A man watches a fire in a sugar cane plantation near Dumon city, São Paulo, Brazil, on 24 August 2024
Extreme heat across parts of Brazil this week with temperatures about 5C to 10C above the 1991 to 2020 average. Daytime temperatures will reach 35C to 40C in parts of the Central West region, affecting cities such as Belo Horizonte, Brasília and Manaus. This great heat is likely to continue into next week, with temperatures above 40C possible in places.
This heat will amplify the risk of wildfires that have been raging across parts of Brazil, especially across the Amazon rainforest, Cerrado savanna, Pantanal wetlands and the southern state of São Paulo. Local reports say these fires have been exacerbated by high temperatures, strong winds and low relative humidity, with São Paulo and the Amazon suffering the worst fire season in decades.
Over the past week, 2,700 fires have ripped through São Paulo state, and authorities say more than 59,000 hectares (146,000 acres) have been destroyed by the fires. Brazil’s largest sugar group, Raizen SA, has estimated that about 1.8tn tonnes of its sugarcane have been affected by the fires, about 2% of its total forecasted crop for the year.
People in the region have been reporting coughs, a burning sensation at the back of their throats, and reddening of their eyes from smoke in the area. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there have been 53,620 fire spots in the Amazon between 1 January and 27 August this year – an 83% increase on the same period last year.
Relevant Ruhrpumpen´s Fire Projects
Ruhrpumpen is pleased to present the following project shipped last month of august from our shop in Monterrey, México. The project consists of two sea water 5000 GPM vertical turbine pumps designed to operate in deep wells. The 20” bowl assembly consists of a suction bell, 3 stages, and a 14” discharge case.
Bowl, impeller, and bearing material were all fabricated in Super Duplex. A diesel engine model CFP23E-F60 with 1000 HP @ 1760 RPM was delivered with a marine grade air cleaner and explosion proof protection on all electronics and controls wired.
A rectangular diesel, double wall, tank with 900 gallon capacity suitable for 18 hours of operation was used and a diesel engine fire pump control panel Firetrol with NEMA 4X enclosure.
Relevant Ruhrpumpen´s Fire Projects
Offshore fire suppression application.
The pumps were supplied in a packaged, open skid configuration, with integrated systems such as:
- Common baseplate for pump driver and accessories.
- Pre-wired UL&FM pump controllers.
- Discharge piping with non-return valve.
- Air release and vacuum breaker valve.
- Main relief valve & waste cone.
- Fuel tank along with supply and return lines.
- Pressure sensing lines.
- Cooling lines for diesel engine and right-angle gear drive.
- Primary electric starting system with dual battery banks.
- Secondary pneumatic starting system, inclusive of air accumulator.
The pumps were delivered to an offshore platform in the Gulf of México. When emergencies occur, it’s better to be prepared. One more customer that relies on the efficiency of our firefighting equipment. The Oil & Gas Industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transportation, and marketing of petroleum products.
The largest volume products of the industry are fuel oil and gasoline. Oil is crucial to the global economic framework, impacting everything from transportation to heating and electricity to industrial production and manufacturing.
Last month, at least six workers died in an explosion and fire at a tequila factory in México. Two others were injured in the disaster, at a distillery in the town of Tequila, Jalisco.
“The incident involved the explosion of a tank car,” Jalisco’s civil protection agency said, adding that the fire ignited three additional tank cars, each with a capacity of 219,000 liters. The cause of the fire is not yet known, authorities said. At least 40 firefighting and civil protection teams responded to the incident.
Jalisco state is the largest producer of agave, the key ingredient in tequila, generating nearly 75% of the nation’s annual crop. The town of Tequila, which gives the liquor its name, is a center for tourism, receiving an average of more than one million visitors annually from Mexico and abroad, according to data from the mayor’s office.
In February, Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies approved a law to change National Tequila Day from the third Saturday of March to July 24, to coincide with the same date celebrated in the United States, its northern neighbor and largest trading partner.
The US is the largest market for Mexican tequila exports. Adjusted for inflation, between 2014 and 2019, tequila imports increased from $1.1 billion to $4.9 billion, according to 2023 figures from the US Department of Agriculture.
Cutting-Edge Pump House Solution for a Jakarta Refinery
Ruhrpumpen has recently delivered a cutting-edge ETL Listed prepackaged pump house to a refinery in Jakarta, designed to meet the fire protection requirements of the oil and gas sector. The pump house includes both electric and diesel engine-driven fire pumps, along with a jockey pump, ensuring robust fire suppression capabilities. The system is housed in a compact unit measuring 8’-2” wide x 40’-0” long x 11’-0” high, featuring a durable shed-style roof and fully insulated walls and roof for efficient thermal management.
The electric set in this installation comprises a Horizontal Split Case pump constructed from cast iron and stainless steel, driven by a 185 kW motor operating at 3000 RPM. The motor is designed to IEC standards, featuring Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC) construction with IE3 efficiency, and is controlled by a Tornatech GPA controller housed in a NEMA 2 enclosure. This configuration ensures reliable performance and compliance with industry efficiency and safety standards.
Complementing the electric set is a diesel-driven Horizontal Split Case pump, also made from cast iron and stainless steel, with a JU6H-UF94 motor delivering 300 hp at 3000 RPM. The diesel engine meets emission standards, reflecting an emphasis on environmental considerations alongside operational efficiency. Control is managed by a Tornatech GPD controller, ensuring seamless integration with the system’s safety protocols.
The jockey pump, an essential component for maintaining system pressure, is an End Suction model made from ductile iron, driven by a 30 kW motor at 3000 RPM. It features TEFC construction, controlled by a Tornatech JP3 controller. This setup is crucial for the system's readiness, maintaining pressure and ensuring immediate response in the event of a fire.
The pump house is meticulously designed for operational efficiency and ease of maintenance, incorporating Ruhrpumpen’s standard fuel supply lines, electrical interconnections, and sensing lines. It includes essential features such as resilient OS&Y Gate valves, discharge butterfly isolation valves with tamper switches, and a pump house sprinkler system compliant with NFPA 13 standards. This comprehensive solution underscores Ruhrpumpen’s commitment to providing reliable, high-performance fire protection systems tailored to the needs of critical infrastructure in the oil and gas industry.
Life-threatening fire at manufacturing facility claims 20 lives
A fire started at a manufacturing facility in South Korea and resulted in at least 20 deaths, with six people injured and seven still missing, company reports. The fire blaze began around 10:00AM and extinguished after 4 hours. The fire department stated that the fire was caused by the explosion of battery cells inside the warehouse.
Seven workers inside the factory are still missing but rescue workers continue their non-stop search with all available personnel and equipment to aid and multiply efforts. Approximately 100 workers were present at the facility when the fire started. In response to the fire, local authorities have issued alerts advising residents to stay indoors and close their windows due to smoke from the fire.
The fire department has raised safety concerns of the fabrication of lithium batteries. Are they a fire risk?
