Thermal Protection of Tank Car in a Pool Fire

Sponsor: American Railcar Industries

Team: Fire Shield

Coach: Jerry Bowman

Students: Sebastian Acosta, Chris Barrett, Tim Bishop, David Isaacson

American Railcar Industries (ARI) manufactures 3,000 to 4,000 tank cars per year, 500 of which require thermal protection. These tank cars are insulated to protect their contents and to meet Department of Transportation requirements.

Team Fire Shield did many tests to improve the life expectancy, thermal protection, cost, and instillation of the tank cars. The team found that by replacing the current insulator with “Kaowool RT” (an insulator made by Thermal Ceramics) they could reduce the strain on the tanker by 170% and reduce energy loss by 60%.

This new insulation will reduce costs by 9.8% and allow more contents to be carried inside the tanker.