Depending on the size of the nacelle, and the type of environment where your installation is in, among other factors, several options are available for you to choose from for your turbines. Below you will find a short description of some of the options:
Water mist systems
Water mist systems force water at a high pressure through nozzles thus creating an extremely fine mist of droplets under 1000 µm in size. This water mist suppresses fire by reducing heat, displacing oxygen, and controlling the fuel source by wetting and cooling the surrounding fuel surfaces.
The water mist system can be fully integrated into the nacelle, using a compact pump unit which gives it a weight reduction and allows for installation in smaller spaces.
CO2 Systems
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) systems work by flooding the room with CO2 gas that suppresses fire by displacing the ambient oxygen level. CO2 is a colourless, odourless, and electrically non-conductive gas that leaves no residue behind. This means that any sensitive equipment that is in the protected space will not be damaged by CO2. As offshore wind turbine nacelles are airtight in order to prevent corrosion, CO2 becomes a viable option for fire suppression.
However, due to the dangers of CO2 to humans, extra precautions such as additional life safety devices, training, and safety protocols are needed when choosing CO2 as fire suppression. These precautions could consist of personnel training about the system, installing pre-discharge alarms, and setting a pneumatic time delay.
Clean Agent
Like CO2 systems, clean agent systems make use of inert gas or chemicals that are stored in a container that will be discharged when a fire is detected. Clean agents suppress fire by eliminating either the heat element or the oxygen elements of the fire. The most common agent isInergen.
These systems are all non-toxic and do not reduce the oxygen level to an unsafe level. Additionally, only very little space is required for the cylinders containing the clean agent. As per its name, no clean-up is required as no residue is left after the discharge of the clean agents.
Aerosols
Aerosol firefighting systems employ a combination of air/inert gases with solid microparticles that suppress the fire. The primary extinguishing mechanism of aerosol systems involves chemically interfering with the free radicals in the fire zone – it simply interrupts the chain reaction of fuel, oxygen, and heat in a fire.
Aerosol solutions may be suitable for a wind turbine nacelle because it is lightweight; most aerosol solutions are “stand-alone” as they do not need pipework or pressurised cylinders to work.
Foam Systems
Foam firefighting combines both water with a foaming agent to extinguish large-scale fires. The foam expands and coats the fuel, preventing contact with oxygen and stopping the fire from continuing. The water then helps to cool the surface, preventing reignition via flammable vapours.
Foam systems is an ideal fire suppression choice for hazards involving flammable and combustible liquids. This means that foam systems are well-equipped to suppress fires that may occur from the oil-filled transformer.
What to choose?
With these options available, you can choose a system according to your needs and requirements. Which firefighting system is most suitable for you depends on a variety of factors, such as the specific set of standards that your wind farm needs to comply with, the type of environment, and much more. With those factors in mind, it is always necessary to consult a trusted firefighting expert to find a solution that is tailored for your specific project.
Our own in-house firefighting specialists are always available for a chat about potential firefighting solutions - Get in touch - or find out more about the fire suppression solutions that we provide to offshore wind farms and turbines. Click to find out more
