 Foam
Deluge Systems for a Phosphate Plant
Foam
deluge systems are commonly used in high hazard chemical
processing and storage facilities, like phosphate plants.
These systems are needed where high velocity suppression
is necessary to prevent fire spread.
This phosphate plant is used to process phosphate
from a nearby mine. Phosphates are used to produce fertilizers,
dishwashing detergents, industrial cleaners
and water treatment products.
In
a foam deluge system, sprinkler heads are always open and
the pipe is not pressurized with air. AR-AFFF foam discharges
through all of the sprinkler heads in this type of system.
Foam
deluge systems are connected to a water supply through
a deluge valve that is opened by the operation of a smoke
or heat detection system. Foam is mixed in with the water
supply from a foam bladder tank. This project is very unusual
because foam is inserted into the systems and monitors
from the owners supplied underground foam system.
The red pipes are protecting the
area around the phosphate tank in picture below.
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The
phosphate plant in this example has multiple foam deluge
systems and fire monitors. The
black wheel in front of the red pipe is where one of the
system valves is located. The gray pipe coming out of the
ground
supplies
the system with foam from
the owners underground foam system. The
supply pipe has a foam injector and regulator. It also
has a pipe that
bypasses the injector and regulator
in case the system fails. 
