BRANCH SOLUTION

Fire protection for wind turbines

Safe for certain

R IS K IN G A FIR E IS R IS K IN G Y O UR IN V E S T M
Over the last few years, the g en eratio n o f elec tric ity fro m win d en erg y has b ec o m e a m ajo r tec hn o lo g y sho win g hu g e g ro wth rates an d ex c ellen t o p p o rtu n ities fo r the fu tu re. T o d ay's hig hly effic ien t win d p o wer statio n s are a far c ry fro m trad itio n al win d m ills. Offsho re in stallatio n an d the p ro d u c tio n o f the latest hig hp erfo rm an c e win d tu rb in es req u ire c o n sid erab le in vestm en t, whic h m u st b e sec u red ag ain st d o wn tim es an d p o ten tial lo ss. U n til rec en tly, m an u fac tu rers, o p erato rs an d firefig hters were u n ab le to red u c e the risk o f d am ag e b y fire. Underestimated risk T he n ac elle is at the heart o f win d tu rb in es, as it c o n tain s the essen tial elem en ts su c h as the g en erato r, the g earb o x , b rak es, c o n tro l p an els, the tran sfo rm er an d the c o n verter. It also p o ses a p artic u larly hig h risk o f fire. If a fire b reak s o u t, fo r in stan c e as a resu lt o f o verheated c o m p o n en ts, elec tric al fau lts o r a b o lt o f lig htn in g , the fire c an sp read easily as the n ac elle c o n tain s c o m b u stib le m aterials su c h as m in eral o ils, lu b ric an ts, p lastic s an d elec tric al c o m p o n en ts. E ffec tive in terven tio n is ham p ered b y lo n g resp o n se tim es o n the p art o f the em erg en c y servic es, rem o te lo c atio n with p o o r ro ad s an d win d tu rb in es with ex trem e hu b heig hts. A s ac c ess to the seat o f the fire is c ru c ial fo r a su c c essfu l in terven tio n , fire-fig hters are o ften u n ab le to in terven e, as stan d ard fire lad d ers c an o n ly b e ex ten d ed to a heig ht o f ap p ro x im ately 3 0 m etres. U n d er su c h c irc u m stan c es, fire-fig htin g m easu res are thu s red u c ed to p ro tec tin g the im m ed iate vic in ity an d watc hin g the statio n o n fire b u rn d o wn . In o ffsho re p lan ts, in terven tio n fro m the sho re is in an y c ase far to o slo w to m ak e a d ifferen c e. T h e conseq uences: D o wn tim es o r to tal lo ss o f the u n it, with c o n sid erab le ec o n o m ic c o n seq u en c es fo r o p erato rs, m an u fac tu rers an d in su ran c e c o m p an ies.

M in im ax is the o n ly su p p lier in E u ro p e p ro vid in g m o b ile an d fix ed fire p ro tec tio n so lu tio n s. F o r m o re than 1 0 0 years, M in im ax has o ffered p lan n in g , d esig n , in stallatio n , m ain ten an c e an d train in g in the field o f fire p ro tec tio n .

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ENT
Loss of corporate image and uneasiness on the part of investors and the general public. Minimax fire protection solutions Minimax, the market leader in fire protection solutions, has developed effective systems specifically designed for wind turbines, based on proven and tested components. The Minimax systems detect a fire at an early stage and extinguish it automatically, minimising downtimes and damage to the equipment. In order to determine the Minimax protection system that best suits your wind turbine, our specialised engineers will advise you on all aspects of the technology and design with you a tailor-made solution that meets your needs. On the above basis, Minimax offers a range of different fire protection solutions that are suitable for new wind turbines as well as for retrofitting in existing units. FIRE D ETEC TION SYSTEMS Fire gas detectors, smoke or heat detectors installed at the relevant critical locations automatically detect a fire at a very early stage. Also, a number of manual call points are located in the wind turbine. As soon as a detector is triggered, the control panel immediately shuts down the wind turbine and initiates a sequence of pre-programmed procedures. V isual and acoustic alarms indicate the level of risk; at the same time, the alarm signal is forwarded to a continuously manned post . If the fire haz ard is not eliminated by shutting down the unit, and if further detectors are triggered, the installed extinguishing system is activated. All messages and data from the fire detection control panel can be easily integrated into the condition monitoring system of the wind turbine. In addition to that the Minimax fire detection and control panel may be equipped to allow remote diagnostics and remote control of the panel.

ARGOTEC AND THE FIRE RUNS OUT OF AIR

GAS EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS Argotec extinguishing systems with nitrogen from Minimax are the ideal solution for wind turbines. The figure to the left shows the main components of the fire protection system and their ideal location in the turbine: - N itrogen gas cylinder bank at the base of the tower - Downstream P ipes with extinguishing nozzles in the nacelle and the electrical devices - Fire detectors and the control panel to detect the fire at an early stage, to control the automatic extinguishing process and alert the fire brigade

Downstream pipework with extinguishing nozzles

Upstream pipe

Automatic fire detectors Manual release for the nitrogen extinguishing system

N itrogen cylinder bank

Fire detection control panel

Given that offshore wind parks require huge investments and are difficult to reach in the event of an emergency, automatic fire extinguishing systems are a must, as insurance cover is otherwise not obtainable.

BRANCH SOLUTION

As the gas cylinders are stored at the base of the tower, its static properties are not affected by additional weight. The nitrogen is stored in pressurised containers and can thus be quickly distributed through the upstream pipe, reaching even the highest nacelle within seconds. The nitrogen reduces the oxygen in the air, necessary for each combustion process, and extinguishes the fire quickly and without leaving any residue behind. The gas is non-conductive and reaches even the most remote locations in the nacelle, entering every groove and gap and penetrating housings and switch cabinets.

Fast and effective. Reliable. In the event of a fire, the extinguishing process is automatically started and controlled. The downstream pipes and installed extinguishing nozzles ensure a fast and homogenous distribution of the nitrogen in the protection zone so that the concentration necessary to extinguish a fire is reached quickly. The fire is smothered before any serious damage is done. W hen the fire is fully extinguished, the wind turbine can be restarted without delay, as the nitrogen gas does not leave any residue behind. S imply ventilate the room to let the gas escape.

Advantag es of the Arg otec exting uishing technolog y with nitrog en Fast extinction without leaving residue behind Only short interruption of operations No damage to electrical and electronic components Nitrogen gas harmless to humans and the environment Extinguishes fires even at extremely low ambient temperatures C ompact unit requiring minimum space thanks to 300 bar technology Low-cost extinguishing agent that is widely available Tested and approved quality

MINIFOG AND FIRES DISAP P EAR IN THE FOG

MINIFOG SYSTEMS Minifog fine water spray systems were developed to allow for protection concepts that combine excellent fire fighting capabilities with a minimum discharge of water. The Minifog nozzles are installed in such a way that crucial components such as main bearings, gear systems, brakes and generators are effectively protected. To ensure reliability even under extreme conditions, an antifreeze solution is used that allows for proper extinguishing at down to minus 30 degrees Celsius. To enhance the efficiency of the extinguishing agent it includes a film forming foam and is sprayed through specially designed nozzles. B y atomising the water, its surface is multiplied, increasing the heat binding capability of the agent and intensifying the cooling effect. As the agent evaporates, it effectively reduces the heat from the fire, while the vapour has a suffocation effect, displacing the oxygen at the seat of the fire. As the amount of water released by the Minifog system is minimal, there is normally no need to provide extra retaining containers for the extinguishing agent. The water supply system was developed as a compact unit with minimum weight to allow easy installation in the nacelle. The Minifog system may be installed during nacelle production, thus allowing for a minimised erection time for the wind turbine.
Advantages of the Minifog fine water spray technology H ighly effective Only small amounts of water required No risk to persons H omogeneous cooling of protected equipment Smoke-cleaning effect Approved technology with low costs Minimisation of expensive downtimes
The water supply unit of the Minifog system is of a compact design requiring only minimum space

The flexible FMZ 5000 fire detection control panel monitors and controls the attached automatic extinguishing systems

Nitrogen gas cylinders of the Argotec compact extinguishing system are pressurised to 300 bar, so that the weight and space requirements are minimised

Since 19 8 9 , Minimax fire protection systems have been installed in a variety of different wind turbine types. Minimax offers fire protection solutions for all types of units, from simple wind machines to modern turbines with capacities of

several megawatts. Systems are developed and extensively tested in our fire research centre to ensure reliability under realistic conditions.

BRANCH SOLUTION

While a Minifog fine water spray system protects the mechanical components in the nacelle, the electrical and

electronic control cabinets of the wind turbine are safeguarded by an Argotec system.

FOR AL L
Insurance companies
Proven reduction of risks and damage by automatic fire protection systems Accurate assessment, thanks to the use of approved and certified products and technologies (VdS, German Lloyd, etc.)

Operators and investors

In the event of a fire, downtimes are minimised Optimised availability, as the risk of fire and serious damage is minimised Only the installation of an automatic fire protection system can prevent total loss by fire Stronger position for negotiations with insurance companies and banks Protection of the investment Upgrading of existing units

Manufacturers
Competitive edge, thanks to improved availability Enhanced image, as fire protection also means protecting the environment

Fire brigade
Effective fire protection for persons and property, prevention of damage to the environment and elimination of operational risks Active support of the fire brigade as weaknesses in the safety concept are effectively eliminated

Minimax fire fighting solutions

Effective prevention of damage by fire and all resulting economic consequences Enhancement of the image of wind turbines as safe and environmentally friendly systems Use of ecologically sustainable technologies

Title: Windpark Dubener Platte, Copyright: Das Gr ne Emissionshaus

Please see Minimax product sheets for detailed information.

AL07 e_ 01/ 08.03/ 04 .07 /HA Printed in Germany

Minimax GmbH & Co. KG Industriestrasse 10/12 2 384 0 Bad Oldesloe Germany Phone: + 4 9 4 531 803-0 Fax: + 4 9 4 531 803-2 4 8 E-mail: info@ minimax.de www.minimax.de

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