The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for launch and recovery of a remote inspection device within a liquid storage tank. In one embodiment, the tank is accessed by opening an entrance hatch and then injecting a vapor suppression foam across a surface of a stored liquid mass to form a foam layer. A launching system having a remote inspection device is attached to the entrance hatch to define a launch and recovery space sealed from an external environment and isolated from the stored liquid mass in the tank via a valve and the foam layer. The launch and recovery space is purged of hazardous vapors by injection of an inert gas prior to launch and recovery of the remote inspection device. Prior to removal of the launching system, the surface of the stored liquid mass is re-coated with vapor suppression foam.

An equipment dry bay is provided. The equipment dry bay includes at least one partition that subdivides the equipment dry bay into a plurality of compartments, wherein the at least one partition includes a plate, and at least one flame arrestor positioned within the plate and providing vapor and fluid communication between a first compartment and a second compartment of the plurality of compartments, the at least one flame arrestor configured to vent combustion gases in the first compartment into the second compartment.

A method is described for using cellular glass blocks, cellular glass nodules, hollow glass spheres, or other buoyant glass materials to attenuate oil fire, limit thermal radiation from an oil fire, and reduce the risk of boil-over phenomenon. Cellular glass blocks, cellular glass nodules, hollow glass spheres, or other buoyant glass products may be deployed passively, prior to an ignition event, or actively, as a response to an ignition event to provide control. Cellular glass or other buoyant glass materials may be in any physical shape such as block, sheet, aggregate, or nodule.

The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for launch and recovery of a remote inspection device within a liquid storage tank. In one embodiment, the tank is accessed by opening an entrance hatch and then injecting a vapor suppression foam across a surface of a stored liquid mass to form a foam layer. A launching system having a remote inspection device is attached to the entrance hatch to define a launch and recovery space sealed from an external environment and isolated from the stored liquid mass in the tank via a valve and the foam layer. The launch and recovery space is purged of hazardous vapors by injection of an inert gas prior to launch and recovery of the remote inspection device. Prior to removal of the launching system, the surface of the stored liquid mass is re-coated with vapor suppression foam.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an inerting and pressurization system for a fuel tank may be provided. The inerting and pressurization systemmay include an inert gas supply network, a number of valves and a number of air separator modules. The inerting and pressurization system may further include a programmable controller that may automatically increase the proportion of inert gas in the inert gas supply network. According to a second exemplary embodiment, a fire extinguishing system may include a number of air-separation modules that may supply an inert gas to a supply network and a programmable controller that may be operatively connected with the inert gas supply network to control how the inert gas outputs may be distributed in response to a fire threat signal.

The flame arrester is optimized for installation within fuel containers. The flame arrester has an optional elongate, generally cylindrical skeletal frame having opposing first and second ends. The first end is configured as a mounting flange adapted for permanent, immovable installation within the tank or container and the second end may include a spring-loaded check valve. The frame is covered by a woven or nonwoven textile material, or alternatively, by a porous or foraminous sheet material. Fuel and vapors pass through the cylindrical textile wall, the porosity of the textile serving to prevent flame propagation through the textile material. The pore size is between 0.4 mm and 3.2 mm.

A volatile liquid storage container has combustion resistance properties from a flexible sock or tube constructed of fire resistant fibers coupled to a neck of the storage container to prevent flame flash-back into the storage container. The storage container defines an enclosed volume having an orifice in the container material leading to a neck for pouring and filling the enclosed volume for exchanging the contents therein. The tube is elongated and surrounds a circumference of the orifice for engaging any ignition source entering through the orifice. The flexible nature of the tube or sock allows it to extend to an opposed interior surface of the enclosed volume, and ensures that the tube or sock is immersed in the fluid for encircling any ignition path to the volatile liquid without interfering with an ability to pour or refill the container.

A method of fire suppression may include injecting a reactive agent into a reaction zone to produce a catalytically active species for fire suppression and conveying the catalytically active species to a fire to catalytically interfere with flame chemistry of the fire. Fire in a fuel tank may be suppressed by injecting the reactive agent into a convective flow of a mixture of fuel and oxidizer in a fuel tank, the reactive agent reacting in the fuel tank to release a species which catalytically interferes with flame chemistry to suppress fire in the fuel tank. Fire at an airplane crash may be suppressed by releasing the reactive agent from the container at the crash site to produce an active species to catalytically interfere with a fire at the crash site.

A fire extinguishing equipment including an extinguishing-launching part-unit and a pressure-resistant storage body with an internal space housing a fire extinguishing material. A transport pipe is connected to the internal space to transport the fire extinguishing material to a use location. An extinguishing part-unit is connected to the external end of the transport pipe and includes one or more event-detecting part-units, which are connected to the extinguishing-launching part-unit. The extinguishing-launching part-unit is supplemented with a separation fitting disposed within the transport pipe, separated from a transport regulation fitting also disposed within the transport pipe. A reference pressure supply part-unit is within the transport pipe between the separation fitting and the transport regulation fitting. Each of the transport regulation fitting and the separation fitting includes a clamping housing and a rupture disc fixed therein, which rupture upon detection of a fire to dispense the fire extinguishing material.

A fire extinguishing equipment with improved characteristics which includes a pressure-resistant storage body with an internal space that houses a fire extinguishing composition. A monitoring unit is connected to the storage body to measure and regulate one or more physical characteristics. At least one discharge outlet is in communication with the internal space of the storage body and is configured to discharge the fire-extinguishing composition from the internal space to a use location. A charging inlet is disposed within the storage body and is configured to fill the internal space with the fire-extinguishing composition. An extinguishing-launching part-unit is inserted into a pipe section between the use location and the discharge outlet.