\ Liverpool Bulk Terminal BioMass Case Study \ Fireworks Fire Protection installed a high pressure watermist system to protect the transfer towers and conveyor systems for E.ON at their biomass Handling Facility on the River Mersey, Liverpool Bulk Terminal. A zoned Hydramist速 High Pressure Watermist Fire Protection System was designed to protect the 700 metres of conveyors transferring wood pellets from ship to the BioMass bulk store before their onward journey to Ironbridge Power Station by rail. Project
As part of the conversion to biomass of Ironbridge power station E.ON energy constructed a biomass handling depot at Gladstone Docks in Liverpool. This allowed the delivery and transfer of biomass from anywhere in the World to Ironbridge via train. The biomass handling depot consisted of a conveyor system with 3 main conveyors totalling more than 700m in length to take the biomass direct from ship to train and also from ship to a large biomass store building. Part of the overall fire and safety plan was to provide fire suppression to the 3 main conveyors, E.ON asked Fireworks to assist with this.
Image showing the conveyor and Bulk Store at Gladstone Dock, Liverpool.
Solution Fireworks developed a design for high pressure watermist to protect the conveyors operated via high definition flame detectors. Fireworks chose Hydramist速 as their system provider as they were able to quickly react to a new and challenging risk with advice and assistance on the required water spray volume and nozzle coverage.
Each conveyor was divided up into fire zones with each zone having a dedicated flame detector, zone valve, fire control panel and set of pipe and nozzles. The flame detectors and nozzles were all installed inside the conveyor covers to provide best detection and protection to the biomass on the conveyor.
Managing Director Derek Killaspy is seen explaining the installation at Liverpool to Andrea Salimbeni from the European Biomass Industry Association.
View of fire suppression system within the conveyor. The system was designed to operate from a central high pressure pump set which was designed with 100% redundancy. The system was then linked to a site wide addressable fire panel which allowed further automatic controls to be programmed to ensure that the desired number of zones would automatically operate when required and that the conveyors would stop when the fire system operated.
Requirements The system was designed working closely with the client, main contractor and the conveyor contractor. All pipe & bracketry was bespoke designed by Fireworks and produced to maximise the ability of the watermist system whilst minimising the intrusion in to the conveyor working area.
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View of installation under conveyor. E.ON staff were trained in the operation of the system and shown how to carry out fault finding and remedial actions if required.
The system requires minimal maintenance and is on constant stand-by 24 hours per day when the biomass handling depot is in operation.
Fireworks Fire Protection Ltd Amber House Station Road Attleborough Norwich, Norfolk NR17 2AT 0800 975 7462 www.fireworks-ltd.com fireworks@fireworks-ltd.com