CONSIDERATII PRIVIND INTRODUCEREA UNUI SISTEM DE STINGERE
A INCENDIULUI IN STATIILE ELECTRICE DE TRANSFORMARE
CONSIDERATION ON FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM IN SUBSTATIONS
Vasile TABACARU
SC FDFEE ELECTRICA MUNTENIA NORD SA SDFEE Galati
35 A, N. Balcescu Street, Galati
Tel. 0236 461759, tehnic@electricitate.galati.ro
Rezumat: In staiile electrice de transforrmare din sistemul de
distribuie nu exist instalaii individuale sau sisteme integrate
cu rol de detectare automat, semnalizare/alarmare i stingere a
incendiilor, ci doar materiale tehnice i produse iniiale (conform
PE 009). Incidente minore, produse n staii fr personal, conduc
la avarii cu pierderi materiale incomparabile cu valoarea unui
sistem de detectare i stingere a incendiului. Dat fiind valoarea
mare a investiiilor n cazul staiilor noi sau a celor modernizate, n
special prin echipamentul de comutaie i protecie de ultim
generaie utilizat, subliniem c trebuie (re)considerat dotarea
unei sli de conexiuni din cadrul unei staii electrice de trans-
formare n privina proteciei la incendiu. Promovm ideea
introducerii unuia din cele mai simple sisteme de detectare
automat i stingere a incendiului: pe baz de detectoare de fum
prin aspiraie i amestec de gaz ecologic inhibitor FM 200.
1. Merit cu adevrat instalarea unui sistem de securitate ?
La o analiz atent a rolului pe care l are sistemul de
securitate, se poate concluziona c acesta este unul ingrat: pe
de o parte, apreciat pentru starea de veghe permanent n
vederea declanrii unei alarme n cazul pericolelor poteniale
(incendiu, efracii, sabotaj etc.) i, pe de alt parte, este nea-
preciat pentru beneficiile prevenirii sau limitrii distrugerilor.
Un simplu incident sau o explozie nsoit de incendiu nu
produce doar distrugeri directe (asupra instalaiei, resurselor
etc.) ci i mari pierderi indirecte (ntreruperea funcionrii in-
stalaiei, penalizri contractuale). n plus, nu toate riscurile sunt
asigurabile sau, dac sunt, primele de asigurare sunt prohibitive.
Analiznd toate aceste motive, rezult c o companie ar
trebui s fac eforturi n a gsi soluii pentru protecia
instalaiilor, a produciei i, nu n ultimul rnd, a angajailor.
La ora actual, practic nici o afacere nu-i poate permite,
n perspectiva dezvoltrii ei, s ignore latura managerial a
riscului. Ca o consecin, pe piaa mondial sunt multe firme
profesioniste care ofer proiecte n acest domeniu, bazate pe
experien i know-how i care, la cerinele clientului, indenti-
fic coordonatele profilului hazardului, determin obiectivele
de protejat i proiecteaz un concept efectiv de securitate.
Dac riscurile principale sunt prevenite i reduse utiliznd
msuri structurale, tehnice i organizatorice, riscurile rezidu-
ale sunt asigurate i asumate de companie. Astfel, costurile
directe i indirecte ale oricror evenimente nsoite de pierderi
pot s fie puse n eviden i ncorporate n planificarea
financiar pe termen lung.
Un sistem de securitate poate avea ca obiectiv: detecia/
protecia la incendiu, alarm n caz de spargeri, controlul
accesului, monitorizare video, protecia persoanei. In cele ce
Cezar CRISTIAN
Abstrat: In the electric transformer stations of the power distribution
system, there are no individual or integrated systems for automatic
fire detection, signalling/alarm and extinguishing. There are
only technical materials and initial products (according to
PE 009). Minor incidents that occur in unmanned stations cause
material losses far higher than the cost of a fire detection and
extinguishing system. Because of the high investments involved
in new or modernized stations, in particular last generation
switching and protection equipment, we emphasize the necessity
of fire protection within a connection room of the transformer
station. We recommend the use of one of the simplest automatic
fire detection and extinguishing systems: based on aspiration
and FM 200 inhibitive ecologic gas smoke detectors.
1. Is the installation of a security system really worth ?
At a closer look, it can be concluded that the role of
the security system is quite unrewarded: on one hand it is
appreciated because they are constantly on the lookout
for potential dangers (fire, intrusion, sabotage etc), and on
the other they are disregarded for the benefits of
damage prevention or limitation.
A simple incident or an explosion followed by a fire
not only cause direct damage (to the plant, premises and
operatin resources) but also high indirect losses (interruption
of operations, contract penalities etc). Further not all risks
are insurable or, if they are, the premiums are prohibitive.
For all these reasons a company has to find other
solutions to safeguard the systems, production and not
last, the employees lives.
Nowadays no bussiness can afford to ignore forward-
looking risk management. Therefore there are many
professional companies that offer projects based on their
experience and know-how and together with the client,
map out a hazard profile, determine the security objectives
and draw up an effective security concept.
While high risks are prevented and reduced using
structural, technical and organisational measures, residual
risks are insured or borne by the company. Thus, the
direct and indirect costs of any loss events are clearly
emphasized and can be incorporated in the long term
financial planning.
The objective of a security system can be: fire detection/
protection, burglary and hold-up alarm, access control,
video monitoring, person protection. In this paper we try
to emphasize and promote the necessity of a security system
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472 The 5 International Power Systems Conference

urmeaz, ncercm s promovm ideea necesitii realizrii for automatic fire detection and supression in the connection
unui sistem de securitate care s aib ca obiectiv detectarea room of the distribution substations.
automat i stingerea incendiului n sala de conexiuni din
staiile electrice de transformare din sistemul de distribuie.

2. Situaie existent n staiile de distribuie 2. Present status of the distribution substations

In staiile electrice din sistemul de distribuie nu exist
instalaii individuale de detectare automat, semnalizare,
alarmare i stingere a incendiilor, nicidecum sisteme integrate
care s ndeplineasc toate aceste funcii, ci doar materiale
tehnice i produse iniiale.
Not: In sensul unui sistem integrat de detectare auto-
mat i stingere a incendiului, trebuie subliniat singurul
pas care s-a fcut n staiile exterioare pentru protecia
celui mai important i mai scump echipament, transfor-
matorul de putere. Conform unei decizii RENEL (65/02.02.
1998), prin care s-a modificat i completat normativul PE
009, articolul 8.22b referitor la stingerea cu ap pulverizat a
transformatoarelor de putere s-a abrogat, iar articolul 8.63
s-a modificat n sensul precizrii c transformatoarele i
bobinele cu ulei (cu puteri pn la 100 MVA, n staii
exterioare) s fie prevzute cu instalaii de azot pentru
prevenirea exploziei i stingerea incendiului. Trebuie
precizat ns c acest sistem funcioneaz doar n cazul
unui defect intern n transformator !
In domeniul reelelor electrice de distribuie, conform
normativului PE 009/93 [1]- cap. 8.B, se prevd instalaii
de semnalizare automat a incendiului prin detectoare de
temperatur doar pentru transformatoarele de putere
(pct.8.7a) i detectoare combinate de fum i temperatur
n gospodrii de cablu i n staii de conexiuni i transfor-
mare din reele electrice care au construcii nchise speciale
de cabluri de energie electric (pct. 8.7c). Evident, se prevd
instalaii de semnalizare manual (pct.8.7e) i sisteme de
alarmare n caz de incendiu (n fapt, legturi telefonice).
Conform aceluiai normativ, n instalaiile electrice sunt
utilizate materiale tehnice i produse iniiale pentru com-
baterea incendiilor incipiente, iar n Anexa 1 din vol. II sunt
detaliate aceste materiale tehnice i produse pentru tuneluri
de cablu, poduri i subsoluri de cablu, sli de conexiuni, i
ele constau n stingtoare portative i carosabile (cu spum
chimic, praf i CO2) i lzi cu nisip. In privina transforma-
toarelor i bobinelor cu ulei, a se vedea nota de mai sus.
La ora actual, n staiile electrice de transformare din
reeaua SDFEE Galai nu exist instalaii de detectare auto-
mat i semnalizare a incendiilor, instalaii de semnalizare
manual sau instalaii de stingere a incendiului, ci doar
materiale tehnice i produse iniiale. Sursa de caldur
care poate duce la declanarea unui incendiu ntr-o celul
electric este arcul electric, ca rezultat al unui defect de
izolaie, al funcionrii defectuoase a aparatajului de comu-
taie (ntreruptoare cu ulei) sau a dispozitivelor de protecie
(sigurane fuzibile, descrctoare cu rezisten variabil
cu spaii de amorsare), al depirii capabilitilor lor de
ntrerupere a circuitului sau al executrii unei manevre
greite; aceast surs de cldur intens dispare ca rezultat
al acionrii proteciilor electrice aferente celulei sau/i
sistemului de bare de MT al staiei.
In cazul n care incendiul s-a declanat, acesta poate fi
detectat doar de personalul de exploatare (permanent sau
din tura de deranjamente) i, ca urmare, nu se poate vorbi
de detectarea focului din faz incipient ci, din contra,
n faz dezvoltat de flacr deschis.
In the electric transformer stations of the power
distribution system, there are no individual or integrated
systems for automatic fire detection, signalling/alarm and
extinguishing, but only technical materials and initial
products.
Note: Regarding an integrated automatic fire detection
and extinguishing system, the only applied measure in the
outside substations was related to the protection of the
most important and expensive component, i.e. the power
transformer. According to a RENEL Decision (no.
65/02.02.1998) that modified and completed PE 009
regulation, para. 8.22b regarding the sprayed water fire
extinguishing for power transformers was canceled and
para. 8.63 was modified requiring that nitrogen system
should be provided for oil transformers and coils (up to
100 MVA, in outside substations) in order to prevent
explosions and assist in extinguishing the fire. We have to
mention however that this system works only for an
inside transformer fault.
For the distribution networks, according to PE
009/93[1] section 8 B, automatic fire signalling systems
with temperature detectors are provided only for the
power transformers (para 8.7c) and combined smoke-
temperature detectors have to be installed in cable rooms
and connection and transformer substations that have
closed cable facilities (para 8.7 c). Obviously, manual
signalling (para 8.7 e) and fire alarm systems (in fact
phone lines) are specified. According to the same
regulation, technical materials and initial products are
used for incipient fire suppression: vol II Annex 1
presents details of these technical materials and products
for Electric systems galleries, cable bridges and
underground chambers, connection rooms; they comprise
portable and road extinguishers (with chemical foam, CO2
powder and CO2) and sand boxes. Regarding the oil
transformers and coils, see the above note.
Nowadays the transformer substations of Galatz Power
Distribution Subsidiary have no automatic fire detection
and signalling, manual signalling or fire extinguishing
systems but only technical materials and initial products.
The source of heat that causes a fire is the electric arc caused
by an insulation fault, the inadequate operation of the switch-
gear (oil circuit breaker circuits) and switchgear, measurement
and protection equipment can emit enough noxa to prevent
the staff from entering for fire limitation; visible separation
of the bay from the voltage supply and fire extinguishing
with the existent means are more difficult. Further, by
opening the protection devices (fuses, variable resistance
surge arresters with striking distance), exceeding their circuit
breaking capacities or incorrect handling; this intense source
of heat is removed when the electric protections of the bay
and/or m.v busbar are tripped.
After the outbreak, the fire can be detected only by the
operational staff (permanent or fault removal shift) so that
the fire cannot be detected in its incipient stage but in
the open flame stage.
06-07.11.2003, Timioara, Romania
In lipsa unor mijloace individuale de protecie contra
acestor noxe, ncercarea de a stinge focul cu mijloacele
din dotare comport riscuri pentru sntatea i chiar viaa
personalului. Nu este de neglijat aici nici factorul psihologic,
prin inducerea unei stri de oc asupra personalului.
In cazul fericit al localizrii i stingerii incendiului
fr afectarea personalului, consecinele asupra instalaiei
sunt ntotdeauna grave i concretizate prin deteriorarea
echipamentelor i a cablajului, ceea ce se reflect att n
cheltuielile (neplanificate) cu lucrri ulterioare de nlocuire
echipamente, reparaii etc. ct i n energie electric nelivrat.
Din pcate, SDFEE Galai poate exemplifica un asemenea
scenariu, ca urmare a unui incendiu produs n sala de
conexiuni de 6 kV a unei staii electrice de transformare
supus unor ample lucrri de modernizare i dotat cu
celule de comutaie de generaie nou. Filmul evenimentului,
pe scurt:
- ca urmare a unei simple puneri la pmnt (prin defect
de izolaie LES) a barei de 6 kV, supravoltarea celorlalte
faze a condus (inexplicabil!) la strpungerea izolaiei
reductoarelor de tensiune din celula de masur, cu
manifestare exploziv;
- fisurarea izolaiei de rin a fost nsoit de apariia
arcului electric, arc care a fost eliminat prin funcionarea
corect a proteciilor (PMT ~ 2,4 s);
- arcul electric a condus la aprinderea rinii de turnare
(din motive neexplicate de furnizor), incendiul declanat
dezvoltndu-se i dup dispariia arcului;
- cldura puternic degajat de foc a topit paravenele de
policarbonat din celul i placa de baz a celulei (sub
reductoare), ceea ce a permis crearea unui canal de tiraj
natural pe traseul canal cabluri - compartiment aparate
de comutaie - compartiment joas tensiune i care
a ntreinut i amplificat incendiul;
- din momentul acionrii proteciei i pn la ptrunderea
personalului de tur n sala de conexiuni s-au scurs
cca. 12 min., iar pn la stingerea definitiv a incendiului
s-au scurs cca. 120 min;
- pagubele materiale sunt imense, nu intrm n detalierea
acestora n acest context;
- staia este fr personal permanent i, prin funcionarea
sistemului de telealarmare, a fost necesar deplasarea
turei de deranjamente 110 kV ctre staie;
- ncercarea de ptrundere a personalului n camera de
conexiuni a fost impiedicat de atmosfera dens de noxe;
- dupa deschiderea uilor de acces n camera de conexiuni
i eliminarea unei pri din noxe, s-a acionat cu mijloacele
tehnice din dotare pentru stingerea focului (barele staiei
erau demult fr tensiune !), n mai multe reprize datorit
reizbucnirii flcrii, i cu riscul inhalrii de noxe.
Ar fi interesant de fcut un calcul economic comparativ:
echipament deteriorat vs. sistem automat de detectare i stin-
gere incendiu, dar suntem convini c un astfel de sistem
i-ar fi dovedit din plin eficiena, prin detectarea din faz
incipient a incendiului i limitarea n proporie covritoare a
pagubelor, fr periclitarea a personalului de exploatare.
3. Sistem automat de detectare i stingere a incendiului
prin utilizare de detector de fum prin aspiraie i
amestec de gaz ecologic inhibitor
Aa cum precizam la nceput, pe piaa mondial sunt
multe firme profesioniste care ofer proiecte i produse n
473
If individual noxa protections are missing, the attempt
to extinguish the fire with the existent means is highly
health risky and even life-threatening. The psychological
factor should not be neglected having in view the shock
of the staff.
If the fire was limited and extinguished without injuries
to the staff, the consequences on the system are always
very serious due to the damages of the equipment and
cables. Both unexpected costs related to equipment
replacements and repairs as well as unsupplied power
occur.
Unfortunately Galati Power Distribution Subsidiary was
faced with such a situation following a fire in a 6 kV connection
room within a 110/6 kV transformer substation (which has
undergone extensive repairs and modernizations being end-
owned with last generation bays SF6 circuit breakers, digital
protections. The steps of this event are briefly described below:
- due to a simple earth fault (fault of the underground
power line insulation) of the 6 kV busbar, the over-
voltage on the other phases lead (unaccountably) to
the breakdown of the voltage transformer insulation in
the measurement bay, with explosive behaviour;
- the cracking of the resin insulation was accompagned
by the electric arc, which was further removed by the
correct operation of the protections (PMT 2.4 s);
- the electric arc caused the ignition of the cast resin
(the reasons were unaccountable by the manufacturer),
the fire continuing even after the arc was removed;
- the strong heat of the fire melted the polycarbonate
covers of the bay and the base plate (under the
transformers) so that a natural air draft occurred between
the cable trough switchgear room low voltage room,
maintaining and enhancing the fire;
- about 12 min passed from the tripping of the protection
until the shift staff entered in the connection room and
about 120 min were necessary for the complete fire
extinguishing;
- the material losses were huge but we will not detail this
issue now;
- the substation is un-manned and by the operation of
the remote alarm system, the 110 kV emergency shift
was sent to the substation;
- the attempt of the staff to enter the connection room
was prevented by the high noxa level;
- after the access doors of the connection room were
opened and some of the noxa were removed, the existent
means were used several times to extinguish the fire
(the busbars had no voltage for a long time) because
of the flames reignition and noxa breathing danger.
It would be interesting to make a comparative calculation:
damaged equipment versus automatic fire detection and
extinguishing system but we are sure that such a system
would have proven its efficiency by the early fire detection
and limitation of the most damages without putting in danger
the operational staff.
3. Automatic fire detection and extinguishing system
with aspiration smoke detector and ecologic inhibiting
agent
As we mentioned at the beginning, there are many
worldwide professional companies that offer projects and

474
acest domeniu, bazate pe experien i know-how i care, la
cerinele clientului, indentific coordonatele profilului hazar-
dului, determin obiectivele de protejat i proiecteaz un con-
cept efectiv de securitate, n cazul nostru referitor la incendii.
Un sistem integrat modular de stingere incediu este
format, n principiu, din trei (sub)sisteme i accesorii:
- sistem de detectare automat a focului (kit de detectoare,
tubulatur etc.);
- unitatea central (centrala);
- sistem de stingere a incendiului (containere cu gaz,
tubulatur, duze etc.);
- accesorii pentru: alarme, controlul ventilaie, nchidere
ui etc.
Din materialele bibliografice pe care le-am putut consulta
[2], noi am ajuns la concluzia c un sistem cu raport
avantajos eficien/cost destinat detectrii automate, semna-
lizrii i stingerii incendiului n sala de conexiuni a unei
staii electrice de transformare este sistemul bazat pe detector
de fum cu aspiraie i amestec de gaz ecologic inhibitor.
3.1. Detectarea focului. Sistem de alarm la foc
Sunt trei principii eseniale de detectare implicate n
detectarea focului [2]:
a) detectarea fumului: prin determinarea numrului de
particule de fum din aer, cu detectoare fotoelectrice.
b) detectarea flcrii: prin msurarea creterii radiaiei
luminoase de la foc (n infrarou, vizibil, ultraviolet).
c) detectarea cldurii: prin msurarea creterii de tempe-
ratur pe un interval de timp dat i a temperaturilor
maxime; acest grup include detectoare de rat de cretere
a temperaturii i detectoare de temperatur fixat (limit).
Cnd se aleg detectoarele de foc, trebuie s se ia n
considerare urmtoarele probleme pentru a se asigura cea
mai fiabil soluie de detecie: la ce tip de foc te atepi
sau care este cel mai probabil, cum se manifest feno-
menul focului n faza de natere, care sunt factorii neltori
posibili, nlimea camerei, care sunt condiiile ambientale
(hrtie, plastic, cherestea, vopsele i lacuri, combustibili,
echipament electric, sisteme informatice).
Un sistem automat de detectare i alarm la foc este
un sistem fiabil n condiiile n care detecteaz focul nc
din faza sa incipient, fr a fi necesar detectarea sa de
ctre om; el nu supune riscului nici o persoan i mobi-
lizeaz forele de stingere a focului. Sistemul ar consta
din: detectoare de foc, panou de control pentru alarm n
caz de foc, surs de alimentare, unitate de alarm i linii
de conectare. Sistemul trebuie s dispun de dou surse
independente de alimentare cu energie electric, una din
surse este ntotdeauna sursa principal iar cealalt fiind o
baterie ca surs de rezerv.
Iat o configuraie posibil de sistem integrat:
- detectoare de fum prin aspiraie;
- unitate principal (centrala) de detectare i stingere;
- gospodrie de gaz (n butelii controlate de presostat);
- sistem de control i eliberare a amestecului de gaz;
- tubulatura de aspiraie a fumului n detector, cu duze
de captare;
- tubulatura de evacuare a amestecului de gaz, cu duzele
de dispersie.
Funcia componentelor individuale este urmtoarea:
- n zona monitorizat, detectoarele automate de foc
detecteaz permanent fenomenul de foc respectiv i-l
convertesc ntr-un semnal electric;
th
The 5 International Power Systems Conference
products based on their experience and know-how. On the
client request, they map out a hazard profile, determine
the security objectives and draw up an effective security
concept in our situation, for the fire hazard.
An integrated fire suppression system is mainly made
of three subsystems and accessories:
- automatic fire detection system (detector kit, piping)
- central unit (station);
- fire extinguishing system (gas bottles, piping, nozzles etc);
- accessories for: alarms, ventilation control, door closing
etc;
According to the bibliography [2], we concluded that
the system with aspiration smoke detector and ecologic
inhibiting agent represents an automatic fire detection and
extinguishing system with a good efficiency/cost ratio, for
the connection room of a transformer substation.
3.1. Fire detection. Fire alarm system
There are three main detection principles for the fire
detection [2]:
a) smoke detection: the number of smoke particles in the
air is determined by photoelectric detectors;
b) flame detection: measurement of the luminescent
radiation increase;
c) heat detection: measurement of the heat increase
within a period of time and the maximum temperatures;
this category includes rate-of-rise temperature detectors
and fixed (limit) temperature heat detectors;
When chosing fire detectors, following problems have
to be taken into consideration in order to provide the most
reliable detection: what kind of fire is expected or most
likely, what is the fire behaviour in the outbreak stage, what
are the possible deceptive factors, room height, ambient
conditions (paper, plastic, timber, paints and varnishes,
fuels, electrical equipment, computer installations etc.
An automatic fire detection and alarm system is
reliable if it detects the outbreak of the fire, with no need
for human detection; it warns any persons at risk and
mobilises the fire-fighting forces. The system consists of:
fire detectors, fire alarm control panel, power supply and the
connecting lines. The system should have two independent
power supply sources, one of them being always the mains
while the other a backup battery.
A possible configuration of an integrated system is
described below:
- aspiration smoke detectors;
- main detection and extinguishing unit (station);
- gas bottles (controlled by pressostat);
- gas control and release system;
- smoke aspiration piping, with nozzles;
- gas mixture release piping, with release nozzles;
The function of the individual components is the
following:
- Within the monitored area, automatic fire detectors
permanently detect the respective fire phenomena and
convert them into an electrical signal.
- The signal from the detectors is recorded by the fire
alarm control panel and, where appropiate, displayed
both visually and accoustically as a fire alarm; the fire
06-07.11.2003, Timioara, Romania
- semnalul detectoarelor este nregistrat prin panoul de
control al alarmei la foc, evaluat i afiat att vizual ct i
acustic ca alarm de foc; panoul de control al alarmei la
foc este conceput astfel nct s permit declanarea
diverselor sisteme de control automat al focului: sisteme
de stingere staionare, sisteme de ventilaie i condiionare
a aerului, ui de foc, instalaii de ridicare;
- puncte de apel de urgen (butoane de avarie) sunt
utilizate pentru declanarea alarmelor manuale care
permit o avertizare timpurie a persoanelor;
- sistemul de control i eliberare a amestecului de gaz
(sistem staionar) declaneaz procesul de stingere
prin eliberarea agentului de stingere;
- utiliznd o unitate de transmitere, alarma la foc este trans-
mis la distan ctre un centru de monitorizare i
msurile de stins incendiu sunt atunci iniiate prin centrul
de control (brigada de pompieri);
- sistemul de control i eliberare a amestecului de gaz
(sistem staionar) declaneaz procesul de stingere
prin eliberarea agentului de stingere;
- utiliznd o unitate de transmitere, alarma la foc este
transmis la distan ctre un centru de monitorizare;
msurile de stins incendiu sunt atunci iniiate prin
centrul de control (brigada de pompieri).
In continuare, prezentm pe scurt principalele carac-
teristici ale elementului de detectare a fumului, respectiv
ale sistemului staionar de stingere a incendiului.
3.2. Detector de fum prin aspiraie
O aplicaie speciala pentru medii dificile, detectorul
de fum prin aspiraie de nalt sensibilitate (aspiration
smoke detector [2]) este utilizat oriunde este necesar s se
detecteze chiar i cantitatea minim, abia perceptibil de
aerosoli de fum. Detectorul combin ideal avantajele
sistemului liniar cu cele ale sistemului punctual de
detectare a fumului i reprezint soluia ideal n cazurile
cnd se impune o intervenie rapid n caz de incendiu,
chiar nainte de anunarea departamentului de pompieri.
Este utilizat pentru monitorizarea cldirilor i obiectelor,
precum: centre de calculatoare i IT, instalaii de transmitere
radio i TV, centre de telecomunicaii, centre i laboratoare
de cercetare, centre de distribuie i depozitete supraetajate,
laboratoare, aeroporturi, muzee, teatre i cinematografe,
celule de distribuie a energiei electrice de IT i MT.
Un detector de fum const, n principiu, din dou pri
eseniale: un sistem liniar de evi conectabile pentru
circulaia aerului aspirat, i prevzute cu mici duze
individuale de aspiraie, i camera de detecie.
Camera de detecie conine unul sau dou detectoare
sensibile la fum (cu celul fotoelectric), un ventilator i
un circuit electronic de evaluare. Ventilatorul de nalt
performan, creaz depresiunea necesar pentru aspiraia
aerului ambiant din ncperea supravegheat n camera de
detecie a detectorului prin duzele de aspiraie i tubu-
latura liniar i alimenteaz detectorii de fum.
Supravegherea sofisticat a debitului de aer garanteaz
c ntotdeauna va fi aspirat o cantitate suficient de aer i c
obstruciunile sau rupturile tubulaturii sunt rapid semnalizate.
Cofretul detectorului este mprit ntr-o camer a detectoa-
relor i o camer de evaluare/comand, cele dou camere
posednd propriul lor capac, accesul la partea electronic
475
alarm control panel is designed so that to enable the
tripping of various fire automatic control systems:
stationary fire extinguishing systems, ventilation and
air conditioning systems, fire doors, lifting equipment.
- Emergency call points (emergency buttons) used to
trigger the manual alarms enabling an early warning
to the people present;
- The gas control and release system (stationary system)
triggers the extinguishing process by agent release;
- Using a transmission unit, the fire alarm is remotely
sent to a monitoring centre: the fire fighting measures
are then initiated by the control centre (fire brigade);
Below we briefly present the main characteristics of
the smoke detecton component, respectively the stationary
fire extinguishing system.
3.2. Aspiration fire detector
As a special application for difficult environments, the
highly sensitive smoke detector [2] is used whenever it is
necessary to detect even minimal, barely perceivable
smoke aerosols. The detectors ideally combines the advantages
of a linear detection system with those of the punctual
smoke detection system and they are the ideal solution for
a quick fire intervention even before calling the fire brigade.
This detector is used for monitoring buildings and
premises such as: IT and computer centres, radio and TV
broadcast installations, telecommunication centres, laboratory
and research centres, high-bay warehouses and distribution
centres, laboratoris, airports, museums, theatres and cinemas,
high and medium voltage power distribution bays.
A smoke detector mainly consists of two parts: a
linear connectable pipe system for the circulation of the
aspired air which has small individual aspiration nozzles,
and the detection chamber. The chamber contains one or
two smoke detectors (with photoelectric cell), a fan and
an electronic evaluation circuit.
The high performance fan ensures the ambient air
aspiration from the monitored spac into the detection
chamber of the detector, using the aspiration nozzles and
linear piping, and feeds it to the smoke detectors.
The sophisticated air flow monitoring ensures that a
sufficient air quantity will be always aspired and the
cloggings or cracks of the piping will be quickly
signalled. The detector casing is divided in a detector
chamber and an evaluation/control chamber, the two
rooms having their own cover so that the access to the
electronics doesnt affect the air admission in the smoke
detector room. The control and display panel is located on
the cover of the evaluation/control chamber.

476
fiind permis fr perturbarea admisiei aerului n camera
detectoarelor de fum. Panoul de comand i afiaj este dispus
pe capacul camerei de evaluare/comand.
Avantaje:
Particulele de fum sunt imediat detectate. Dac este
depit valoarea maxim, este activat imediat o
alarm la panoul de control al sistemului de detectare.
Pentru aplicaii mai sensibile, detectorul de fum poate
fi realizat pe principiul numrtorului de particule cu
raz laser.
Detectorul de fum nu ateapt ca fumul s se nale,
raspunzand mult mai repede i este mult mai sensibil
la apariia focului dect orice soluie convenional
Tubulatura de asipraie poate fi invizibil montat n mici
guri din podea i tavane coborte fr afectarea esteticii
zonei
Conducta de aspiraie poate fi realizat, funcie de
aplicaie, din evi de material plastic sau din evi metalice,
cu condiia unei seciuni minime; orificiile de aspiraie
sunt astfel dimensionate nct s permit absorbia
aceleai cantiti de aer. La monitorizarea camerelor, se
poate utiliza o reea de evi dispuse simetric cu cte un
orificiu de aspiraie pe punct de aspiraie.
Sunt posibile combinaii ale detectorului de fum prin
aspiraie cu alte tipuri de detectoare de fum:
prin lumin difuz (transparen)
prin ionizare
combinaie fum i temperatur.
3.3 Sistem staionar de stingere
In principiu, un (sub)sistem staionar de stingere a incen-
diului ar trebui s includ urmtoarele componente principale:
- containere (cilindri de oel) de stocare a agentului de
stingere, cu valva de presiune diferenial;
- agent de stingere;
- reea de tubulatur i duze de descrcare;
- dispozitiv de declanare acionat de solenoid (nu dis-
pozitive explozive sau pirotehnice);
- dispozitive de alarm sonor;
- staii/puncte locale de declanare manual, precum i
de anulare a comenzii de declanare.
Se utilizeaz diverse amestecuri de gaze inerte i eco-
logice, ca ageni de stingere. Agentul de stingere trebuie sa
aib o rat mare de expansiune, facilitnd descrcarea i pe-
netrarea tridimensional rapid n zona protejat, s rceasc
atmosfera i s reduc coninutul de oxigen din zona protejat
sub punctul la care se ntreine combustia. Sub-liniem n
mod special o proprietate a amestecului: s permit unei
persoane s respire n atmosfera cu oxigen redus.
Not: Atmosfera normal ntr-o ncpere conine cca. 21%
oxigen, sub 1% dioxid de carbon i restul azot. Dac coninutul
de oxigen este redus sub 15%, materialele combustibile cele
mai ordinare vor nceta s ard; datorit abilitii corpului uman
de a absorbi oxigenul, reducerea sub 12%, concomitent cu
creterea coninutului de dioxid de carbon la cca. 3%, va sti-
mula respiraia (mai adnc i mai rapid) pentru compensarea
coninutului redus de oxigen dar nu va pune via n pericol.
Unul din cele mai utilizate gaze este FM 200 hepta-
fluorupropan, care are urmtoarele proprieti:
- inund rapid inima focului i flacra este stins imediat;
- are punct de fierbere relativ ridicat, ceea ce permite
- protejarea echipamentului electronic mpotriva ocului
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The 5 International Power Systems Conference
Advantages:
The smoke particles are detected right away. If the
maximum value is exceeded, an alarm is activated on
the control panel of the detection system;
For high sensitive applications, the particle counting
principle using a laser beam is used;
The smoke detector doesnt wait for the smoke to rise
so that the reaction is a lot faster and the detector is
more sensitive to the fire start than any conventional
solution;
The aspiration piping can be invisibly mounted in
small hollow floors and dropped ceilings without
affecting the aesthetics of the premises;
Depending on the application, the aspiration piping
can be made of plastic or metal pipes observing a minimum
diameter: the aspiration holes are sized so that to allow
the aspiration of the same air quantity. For room monitoring,
a symmetrical pipe network each with an aspiration hole for
each aspiration point, can be used.
Combinations of the aspiration smoke detector with
other types of smoke detectors are allowed:
scattered light smoke detector
ionization
smoke and temperature combination
3.3. Stationary fire suppression system
In principle, a fire suppression (sub)system should
include following main components:
- containers (steel bottles) for fire extinguishing agent
storage, with differential pressure valve;
- fire extinguishing agent;
- pipe network and release nozzles;
- solenoid tripping device (no explosive or pyrotechnical
devices);
- acoustic alarm devices;
- local stations for manual release and release cancelling;
Various inert and ecologic gas combinations are used
as extinguishing agents. The extinguishing agent should
have a higher expansion rate, in order to facilitate the fast
three-dimentional release and penetration in the entire
protected area below the inflammable temperature.
Note: The normal air in a room contains abt 21%
oxygen, less than 1% CO2 and the remaining nitrogen. If
the oxygen content is less than 15%, the most common stage
and a temperature sensor that detects the fast inflammable
materials will cease to burn; due to the human body
capacity to suck in oxygen, the decrease below 12% and
the increase of CO2 content to abt. 3% will stimulate the
breathing (deeper and quicker) in order to compensate the
low oxygen but life will not be put at danger.
One of the most used gas is FM 200 heptafluori-
depropane, with following characteristics:
- fast flooding of the fire core so that the flame is
quickly extinguished;
- relatively high boiling temperature in order to protect
- the electronic equipment from the thermal shock;
- electrically non-conductive (dielectric stability about
2.6 higher than the air) and non-corrosive;
06-07.11.2003, Timioara, Romania
termic;
- este ne-conductiv electric (rigiditate dielectric cca. 2,6
ori mai mare fa de cea a aerului) i ne-corosiv;
- nu pune n pericol viaa omului, este ecologic
- inundarea camerei ntr-un interval foarte scurt de la inii-
erea incendiului, cca. 10 sec., face ca echipamentul
suspus incendiului s nu fie afectat de foc, ci doar de
arcul electric dar care este eliminat rapid de protecii.
Se poate lesne concluziona c stingerea incendiului cu
acest gaz poate fi realizat n staii de transformare fr
ntreruperea tensiunii n sala de conexiuni a staiei.
Agentul de stingere este stocat n containere ca un
lichid, la parametri prevzui de standarde n domeniu;
pentru a ajuta descrcarea i distribuirea sa rapid, contai-
nerele se suprapresurizez cu nitrogen uscat. Containerele
vor fi prevzute cu presostate de presiune minim i
maxim i indicator de nivel lichid, racordate la panoul de
comand. Descrcarea gazului va fi iniiat fie electric,
prin activarea automat a solenoidului dispozitivului de
descrcare de pe container de ctre un semnal de ieire
direct din panoul de control sau activarea manual local,
fie prin aciune mecanic direct.
Not: Un astfel de sistem modern integrat de stingere a
incendiului, destinat proteciei unei sli cu servere, este instalat
la SDFEE Galai. Sistemul este format din detectoare de
fum, unitate centrala automat, sistem staionar de stingere
(butelie cu FM 200, tubulatura i duze de descrcare),
accesorii (alarme sonore i vizuale, controlul ventilaiei,
nchiderea uilor, deconectarea surselor de energie etc.)
4. Concluzii
In staiile electrice din sistemul de distribuie nu exist
instalaii individuale sau sisteme integrate cu rol de
detectare automat, semnalizare i stingere a incendiului,
ci doar materiale tehnice i produse iniiale (PE 009).
Inceputul de incendiu n sala de conexiuni din staiile
de transformare trebuie localizat i stins din faza cea mai
timpurie. Extinderea focului impune, n ultim instan,
intervenia specializat a formaiilor de pompieri cu
tehnic din dotare, aciune ce presupune aducerea staiei
la tensiune zero i duce la distrugerea n totalitate a
izolaiei solide prin contracie termic, compromiterea
componentelor de circuite secundare (cablaj, relee), a
contactelor electrice, a dispozitivelor de acionare etc.
Incidente minore, produse n staii fr personal,
conduc la avarii cu pierderi materiale incomparabile cu
valoarea unui sistem de detectare i stingere a incendiului.
Dat fiind valoarea mare a investiiilor n cazul staiilor
noi de transformare sau a celor modernizate, n special
prin echipamentul de comutaie i protecie de ultim
generaie, considerm c ar trebui (re)considerat dotarea
unei sli de conexiuni din cadrul unei staii de transformare
n privina proteciei la incendiu.
Promovm ideea introducerii unuia din cele mai simple
sisteme de detectare automat i stingere a incendiului: un
sistem modular, bazat pe detectoare de fum prin aspiraie,
unitate central i instalaie fix de stingere cu gaz
ecologic inhibitor FM 200.
477
- not dangerous for human lives, ecologic;
- room flooding in a very short time from the fire start
- about 10 sec so that the equipment is not affected by
the fire but only by the electric arc as generating
source; however the arc is quickly removed by the
electric protections;
It can be easily concluded that the fire within substations
can be extinguished using this agent without removing the
voltage in the connection room.
The extinguishing agent is stored in bottles like a
liquid, at standard parameters; in order to facilitate the quick
release and distribution, the bottles are overpressurized
with dry nitrogen. The bottles have minimum and maximum
pressostats and liquid level indicator, connected to the
control panel. The gas release will be initiated either
electrically by automatic action of the release device
valve on the bottle using an output signal dirrectly from
the control panel, or locally by direct manual action.
Note: Such a modern integrated fire suppression system
is used by Galati Power Subsidiary for the protection of the
server room. The system is composed of smoke detectors,
automatic central unit, stationary extinguishing system
(FM 200 bottles, release piping and nozzles), accessories
(acoustic and visual alarms, ventilation control, door
closing, power disconnecting).
4. Conclusions
Nowadays no business can afford to ignore professional
forward-looking risk management. Hence any company
should try to find the best solutions to protect its systems,
the production and not last, the employees.
The role of the automatic fire detection and signalling
systems became vital for the fire expansion speed and fire
extinguishing speed.
In the electric transformer substations of the power
distribution system, there are no individual or integrated
systems for automatic fire detection, signalling/alarm and
extinguishing, but only technical materials and initial
products (according to PE 009).
The fire outbreak in the connection room of the
substations has to be located and extinguished as early as
possible. The attempt to extinguish the fire after 20-30 min
from the start is very unlikely to suceed with the existent
technical means (only portable foam and CO2 bottles and
sand boxes).
As a last resort, the fire expansion requires calling the
fire brigade. Therefore the voltage should be removed
from the substation and the solid insulation will be
completely destroyed as a result of the thermal shrinkage.
Minor incidents in the unmanned substations lead to
costs far higher than the cost of a fire detection and
suppression system.
Because of the high investments involved in new or
modernized stations, in particular last generation switching
and protection equipment, we emphasize the necessity of
fire protection within a connection room of the transformer
substation. We recommend the use of one of the simplest
automatic fire detection and extinguishing systems: based
on aspiration and FM 200 inhibitive ecologic gas smoke
detectors.
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478 The 5 International Power Systems Conference

References (Bibliografie)
1. PE 009/93: Norme de prevenire, stingere i dotare mpotriva incendiilor pentru producerea, transportul i distribuia energiei
electrice i termice (Fire prevention and fighting instructions for thermal and electric power generation, transmission and
distribution) vol. II, ICEMENERG, Bucharest, 1994
2. *** - Materiale extrase de pe site-ul Internet al firmelor (specifications from website of the): SECURITON AG, FIKE Corporationa,
DU PONT Fire Extinguishants, WORMALD ANSUL