LU86149A1 - LIQUID HYDROCARBON FIRE FIGHTING PROCESS - Google Patents

Description

<TO * i DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY filed in support of a

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

formed by the so-called Company: LABOFINA S.A.

for

Method for fighting liquid hydrocarbon fires

Inventors: MM. A. Gillot and A. Verbeek.

The present invention relates to a method for fighting hydrocarbon fires on the surface of aqueous layers.

Frequently, as a result of negligence or an accident, liquid hydrocarbons, such as petrol, are spilled in rivers, water collectors, gutters, etc. These hydrocarbons can ignite and produce fires which are difficult to control, because it is difficult to circumscribe the Λ '* - 2 - sheet of burning hydrocarbons which spreads over the aqueous layer. The means used hitherto to avoid this spreading and to repress the sheet of burning hydrocarbons are not sufficiently effective. Some of the oil is not removed and ignites again.

The present invention aims to allow a more effective fight against these hydrocarbon fires.

It relates to a process making it possible to circumscribe the sheet of hydrocarbons in fire and to reduce its surface area as well as the intensity of the flames. We can thus fight the fire in a more limited area.

To this end, the method of the present invention for fighting a fire caused by liquid hydrocarbons located on the surface of an aqueous layer consists essentially of applying to the aqueous layer, around at least part of the sheet of water. hydrocarbons on fire, a hydrocarbon collecting composition having a spreading force greater than the spreading force of these hydrocarbons, then, by usual means, to fight the fire of the contracted sheet of hydrocarbons.

The hydrocarbon collecting composition must have a spreading force greater than that of the hydrocarbons. In addition, it must have a relatively high flash point and be easy to handle at low temperatures. Such a composition mainly comprises at least one surfactant compound which can be chosen from the group comprising esters of higher aliphatic carboxylic acids (or fatty acids) and of sugars or derivatives, monoesters of fatty acids and of sorbitan, perfluorinated surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

It is advantageous to use these surfactant compounds in admixture with a solvent or carrier agent, such as a paraffinic or iso-paraffinic hydrocarbon containing from 10 to 16 carbon atoms, with low content of

T

* i. '- 3 - Λ j, I se aromatic. This hydrocarbon can be used in mixture i with a glycol ether.

Particularly interesting results have been obtained using a collecting composition containing:! 18 to 40% by weight of a mixture of surface-active compounds | consisting of a major part of compound li-! * quide and of a lesser amount of solid compound, and 82 to 60% by weight of a solvent mixture, consisting of a major part of paraffinic hydrocarbons, having from 10 to 16 carbon atoms, and of a less amount of glycol ether.

As liquid surfactant compounds, mention may be made of monoesters of fatty acids, having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, and of sorbitan or of polyethylene glycol. passes. Fatty acids having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, as well as monoesters of saturated fatty acids, having 16 to 20 carbon atoms, and sorbitan constitute | examples of solid surfactant compounds.

'The mixture of surfactants contains au! minus a liquid compound, preferably in an amount of the order of 75 to 85%, the rest of the mixture being made up! at least one solid compound. This mixture may also contain a small amount, of the order of 0.5 to 5%, of a [perfluorinated surfactant compound, such as a salt or an ester | long chain -perflüoroalacanesulfonic acid.

The solvent mixture comprises from 50 to 80% of paraffinic hydrocarbons having from 10 to 16 carbon atoms, the rest of the mixture consisting of at least one glycol ether, such as monobutyl ether of mono- or di-ethylene glycol. i col, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, I - di- or tri-propylene glycol monomethyl ether.

i By way of example, a collecting composition containing (percentages by weight) 20% of sorbi- monooleate! tanne, 5% sorbitan palmitate, 40% of a mixture of

Claims (2)

1. Method for fighting against a hydrocarbon fire on the surface of an aqueous layer, characterized in that it consists essentially in applying to the aqueous layer, around at least part of the hydrocarbon layer on fire, a hydrocarbon collecting composition having a spreading force greater than the spreading force, of these hydrocarbons, then, by usual means, to fight the fire of the contracted sheet of hydrocarbons. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a collecting composition is applied containing 18 to 40% by weight of a mixture of surfactant compounds * consisting of a major part of liquid compound and of an amount less of solid compound, and “T” * J \ - 5 -% * * · 82 to 60% by weight of a solvent mixture, consisting of a major part of paraffinic hydrocarbons, having from 10 to 16 atoms carbon, and a smaller amount of glycol ether. Brussels, f By proxy from the company called LABOFINA. j Λ