Wind Energy & Solar Thermal Energy

Fire in Wind Turbines

• The second leading cause of disruption to output in wind turbines – after blade failure – is fire. With the average overall cost of a wind turbine fire being around $4.5m, and with three out of six fire incidents involving a human presence in the nacelle, fire suppression is a sensible consideration from both a financial and safety perspective.

Nacelle

• Even a small fire can accelerate quickly in a nacelle that comprises highly flammable resin fibreglass. Internal insulation, which can become contaminated by oil deposits, further adds to the fuel load.
• The nacelle should be protected via small gaseous fire suppression systems and be able to rely on them to avoid total loss, to save lives, and protect critical infrastructure before maintenance engineers can get to them.

Monitor Fire Suppression Systems

• Such fire extinguishing systems require maintenance to ensure they are fully operational and ready in event of a fire. ISO 14520-1:2015(E) assumes that these systems accidentally discharge and leak.2.4.2 Contents indication: “Means shall be provided to indicate that each container is correctly charged.” Followed by “9.2.1.3 The storage container contents shall be checked at least every six months as follows. a) Liquefied gases: for halocarbon agents, if a container shows a loss of agent in quantity of more than 5 % or a loss of pressure (adjusted for temperature) of more than 10 %, it shall be refilled or replaced.”
• For regular inspection, there are solutions such as the Portalevel® MAX PLUS. This handheld ultrasonic liquid level indicator can service a cylinder in 30 seconds (in contrast to 15 minutes by traditional manual weighing) with accuracy of up to 1.5mm off the true liquid level.
• PermaMass® FEATHERWEIGHT – For 24/7 monitoring – ideal for remote, unmanned locations Real-time monitoring of agent mass loss and equivalent pressure loss in inert gas, liquified and non-liquified fire suppression systems to 10g, or less than 1% accuracy above 10 kg total cylinder weight

Case Study

• In 2017 a Wind Turbine Manufacturer went to the manufacturer of the fire systems that they install in some turbines for a solution to inspect the fire system cylinders [for agent content loss in case the pressurised cylinders leaked or discharged which would mean insufficient agent to suppress a fire event]. This manufacturer had worked with Coltraco on projects for many years and recommended the Wind Turbine Manufacturer to look to Coltraco for a solution. Working with the Wind Turbine Manufacturer HQ, Coltraco Ultrasonics’ flagship product Portalevel® MAX PLUS (ultrasonic liquid level indicator for testing fire suppression systems for agent contents) was chosen for trials and testing. The Portalevel® MAX PLUS unit is the most accurate in the world able to identify liquefied gaseous extinguishant levels to +/-1.5mm. These passed and the unit was deemed to solve their issues: giving the ability to regularly inspect and maintain the contents of their fire extinguishing systems.
• Using Portalevel® MAX PLUS units, Wind Turbine Manufacturers and their customers can protect their valuable assets from substantial fire damage, as well as minimise downtime for maintenance, ensuring cylinders are always full and able to extinguish fires.