Icing under pressure?
Icing under pressure?
(OP)
Gents
I have a watermist fire extinguishing system which states 'Protect from freezing'. It has a water filled sensing line charged at about 50 psi, this in turn fires a bank of water filled cylinders at 200 psi.
The installation is in an unheated generator room, so what I would like to know is, will the increase in pressure of the sensing line & water stored bottles affect the freezing temp of the system water.
thanks
I have a watermist fire extinguishing system which states 'Protect from freezing'. It has a water filled sensing line charged at about 50 psi, this in turn fires a bank of water filled cylinders at 200 psi.
The installation is in an unheated generator room, so what I would like to know is, will the increase in pressure of the sensing line & water stored bottles affect the freezing temp of the system water.
thanks





RE: Icing under pressure?
In short the answer to your question is no, pressure will not affect the freezing of water in that system. Water, however is a very strange liquid so your thoughts are not too far off. Unfortunately it takes far greater pressures to alter the fundumental characteristics of water we are used to seeing in our every day experiences. Water at extremely high pressures in a lab environment will actually support the ignition of a match and sustain the flame....and it gets stranger. Unfortunately, your pressures are quite common in water engineering and will allow whatever is exposed to freezing temperatures to freeze solid.
BobPE
RE: Icing under pressure?
Besides, I would not fiddle around with the pressure in a water mist system without consulting the manufacturer first. Increasing the system pressure most likely leads to a decrease in the water discharge (=protection) time offered by the system. If you have an approved water mist system which is altered from how it was originally designed, in case there is a fire resulting in severe damages you might end up in trouble with your insurance company. Working for a water mist company I know even a small change in a system can have a huge effect on how the system accomplishes its task of extinguishing or suppressing a fire.
RE: Icing under pressure?
saxon
RE: Icing under pressure?
By the way, there might be suitable anti-freezing agents available to lower the operating temperature below freezing point. Again, consultation with the manufacturer prior to making any such modifications is strongly advisable.