Water Handling Operations Unit 4 C Foam and

Water Handling Operations Unit 4 C - Foam and Foam Proportioning Equipment 4 C-1

Objectives • Discuss why foam is more effective than plain water when performing wildland fire suppression operations. • Discuss foam safety including guidelines for handling foam products. • Identify and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of two manual foam proportioning methods used when performing wildland fire suppression operations. 4 C-2

Objectives • Identify various operational components of the Foam Pro 1600/1601. • Demonstrate the ability to set up, run, have foam solution pumped to a nozzle person, and shut down a foam proportioner. 4 C-3

4 C-4

4 C-5

4 C-6

4 C-7

4 C-8

4 C-9

4 C-10

4 C-11

4 C-12

Foam Proportioners 4 C-13

Manual Foam Proportioners • Operators manually adjust the device to maintain a constant mix ratio when water flow and pressure changes. – Cannot maintain constant mix ratio over various flow and pressure rates 4 C-14

Batch Mixing 4 C-15

Suction Side Foam Proportioners 4 C-16

4 C-17

Automatic Foam Proportioner • The automatic foam proportioner makes an adjustment on its own to maintain a constant mix ratio when water flow and pressure changes. 4 C-18

Foam Pro 1601 Electronic Direct Injection Foam Proportioner s 4 C-19

Foam Pro 1601 • Proportional and automatic • No loss of pressure or flow • Works on discharge side of pump • Accurate at all flow ranges • Class A foam only • Resupply foam without interruption • Requires water flow and electrical current • No restrictions due to hose length or number of nozzles 4 C-20

Robwen Flow Mix Balanced Pressure Bladder Foam Proportioner Three-way Valve Pressure Tank with Bladder Concentrate Fill Line Water Dump Line Foam Concentrate Metering Valve Check Valve Water Pump Modified Venturi/ Pressure Differential Valve 4 C-21

Robwen Flow Mix Portable Unit 4 C-22

Robwen Flow Mix Fixed Mount 4 C-23

Robwen Flow Mix • Proportional and automatic • Some loss of pressure or flow • Works on discharge side of pump • Accurate at all flow ranges • Uses Class A or B foam • Cannot resupply foam without interruption • Requires only water flow to operate • No restrictions do to hose length or number of nozzles 4 C-24

Operating the Foam Pro 1601 (Major Components) • Operator control module • Motor driver box/module • Paddlewheel flowmeter • Foam pump and electric motor • Calibrate/Inject valve • Inline strainer 4 C-25

Operator Control Module (Panel Mounted) • Operating instructions • On/Off switch • Injection rate control – Adjustable from 0. 1%-1. 0% • Low concentrate (“LOW CONC. ”) light 4 C-26

Motor Driver Box/Module (Normal Operation) Simulated flow switch “Down” for normal operation Circuit breaker switch “Up” for normal operation 4 C-27

Paddlewheel Flowmeter 4 C-28

Foam Pump and Electric Motor 4 C-29

Calibrate/Inject Valve 4 C-30

Purging Air • Enter “Simulated Flow” – Switch to “Up” position – Preprogrammed for 100 gpm • Valve to “Cal/Flush” • Turn panel switch “On” • Run pump until concentrate flows from dump line 4 C-31

Purging Air (Continued) • Turn control panel to “Off” position • Return valve to “Inject” • Exit “Simulated Flow” by returning switch to “Down” position 4 C-32

Inline Strainer 4 C-33

Foam Injection Check Valve and Injection Port 4 C-34

Objectives • Discuss why foam is more effective than plain water when performing wildland fire suppression operations. • Discuss foam safety including guidelines for handling foam products. • Identify and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of two manual foam proportioning methods used when performing wildland fire suppression operations. 4 C-35

Objectives • Identify various operational components of the Foam Pro 1600/1601. • Demonstrate the ability to set up, run, have foam solution pumped to a nozzle person, and shut down a foam proportioner. 4 C-36

Vehicle Fire Case Study 4 C-37