Freezing upon operation of a double interlocked system in cold storage freezers

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Over the years we've done a number of large cold storage warehouses some with "blast freezers" where it really gets cold. Not sure of the exact figure but I believe it's around -20 Deg F.

All drawings have been approved by insurance underwriters one of which includes FM Global so I am covered.

I am just curious if water can travel to the far end of the system through the cold pipe without freezing and plugging. Even if the water is at room temperature I have to believe the heat loss while traveling has to be insane.

Any experience or insight?

 

[cdafd]

Is the thought

Fire happens

Sprinkler opens

Water flows

Water keeps flowing through the open sprinkler and piping to it, with no problem, because the water is in motion??

 

[TravisMack]

You have water at room temp, plus you have a portion of the room that is hot enough to activate a sprinkler (≥155°F). Since these are dry systems, I assume you don't have long runs of bulk pipe that would be very far from the fire area. So, if the water flows, won't your room be well above freezing due to the fire?

It's been a long week, so maybe I am missing something.

Travis Mack, SET, CWBSP, RME-G, CFPS
MFP Design, LLC

http://www.mfpdesign.com

 

[chicopee]

I went to Montana State College in the early 60's so during Xmass and Easter recesses I would spend my time in a ranch outside Livingston. The ranch house had cold running water pipe thru PVC piping over a quarter of a mile from a surface spring. During winters with temperatures in the -10 to -40 dF, the water was left running all day and all night for about 3 to 4 months of the year without ever freezing eventho to PVC pipe was in many sections exposed to ambient air. Running water does not freeze readily.

 

[UFT12]

and apart from the running water, water coming from the water source, say at 40F, is considered "warm water" to the -40F conditions. With continuous motion and such warm temperature there should be no issue. The interior of the pipe will be heated up.

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

The systems I am looking at Tyco Quell Systems that are extremely large with very extensive mains. From what I have seen 1,500 gallon systems are not unusual. Not sure how they do this but I plan to find out.

Quell systems are proprietary and to be certified you need to spend a week with Tyco where you learn everything about it.

As cold as these freezers are, the "blast freezers" linger around 40 below, and my thinking is the "head water" will cool very rapidly and simply plug the smaller pipe....

Anyone familiar with Quell systems?

 

[skdesigner]

Part of the Quell design package is a fluid delivery time calculation using SprinkFDT, which is how they can do the huge system volumes. I believe the latest incarnation of the Quell system uses K34 uprights, so it's safe to say there won't be much small piping on that job.

 

[stookeyfpe]

SD2:

Be advised that FM has reported issues with the Tyco K34 sprinklers. They may have been resolved but it's good to know.

https://www.fmapprovals.com/product-alerts-and-news-events/product-alerts/johnson-controls-tyco

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

On the Quell systems I have seen branch lines appear to be 2 1/2" with 6" mains.