Multi-Blanket Inert Gas Rail Car Fire Suppression

A container spark and fire suppression apparatus, comprising:

• means for removing any volatile gases present prior to and produced during and after loading the container with a volatile liquid based on a weight capacity of the container;
• means for filling a headspace above a level of the volatile liquid with a predetermined blanket composition of inert gas(es), the filling occurring during at least one of the loading, transporting and evacuating the container thereof;
• means for pressurizing the volatile liquid and the predetermined composition of inert gas(es) to a predetermined pressure in the container to retard outgassing of the volatile liquid into the head space occupied by the inert gas(es);
• and
• means for discharging a fire retardant foam and the like at onset of a rupturing of the predetermined blanket composition, the discharge adapted to smother, extinguish and prevent a fire from an ignition, a rupture and other combustible processes.

A container spark and fire suppression system, comprising:

• a remover adapted to remove any volatile gases present prior to and produced during and after loading the container with a volatile liquid based on a weight capacity of the container;
• a filler adapted to fill a headspace above a level of the volatile liquid with a predetermined blanket composition of inert gas(es), the filling occurring during at least one of the loading, transporting and evacuating the container thereof;
• a pressurizer adapted to pressurize the volatile liquid and the predetermined composition of inert gas(es) to a predetermined pressure in the container to retard outgassing of the volatile liquid into the head space occupied by the inert gas(es);
• and
• at least one of a monitor and control apparatus adapted to determine and adjust a plurality of conditions regarding the inert gas(es) and the volatile liquid in the container.