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SPECIFICATION P-

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NITROGEN INJECTION EXPLOSION PREVENTION AND

FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR AUTO-TRANSFORMERS

DESIGN DEPARTMENT (NTDC)

This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

NITROGEN INJECTION EXPLOSION PREVENTION AND FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR

AUTO-TRANSFORMERS.

FOREWORD

0.1

This specification has been prepared by Design Department

(NTDC)

0.2

The equipment shall be capable for use under environmental

conditions of the specification of transformers

1.

SCOPE

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0.

The scope of work shall included design, manufacture, erection,

testing and commissioning of nitrogen injection explosion
prevention and fire protection system and allied equipment for
auto-transformers.

1.2

The system requires rigid piping connectors for oil drainage from
transformer and nitrogen injection there into, hence, necessary
provisions for installation of the said fire protection system shall
be made during manufacturing of transformer.

1.3

In order to prevent transformer explosion and fire, the AutoTransformers shall be equipped with a sophisticated high speed
acting depressurization system, able to release within milliseconds
the internal overpressure provoked inside the main tank and OLTC
by an internal arc. The solution to prevent the transformer
explosion must be activated solely by the pressure wave
propagation subsequent to the short circuit, before static pressure
is built up. Only passive and intrinsic mechanical systems are
acceptable. Systems triggered by electrical signals from Buchholz
relay, pressure relieve valves or pressure sensors shall not be
acceptable as respective response time is not faster enough to
avoid transformer tank rupture. The high speed depressurization
solution shall be designed to separate the explosive gases from the
oil in a dedicated tank Oil & Gas Separation Tank (OGST), No oil
shall be drained from the transformer to the outside such as pit
sumps or tank standing in ground. Oxygen/air shall not enter in
contact with the depressurized transformer. Every transformer
shall be equipped with its own OGST. The proposed configuration
shall be as much compact as possible and length of piping shall be

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1.1.

This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

always minimalized in order to get a better efficiency (This is a

binding condition).
2.

Reference Standard.
The fire protection system shall be design in accordance with the
requirements indicated herein and shall be subject to the
Engineers approval. The individual components shall conform to
latest applicable recognized industry standard.

3.

System Components

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Explosion prevention and Fire protection shall be provided by

means of a system comprising all necessary components, parts
and appurtenances, including, but not limited to the following to
make it a complete functional unit:
Rupture Disk.
Transformer Depressurization Set and Explosive Gas Elimination
Set.
Oil and Gas Separation Tank for storing drained oil and expelling
flammable gases.
Temperature/file sensors.

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Nitrogen cylinder
Electrical actuator
Pressure reducer
Nitrogen injection valves
Conservator tank shutter valve
Electrical connectors

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Control cabinet consisting of:

4.

DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
4.1

GENERAL
i)

Explosion and fire prevention system shall be designed to

protection the tank from blasting and catching fire as a result of
breakdown of insulation and also due to fire on external
surfaces/accessories.

ii)

The requisite protection shall be achieved by use of Rupture disk

and temperature/fire sensors which shall actuate the system to
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This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

depressurize transformer tank and inject nitrogen into the

transformer oil.
iii)

The explosion prevention and fire protection system shall operate

quickly and reliably. The Supplier shall submit the pressure relief
device and fire detection scheme for approval of the Engineer.

iv)

Fore protection against high internal pressure, the following

operating mode will supply as indicated in fig. 1 & 2.

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The transformer and On Load Tap Changer Explosion and Fire

Prevention shall be made of several sets, each playing a different
role.
The Depressurization Set shall prevent transformer and On Load
Tap Changer explosion. Each depressurization set shall include a
Rupture Disk which shall relieve overpressure within milliseconds
and a Decompression Chamber for high speed depressurization.

4.3

Depressurization Set diameter shall be suitable for the respective

transformer and On Load Tap Changer type.

4.4

The depressurization sets shall not allow oxygen to enter the

transformer or the On Load Tap Changer tanks when the Explosion
and Fire Prevention Rupture Disk have been activated.

4.5

The explosive gases elimination set shall create a safe environment

in the transformer and the on load tap changer after the
depressurized process by injecting a strong nitrogen flow in the
tank.

4.6

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4.2

An Oil Gases Separation Set shall collect the depressurized oil and
explosive flammable gases mixture and shall separate the oil from
gases. Gases shall then be channeled to a remote area where they
can burn safely.

4.7

Two autonomous singles shall be required simultaneously to start

up the Explosive Gases Elimination, which shall consist in injecting
nitrogen in the oil capacities.
4.7.1

On detection of high temperature/fire in the transformer area, the

automatic control system shall initiate alarm and annunciations on
transformer control panel and arrange other functions as indicated
in fig. 2 in the following manner:
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This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

4.8

The system shall be designed for manual, automatic and electrical

remote operation and shall be provided in free standing and self
supporting design.

4.9

At appropriate locations in the switchyard, facilities shall be

available to manually activate the fire protection system, tripping
of HV and LV circuit breakers and the relevant annunciation
system.

5.

RUPTURE DISK
Rupture Disk shall be mounted in a depressurization set.

5.2

Rupture Disk shall be activated by increase in pressure inside the

transformer tank due to surge of temperature and pressure
resulting from the electrical breakdown.

5.3

Signal from the Rupture Disk shall activate the nitrogen injection
only with simultaneous tripping of HV and LV circuit breakers of
the transformer.

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6.

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5.1

NITROGEN INJECTION VALVE

Minimum two nitrogen valves, each of 25mm diameter shall be
provided at the bottom of transformer tank for injection of
compressed nitrogen into the oil for its stirring and occupying the
space above the oil surface created due to its drainage.
Nitrogen shall be injected at a pressure not exceeding 10 bars.

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6.1

6.3

Sufficient distance must be kept between the top of the injection

valves and the base of the transformer tank in order to avoid
stirring of any sludge and debris present in the oil.

6.4

Nitrogen injection valves shall also include a manual closing device

for the purpose of installation and maintenance.

6.5

The system shall have means to ensure availability of nitrogen at

all times in sufficient quantity and at required pressure.

7.

TEMPERATURE/FIRE SENSORS.
7.1

Suitable number of temperature/fire sensors should be fitted to

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This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

steel mounted brackets welded to the transformer top cover. The

sensors shall be bolted to the brackets and shall stand
approximately 100mm above the cover.
Sensors shall be placed at strategic positions, i.e. HV terminals,
access covers etc. so as to detect flames in the early stage of a
transformer fire.

7.3

Signal from the temperature/heat sensors shall activate the

system only after tripping of HV and LV circuit breakers of the
transformer.

7.4

Linear Heat Detector is also acceptable as an alternative to fire

detectors.

8.

CONSERVATOR SHUTTER VALVE

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7.2

A shutter valve between conservator tank and the main

transformer tank shall be provided to stop the flow of oil from the
conservator tank automatically, soon after the commencement of
depressurization process in the even of transformer internal short
circuit.

8.2

The shutter valve shall be designed to close only when there is

rapid drop in transformer oil pressure typically caused by
Depressurization sequence. It shall be positioned between the
conservator tank and the Buchholz relay in a horizontal position.

9.

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8.1

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION
Rupture Disk and temperature/fire sensors cables shall be
connected into transformer outdoor control cabinet. If it is not
possible, a separate cabinet shall be provided for the said
connections.

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9.1

10.

CONSTRUCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS
10.1

GENERAL

10.1.1

All material shall be of the highest grade, free from defects,

imperfections and of the grades designated, conforming to the
requirements of the latest issue of the relevant standards.

10.1.2

All the materials, supplies and articles, not fabricated by the

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This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

manufacturer of transformer, shall be the products of recognized

and reputable manufacturers.
10.1.3

10.1.4

The design of all the civil works for the system shall be
responsibility of Contractor and subject to the approval of the
Engineer.
Sensing devices shall be made of corrosion resistant material
enclosed in weatherproof covers and shall be suitably
compensated for foolproof outdoor operation regardless of
weather conditions.
The explosion prevention and fire protection system shall be
complete and ready for trouble free operation as and when
required. The Contractor shall furnish detailed catalogues,
literature and characteristics for every equipment for the
Engineers approval.

10.1.6

The separate control panel shall be completely prewired to receive

signals from the Rupture Disk and temperature/fire sensors and
transmit the same to activate the explosion prevention and fire
protection system and all other necessary alarms and controls.

10.1.7

The control panel shall be provided with a test mode switch to

check the continuity of the different sensing circuits.

10.1.8

For design architecture and system logic please refer to Fig.-1 and
Fig.2

11.

TESTS
Test Reports
In this context the bidder shall furnish a certificate from an
independent high voltage laboratory located out of the country of
the manufacturer (preference to KEMA, CESI or any STL lab.)
indicating that the supplier of the system has performed sufficient
at least 30 successful full scale live tests with electrical arc inside
the oil of a sealed transformer tank.
FAT
The functional testing of fire protection system shall be carried out
on one transformer by means of external input to pressure and
temperature/fire sensors

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10.1.5

11.2

This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

SCHEDULE OF TECHNICAL DATA FOR NITROGEN INJECTION EXPLOSION PREVENTION

AND FIRE PROTECTIONS SYSTEM
Nitrogen Injection Type
a) Depressurization Equipment
Sr. Information Required
No.
1.
Manufacturers name and
address
2.
Model

Data to be supplied by the

Manufacturer

Type

4.

Activation Detector

5.

Size range, mm

6.

Pressure range, bar

7.

Body material

8.

How over pressure is detected:

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By pressure sensors
(Yes/No).

9.

10.

By buchholz relay
(Yes/No)

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3.

Type of pressure sensors:

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Spring type (Yes/No).

Membrane type
(Yes/No).

Does the system operate with

transformer
tank
internal
pressure or by pressure sensors
(Yes/No).

This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

12.

Is the offered system a

transformer
explosion
prevention type (Yes/No).

13.

Is the offered system fire

extinguishing type (Yes/No).

14.

Does vessel internal pressure

sensors
activate
a
fast
Depressurization
device
(Yes/No).

15.

Is explosion vent equipment

with integrated sensors
(Yes/No).

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b) Temperature Detectors

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Does the system operate with

buchholz relay (Yes/No).

11.

Manufacturers name and

country

2.

Model

3.

Type

4.

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5.

Temperature, range, deg.C

6.

Body material

Size, mm

c) Explosion Venting Equipment

1.

Manufacturers name and

country

This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

2.

Model

3.

Type

4.

Size, mm

5.

Rated flow

6.

Body material

Manufacturers name and

country

2.

Model

3.

Type

4.

Size, mm

5.

Opening time, sec.

6.

Closing time, sec.

7.

Body material

1.

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d) Shutter

2.

Quantity of nitrogen, kg.

3.

Pressure of nitrogen, bar

Pressure of Nitrogen Cylinder

4.

Material of gaskets for values

5.

Is Nitrogen injected in closed

vessel in order to stop
Flammable
gas
generation

Bottle size

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This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.

(Yes/No)
6.

In Nitrogen injected in closed

vessel in order to expel the
explosion flammable gases
outside
the
transformer
(Yes/No)

f) Control Box
Manufacturers name and
country

2.

Model

3.

Type

4.

Size, mm

5.

Body material

6.

Mounting arrangement

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1.

11

This document is property of Design NTDC. No Part of this can be modified or used for any purpose other than its designated purpose.