Under Turbine Lube Oil

Large quantities of mineral oil circulate to lubricate high-speed turbine bearings. Leaks occur and the tremendous heat easily ignites the hot oil. Systems are in place to apply water, but these fires are so hot, that structural damage to buildings can occur, not to mention millions of pounds of damage to the turbines, generators and financial losses of not producing power. They are also a Class B, three-dimensional fire, making extinguishment difficult for plain water. Even fixed suppression systems with foam additives are ineffective (NFPA 11-Annex A.1.1 – Foam is not suitable for three-dimensional flowing liquid fuel or for gas fires).

FM Global performed life-sized turbine fire testing and found the NFPA fixed suppression application rate of .25 gpm/ft2 was inadequate and recommended .40 gpm/ft2. Hoping to avoid a redesign of their existing suppression system and the associated capital expense, a major power company commissioned independent testing to see if F-500 EA could improve the firefighting performance sufficiently to avoid installing a new suppression system. The tests results showed that adding 3% F-500 EA to water permanently reduces temperatures from 1200 to 115°F in seconds, whereas plain water only drops the temperature to about 300°F, and then periodic increases will be experienced. Also, in another test, the F-500 EA was able to extinguish the fire with 83% less water. Simply adding an F-500 EA Concentrate into the water line can greatly increase the performance of a planned or existing turbine fixed suppression system.

Transformers

Transformers usually contain large amounts of oil and have a large metal mass that retains the heat. Even after the power is removed, these fires do not respond to water, foam or even powder.

The encapsulator agent quickly removes the heat without creating scalding steam, encapsulates the fuel making the oil nonflammable and nonignitable and penetrates deep into the transformer casing. At the same time, the encapsulator agent interrupts the free radical chain reaction, reducing toxic smoke and increasing visibility. Obviously, with F-500 EA, less water is used so bunding is rarely needed and using less agent saves money.

If an F-500 EA CCS system is not installed the plant fire brigade or local firefighters should be equipped to fight the transformer fire with F-500 EA on hand.