Water deluge system treatment apparatus and method

The invention provides a method and apparatus for treating a deluge system. The apparatus 110 comprises a Venturi device comprising a first inlet 114 and an outlet 116 for connection to a flow path between a firemain 105 and an arrangement of deluge pipework 102. The Venturi device, which may be an eductor or inductor, comprises a second inlet 118 for connection to a source of corrosion inhibitor 124. A corrosion inhibitor control valve 122 is movable between an open condition in which corrosion inhibitor is drawn into the deluge pipework by motive fluid in the flow path, and a closed position in which the deluge pipework is isolated from the source of corrosion inhibitor. The corrosion inhibitor control valve may be hydraulically operable or may comprise a ball valve. In a first embodiment (figure 2), the apparatus forms part of a permanent or semi-permanent installation, for example, on an industrial facility such as an offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production installation. An alternative embodiment (figure 3) may be implemented as a portable or mobile apparatus removably coupled to an existing deluge system.