Experimental Study on the Radiative Heat Reduction Performance of Water Curtain Systems in Petrochemical Plants

A water curtain system is an active fire-protection device designed to suppress the spread of flames, smoke, and radiant heat during fire incidents. This system is particularly effective in petrochemical plants, where flammable materials are handled, because it can significantly reduce the secondary damage caused by radiant heat. This study quantitatively analyzed the radiant-heat-reduction performance of a water curtain through full-scale fire experiments targeting a petrochemical plant. To this end, a fire test apparatus equipped with a water curtain system was constructed, and experiments were conducted by varying the spacing between the water curtain and heat source, number of nozzles, and nozzle pressure. The results reveal the influence of each parameter on radiant heat attenuation, allowing for optimal design and operational conditions to be established for field applications in industrial plants. Furthermore, the experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of meeting international safety standards.