Passive fire protection system for marine risers

摘要

A fire protection system comprising a plurality of insulation protective jackets placed around the top joint of a riser string above and below the tensioner ring and its protective cover and over the threads or annular protrusions used to facilitate the connection of the tensioner ring to the top joint. Each protective jacket comprises an outer section of multiple layers of cloth, the outer layer being of an abrasive resistant, weather resistant material, and at least one of these layers being a woven ceramic fiber that helps to eliminate flame impingement, one or more layers of reinforcement (as many as required) and an inner section composed of a thick interior multi-layered composite layer of ceramic fibrous material and barrier films and an inner abrasion resistant liner to minimize heat transfer and gas passage to the protective part. Each protective jacket overlaps an adjacent protective jacket and the number of protective jackets above and below the tensioner ring and its protective cover depends upon the position of the tensioner ring on the threads or annular protrusions on the top joint and the top and bottom protective jackets are formed to cooperate with the intumescent epoxy on the non-threaded portion of the top joint. Each protective jacket is also preferably laced to its adjacent jacket and preferably secured by suitable straps to seal the covered area against flame and heat intrusion. The protective jackets may also be used to cover an entire top joint eliminating the need for intumescent epoxy and may be used to cover all or any part of a riser section.