ENGINEERING - Fire Protection Systems
No prerequisite required
The learning assessment consists of a single oral examination. The interview aims to evaluate the student's understanding of: • Combustion mechanisms and their safety implications. • The ability to identify combustion mechanisms associated with specific chemical substances. • Knowledge of technical parameters related to flammability and explosiveness (e.g., LEL/UFL, Flash Point, MEC, etc.). • The capability to assess potential accident scenarios arising from ignition, based on storage conditions. The student must demonstrate: • A clear grasp of combustion dynamics. • Proficiency in interpreting safety-related data (e.g., from Safety Data Sheets). • Awareness of industrial risks linked to improper handling or storage of flammable materials.
COURSE OBJECTIVES The teaching activity aims to develop knowledge, skills, and competencies related to the fundamental principles of combustion and the factors that determine the consequences of ignition in an industrial context involving chemical substances. EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of the course, the student will be able to: 1. Identify the main mechanisms leading to the combustion of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical substances. 2. Understand the concepts of Lower/Upper Flammability Limits (LFL/UFL) for combustible substances. 3. Know the concept of Flash Point. 4. Explain the Fire Triangle and the Dust Explosion Pentagon. 5. Describe the key parameters associated with the explosiveness of combustible dusts. 6. Recognize and evaluate the main flammability-related parameters in a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
Part 1: Introduction (6 hours) Definition of key characteristics associated with combustion phenomena: combustible, comburent, energy, calorific value (upper/lower), and heat of combustion. Definition of flame, flame front, evaporation, and vapor pressure. Importance of storage conditions. Types of ignition sources for flammable substances. Part 2: Combustion of Gaseous Substances (4 hours) LEL/UFL (Lower/Upper Explosive Limits). AIT (Auto-Ignition Temperature). Fire Triangle. Laminar/turbulent burning velocity. Minimum ignition energy. Reading of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for flammable gases. Part 3: Combustion of Liquid Substances (4 hours) Comparisons with gaseous combustion. Concept of Flash Point and its relevance for flammable liquid storage. Hazards of a combustible mist. Reading of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for flammable liquids. Part 4: Combustion of Solid Substances (4 hours) Heterogeneous and homogeneous combustion. Key differences between organic and metallic dust. Main parameters for dust explosion assessment: Deflagration Index , Maximum Pressure, Minimum Explosible Concentration (MEC), Limiting Oxygen Concentration (LOC), Layer Ignition Temperature (LIT), Minimum Ignition Temperature (MIT). Reading of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for flammable solids. Part 5: Consequences of Substance Ignition (6 hours) Thermal radiation and pressure waves, and their effects on people and exposed equipment. Differences between fire and explosion (deflagration vs. detonation). Pool fires, jet fires, BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion), CVE/UVCE (Confined/Unconfined Vapor Cloud Explosion). Part 6: Industrial Accidents (6 hours) Case study analysis of major historical incidents involving fires and explosions of liquid, gaseous, and solid substances: Flixborough disaster (Nypro UK, 1974) Mexico City LPG disaster (Mexico, 1984) Imperial Sugar dust explosion (USA, 2008)
The course adopts an interdisciplinary approach, focused on active student engagement, and employs the following methods: 1. Frontal lessons supported by PPT presentations, made available to students. 2. Multimedia learning through educational videos and images. 3. Interactive discussions, encouraging student participation in thematic debates.