What happens when a transformer fire occurs in a substation

electrical-engineering-portal.com/transformer-fire

Google+

8/12/2016

What happens when a transformer fire occurs in a substation (on photo: Testing fire protection system on a transformer; credit: SuperBigox via Youtube)

Transformer fire in a substation

If a fire occurs as a result of a failure in a transformer , then the transformer is nearly always a total write off.
However, the total cost of a transformer fire is typically in the order of 2-3 times the cost of the replacement
transformer and can in unfavourable events be many times the cost of the transformer, even without including the
cost of loss of supply for customer.
The strategy therefore is //
1. Minimise the risk of the transformer fire occurring.
2. Protect the potential fire victims, humans and the remainder of the substation installation from also being fire
damaged.
3. Maintain supply during the fire, or if not possible then restore the supply as early as possible after the fire.
4. Avoid pollution and contamination of the environment.

1/5

Combustion products and their effect on life and safety

The product of combustion can be divided into four categories:
1. Fire gases
2. Smoke
3. Heat from fire and
4. Loss of oxygen

In addition to the product from combustion, there is also the risk of pollution from oil spill and
contamination by products use in transformer fire fighting such as foam and possibly
contaminated water! Each of these can have damaging effect on humans, other equipment and the
environment.

Each item will be discussed briefly below //

1. Fire Gases
Transformer oil and cellulose insulation burn to mostly carbon dioxide, or carbon monoxide if air supply is restricted.
Other more toxic or corrosive gases can be released from burning of cable insulation.
This is of particular concern with indoor installations of transformers. Heat and fire gases are major cause of
fatalities in fires.

2. Smoke
Smoke consist of very fine solid particles and condensed water vapour . In many cases smoke reaches untenable
levels before the temperature does. This is especially so when fire occurs indoors or in confined areas.
Smoke particles can cause damage to the respiratory system and it may impair vision if lodges in eyes and thus
impair the ability to escape the transformer fire.

3. Heat from fire

Heat from flame can cause dehydration and exhaustion and if intense and conducted into the lungs, cause serious
decline in blood pressure and failure of blood circulation. Burns can be caused from contact with flames, heated
objects or from radiation.
Heat exposure can cause physical shock and possible death! High level of heat radiation can cause instant death.

4. Loss of Oxygen (fire consumes oxygen)

2/5

The oxygen level in normal air is 21% and if it drops below 15% then muscular skills diminish, at a further reduction
to 14 10%, fatigue sets in and judgement becomes impaired. If oxygen reduced to the range from 10 to 6%,
complete collapse and unconscious occurs, but revival may still be effected if fresh air or oxygen becomes available.

Classification of fires and extinguishing agents

Classification of fires as determined by National Fire Protection Association [NFPA] :
Class A Fires in ordinary combustible materials (glowing after burning). The extinguishing agent is water.
Class B Fires in flammable liquids. The extinguishing agent is fine spray of water (water mist of fogging). The
blanketing or smothering effect keeps the oxygen away from the fuel.
Class C Fires in electrical equipment. The extinguishing agent must be non-conducting (powder, carbon
dioxide, vaporizing liquid (foams or water sprays at safe distance).

Fire resistance classification

The resistance of a substation structure and its construction material including buildings is normally indicated by a
combination of code letter and number. Significant variations exist between countries in the test methods used and
the classification code applied. But it is common to use a combination of letters and numbers as is done using the REI
classification.
This classification method assign a fire rating grading period in minutes based on three distinct criteria using the
letters as follows:
R Structural adequacy The ability to maintain stability and load bearing capacity.
E IntegrityThe ability to resist flame and passage of hot gases.
I Insulation The ability to maintain a temperature on the non exposed surface below the specified limit.
REI 120/60/60 means the structure could be expected to maintain structural adequacy for 120 minutes. Integrity for 60
minutes and thermal insulation for 60 minutes for the defined conditions.
However to compare different classification it is necessary to understand both the test method and the classification
coding applicable for the specific classification.

Extinguishment of fires (Fire triangle)

The fire triangle provides a very good graphic presentation of how a fire can be extinguished.

3/5

Fire triangle

Remove the heat

The fire can be extinguished if the heat is removed and the fuel is cooled below its fire point temperature. Water can
be very efficient as a cooling medium to extinguish external fires and to protect adjacent asset from being heated to
their flash point.
Water is less efficient in extinguishing a fire burning inside a transformer , as it is often difficult to get the water
into the transformer tank and the oil will float on the top of the water and continue burning even if water is sprayed in
to a transformer tank.
Also for the same reason water alone is not efficient in extinguishing oil pool fires. Whereas water with foam can be
very efficient for this purpose as it excluded oxygen from the oil surface.

Oxygen displacement or dilution

Removal of oxygen can be a very effective method of extinguishing fires where this method is possible. Only a slight
decrease of the oxygen concentration in air decreases the fire intensity and below 16 % oxygen in the air there is no
risk for a fire.
Many alternative gases have been used successfully to displace or dilute oxygen and thus extinguish the transformer
fire.

Gases commonly used for this purpose include carbon dioxide, halon and nitrogen. (halon is now

4/5

disappearing from use, as it is considered a non-environmentally friendly gas).

The disadvantage for all of these gases has been that human beings could be suffocated, if the gas is injected
before all humans have been evacuated. CO 2 is heavier than air and is often used in buildings and other areas
where the gas can be contained and the displaced air can raise above the fire.
Nitrogen is lighter than air and is uses for injection where the fire is at an upper surface and the nitrogen can be
contained, as it can in a transformer tank.
Some manufactures of transformer fire extinguishing systems, have used nitrogen for injection into the base of oil
filled transformers to extinguishing a fire burning from the oil surface. In this application nitrogen will stir and cool the
oil in the transformer tank and displace the air above the oil and suppress the fire.

Foam and high pressure water fogging can also be used to displace oxygen.

Foam can be very effective for use on oil pool fires, but is less effective on oil fires where oil is spilling over a vertical
surface and it is often difficult to get foam into a fire burning inside a transformer tank. Water deluge and high
pressure water fog or water mist have the benefit of oxygen dilution as well as providing cooling.

Removal of fuel
Removal of fuel can be effective, but is often not possible . Some strategies for fuel removal exist for transformer oil,
as it is possible to equip transformer tank with oil dump valves which can be opened by remote control. Dumped
and/or spilled oil can be directed into oil/water separation tanks or into gravel or crushed rock beds or other safe
holding areas.

Transformer as a fire victim

The transformer can become a victim to a fire started elsewhere! As large power transformers contain large
quantities of mineral oil, the potential for the transformer to add considerable quantities of high energy fuel to an
existing fire exist and strategies to minimize the risk of releasing and igniting this fuel source should be considered as
part of the substation design process.
The most effective protection is probably fire barriers and water spray for cooling and keeping the oil within the
transformer tank, away from oxygen and below the flashpoint temperature.
Reference // Guide for Transformer Fire Safety Practices by Working Group A2.33 (Arne PETERSEN Convenor
Rudy BLANC, Kjell CARRANDER, Dayse DUARTE, Yoshihito EBISAWA, Elisa J. FIGUEROA, Marc FOATA, Makoto
KADOWAKI, Takayuki KOBAYASHI, Terence LEE, Russell MARTIN, Sidwell MTETWA, Hiroshi MURAKAMI, Uwe
RIMMELE and Yukiyasu SHIRASAKA

5/5