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Objective:
Periodic
performance checks must be made on the foam distribution systems
of aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicles to maintain
mission readiness. During these checks, the vehicles discharge
a fire-fighting agent known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
as run-off. The resistance of AFFF to biodegradation, the
toxicity of its constituent butyl carbinol, and its extreme
foaming activity pose environmental concerns. Therefore, after
testing, the AFFF must be collected and treated at high cost,
which has deterred some Department of Defense (DoD) fire departments
from conducting the necessary performance checks. In this
project, an external Universal Stationary/Mobile NoFoam Unit
(USNOFU) containing a benign, surrogate fluid for testing
the distribution system was demonstrated on ARFF vehicles
at the following four DoD facilities: Marine Corps Air Facility
Quantico, VA; Tyndall AFB, FL; Fort Benning, GA; and Naval
Air Station Fallon, NV.
Technology
Description:
The NoFoam
Unit hardware consists of piping, flow monitoring sensors
and a control panel, which displays the discharge flow rate
of the surrogate solution. The system is easily towed and
can therefore be stationary or mobile. The ARFF vehicles are
connected to the unit, the AFFF concentrate is isolated during
the testing, and discharge of the AFFF foam to the environment
is thereby eliminated. The longer amount of time required
for system checks (i.e., 10-15 minutes) with the USNOFU is
more than offset by the time that would be required for collection
of AFFF run-off. Also, the firefighter gains added confidence
in the flow distribution system because the surrogate test
fluid is a visible dye-water solution, which can be observed
as it discharges.
Results:
A minimum
of six months of data was collected on nine of the ten ARFF
platforms tested. All platforms reduced or eliminated the
AFFF wastewater that would have been generated from weekly
scheduled nozzle discharge checks. The NoFoam Unit did not
malfunction or break down on any of the platforms. Previously
unknown deficiencies in the AFFF foam distribution systems
also were observed in nine of the ten platforms tested.
Benefits
and Implications:
Eliminating
the discharge of AFFF removes the environmental hazard, reduces
AFFF purchase costs, and reduces the cost of waste disposal.
Mission readiness is not jeopardized, and compliance with
environmental regulations and attainment of waste minimization
targets are facilitated. Annual disposal cost savings were
estimated at $52,000 per ARFF vehicle, which translate to
an annual savings of $62 million for the DoD&8217;s 1,200
ARFF vehicle inventory and a 2-3 month payback period on the
required $22,000 capital investment for a NoFoam Unit with
three retrofit modules. Two of the host DoD facilities retrofitted
modules for their ARFF vehicles upon completion of the demonstrations.
(Project Completed - 2004)
References:
1.
ESTCP
Cost and Performance Report. January 2004. (PDF File
Format)
Contact:
Mr.
Rance Kudo
Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center
1100 23rd Avenue, ESC 421
Port Hueneme, CA 93043-4370
Telephone: (805) 982-4976
Fax: (805) 982-4832
E-mail: rance.kudo@navy.mil
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