CO SYSTEM OPERATION and MAINTENANCE - usbr.gov

1 Facilities, Instructions, Standards, and Techniques Volume 5-12 CO2 SYSTEM OPERATION and MAINTENANCE Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Denver, Colorado May 2005 REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302.

2 Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESS. T1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)T May 2005 T2. REPORT TYPET Final T3. DATES COVERED (From - To)T 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER T4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE FIST 5-12, CO2 SYSTEM OPERATION and MAINTENANCE 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) Bureau of Reclamation Hydroelectric Research and Technical Services Group Denver, Colorado 5f.

3 WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Bureau of Reclamation Denver Federal Center Box 25007 Denver, CO 80225-0007 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER FIST 5-12 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR S ACRONYM(S) DIBR 9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Hydroelectric Research and Technical Services Group Bureau of Reclamation Mail Code D-8450 PO Box 25007 Denver CO 80225-0007 11. SPONSOR/MONITOR S REPORT NUMBER(S) 12. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT Available from the National Technical Information Service, Operations Division, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161 13.

4 SUPPLEMENTARY NOTEST 14. ABSTRACT This volume identifies Reclamation s standard OPERATION and MAINTENANCE practices for carbon dioxide (CO2) systems. Reclamation has used CO2 fire suppression systems in its powerplants for many years to protect generators and large motors. Different OPERATION and MAINTENANCE practices have evolved across the agency and new, low-pressure systems are supplanting the older, high-pressure systems in many locations. CO2 poses risk to personnel who may be exposed to it, and adequate safety precautions must be in place. Consistency in practices is desirable to ensure effective fire suppression and to maximize safety for plant staff.

5 This volume provides guidance in making those practices consistent. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Carbon dioxide, CO2, carbon dioxide systems, CO2 systems, CO2 SYSTEM OPERATION and MAINTENANCE , CO2 fire suppression, CO2 fire protection, generator fire suppression, large motor fire suppression 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSONT Gary Osburn a. REPORT UL b. ABSTRACT UL c. THIS PAGE UL 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT UL 18. NUMBER OF PAGES 39 19b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (include area code) 303-445-2297 SS Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8/98) P Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18 Facilities, Instructions, Standards, and Techniques Volume 5-12 CO2 SYSTEM OPERATION and MAINTENANCE Hydroelectric Research and Technical Services Group Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Denver, Colorado May 2005 DISCLAIMER This written matter consists of general information for internal Bureau of Reclamation operations and MAINTENANCE staff use.

6 The information contained in this document regarding commercial products or firms may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes and is not to be construed as an endorsement of any product or firm by the Bureau of Reclamation. iii Contents Page 1. 1 2. 1 3. Background .. 1 4. Standards and References .. 4 5. Confined 5 Air Housings .. 5 CO2 Storage Rooms .. 6 Entering Enclosures After CO2 Discharge .. 7 6. Plant 7 7. CO2 SYSTEM Configuration .. 8 General ..8 High-Pressure Systems .. 10 Low-Pressure Systems.

7 10 8. Control and Protection .. 11 Initiating Devices .. 11 Control Considerations .. 13 9. SYSTEM 14 Concentration Test .. 14 Functional Tests .. 14 10. Alarms and Beacons .. 15 11. Signage .. 15 12. High-Pressure Cylinders .. 15 Changing and 15 16 16 Transporting .. 16 13. OPERATION .. 17 14. Training and Drills .. 17 15. Summary of Testing, MAINTENANCE , Training, and Drills .. 17 16. 19 iv Appendix A Memorandum dated December 30, 1997, CO2 Systems Continued MAINTENANCE and replacement Options, including Attachment A (CO2 SYSTEM Spare Parts Source) and Attachment B (Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher Systems) by John Grass Appendix B Power Equipment Bulletin No.

8 3, Recommended Installation of CO2 Beacons in Turbine Pits of Hydroelectric Generators Appendix C Power Equipment Bulletin No. 20, Alternate Methods of Measuring Liquid Levels in CO2 Bottles Figures Page Figure 1 Low-pressure CO2 extinguishing 9 Figure 2 High-pressure CO2 SYSTEM arrangement .. 9 Figure 3 CO2 control SYSTEM overview .. 12 Tables Table 1 Acute health effects of high concentrations of carbon 3 Table 2 Summary of CO2 SYSTEM testing, MAINTENANCE , training, and drills .. 18 May 2005 Page 1 of 40 FIST 5-12 CO2 SYSTEM OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 1. Introduction Many Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) powerplants are equipped with carbon dioxide (CO2) systems for generator and large-motor fire protection.

9 Reclamation has phased out use of CO2 in almost all locations except generator/motor air housings because of the risk to personnel and complexity of safety regulations. CO2 OPERATION and MAINTENANCE (O&M) practices vary throughout the agency, yet standards dictate that minimum practices be developed, documented, and followed. This volume describes Reclamation minimum practices. Various Reclamation CO2-related documents have evolved over the years. This volume coordinates and references this information. 2. Scope This volume addresses OPERATION and MAINTENANCE practices for total flooding CO2 systems at Reclamation facilities.

10 Total flooding systems are those that apply CO2 to an enclosed space to achieve a concentration sufficient to extinguish a Hand-held CO2 fire extinguishers are not addressed Although this volume points out many safety and health issues and recommended practices, it does not supersede Reclamation Safety and Health Standards (RSHS) or the safety office having jurisdiction at the facility. 3. Background The National Fire Protection Association s NFPA 851, Fire Protection for Hydroelectric Generating Plants2 recommends fire protection for generator windings. Reclamation uses only CO2 for automatic generator fire suppression. halon systems proposed as a safe alternative to CO2 in the early 1970s received limited use in Reclamation facilities before they were phased out due to concerns about ozone layer depletion.