shall be upstream of the wind direction preferably.

Figure 6 By Pass Valves & Deluge Valve Location

Figure 7 Typical Deluge Skid Installation

6. Deluge Skid Specifications/ Requirements:
The type of Deluge Valve mounting (ie vertical or horizontal).
Vertical mounting are more space saving
Where ambient temperature is of concern, the skids shall be inside enclosures and shall
be provided with a heater to maintain the temperature at above 5 deg.C
All components should be within the enclosure
o Space for deluge Skids to be indicated in the plot plan for the required size at
early stages of the plot plan development.
o Deluge Skids shall be at least 2 meter away from the road edges.
o Electrical Heat Tracing of water filled pipe lines up to the deluge valve is required
in freezing climatic conditions.
All components shall be listed/ approved type.
Specify vendor limits clearly in the P&I Ds.

7. Water Spray Nozzles:

An open water discharge device that, when discharging water under pressure, will
distribute the water in a specific, directional pattern.
Types of water spray Nozzles :
o Medium Velocity Used for vessels, pumps, cable galleries, etc.
o High Velocity Used for Transformer spray system.
o Pressure required for MV Nozzles 1.4 bar(g) and for HV nozzles about 3.4 barg
for optimum performance.
Minimum Pipe Sizes in Deluge Systems (as per NFPA 15) is 1.

8. Piping Requirements for Deluge System:

Piping Requirements as per NFPA :
o 40, Carbon Steel (Galvanized) up to 8
o 30, Carbon Steel (Galvanized) 8 & above
Piping Installation requirements :
o Suitable slope in the dry section of pipe
o Provide Low point drain at suitable location
Pipe Velocity considerations: NFPA 15 allows up to 7.94 m/sec of water velocity for the
deluge downstream side. However, please check project piping design philosophy where
velocity may be limited to 5 m/sec downstream of the deluge valve and 3 m/sec
upstream.
Design of the system should be such that the water spray fully covers the equipment in
within 30secs upon activation.