FIPRES - Fire/overheating prevention
Detects hot spots long before a dangerous situation, avoiding material damage, threats to life, and loss of profit
Provides 24/7 monitoring with SCADA connectivity
Can be quickly and easily installed in existing equipment
Safe and patented solution with a validity period of 10 years
Problem
Electrical fires every year become a cause of terrible consequences for all kinds of facilities. Industrial disasters result in huge financial losses with damages done by the fire and production downtime. In the worst cases, fire costs the lives of people. In most cases, the reason for fires is faults in the electrical network. Contact connections (especially connections made on-site) in MV and LV are always the most problematic points of the electrical network due to possible loosening. It can be caused by improper tightening torque during the assembly process or constant vibrations over time. Another reason which can lead to a worsening of the contact condition is temperature cycling through the day. Heating at high current and cooling at low current causes expansion and contraction of contact and may lead to contact loss. And even if an insufficiently tightened connection can still provide an acceptable level of mechanical reliability of the connection, it worsens electrical and thermal reliability:
- As soon as the connection is loosened, its own resistance increases. This happens due to loosening the fit of contact surfaces (Bolt / Busbar, Cable lug / Busbar, etc.) This resistance causes the contact to heat up
- Heating due to increased resistance contributes to the oxidation process (which happens faster at higher temperatures)
- Oxidation covers the contact with an oxide film, and its resistance is much higher than for the base metal
- The resulting thermal runaway leads to a complete failure of connection. As a result, such contact burns out or leads to an electric fire in the compartment
Typical scenario of fire inside electrical cabinets is shown below:
FIPRES. How it works?
Early detection of abnormal temperature rises will prevent electrical failures and fire months before the problem rises. It also allows to save equipment from using at overheated conditions and prolongate its lifespan. On this basis, FIPRES is made. FIPRES offers a comprehensive and affordable solution for LV and MV electrical panels and switchgears. The technology implies the easy application of temperature-sensitive stickers (rFPT) on conductors and busbars of electrical equipment. Each sticker has indicative points, that irreversibly change color when the conductor heats up to a certain temperature. After reaching the critical temperature level (activation temperature), the stickers start to emit signal gas (non-toxic and non-flammable), that is being detected by the special sensor (FPA) located in the same volume. As soon as the sensor detects the presence of signal gas inside the cabinet, it emits an alarm signal to SCADA system or any other external system via dry contact output.
Technical comparison with thermal imaging control
Regularly checking contact connections is complex due to their large number, the constant operation under-voltage, and often the lack of access for the inspection. The most popular method – scheduled infrared thermography inspections has several significant disadvantages.
- Works around the clock
- Allow to check equipment in locked (explosion-proof) enclosures
- Checks all spots at the same time
- Does not depend on the human factor
- Works only at the time of inspection
- Doesn’t allow to check equipment in locked (explosion-proof) enclosures
- The load at the time of inspection should be at least 60% to see weak points
- Depends on the human factor
- Risky for personnel because the inspection should be done near to live electrical equipment