Transformer Deluge Systems

How Do Transformer Fires Ignite?

Common causes of transformer failure:

Weather-related events such as lightning
Short circuits in electrical equipment
The most common cause is breakdowns
in the insulation system
 Implications of a Transformer Fire

Destruction of equipment such as:

Overhead conductors
Buses
Cable trays
 Implications of a Transformer Fire

Transformers can rupture during a failure, releasing oil into the area
Risk is amplified substantially
Fire can spread to other areas of the facility
Oil can overflow from the collection basins if discharge is not calculated
correctly or containment pits are not the appropriate size
 Implications of a Transformer Fire

Plant is taken offline, resulting in

revenue losses

Lives of employees and building

inhabitants are put at risk
 Why are Effective Fire Protection
Systems Important for Transformers?
Implementing and maintaining an effective fire protection
system for transformers should be a priority for power
generating facilities for many reasons:
Loss prevention controlling transformer fires can prevent the loss of
millions of dollars that is associated with the destruction of adjacent
equipment and unplanned outages

Life safety fire protection systems can

help protect on-site employees from the
hazards of potentially violent and
explosive transformer fires
Industry requirements NFPA, insurance
and even environmental authorities in some
instances require facilities to take specific
measures to meet fire protection standards
for transformers
What is a Deluge Water Spray System?

NFPA-850: Recommended Practice for Fire

Protection for Electric Generating Plants
and High Voltage Direct Current Converter
Stations

Identification of and Protection Against Hazards - Transformers

Oil filled main, station service and start-up transformers not meeting
the separation or fire barrier recommendations or as determined by
the Fire Protection Design Basis should be protected with automatic
waterspray or foam-water spray systems.
What is a Deluge Water Spray System?

NFPA-15: Standard for Water Spray Fixed

Systems for Fire Protection

Defines a water spray system as:

an automatic or manually actuated fixed pipe system

connected to a water supply and equipped with water
spray nozzles designed to provide a specific water
discharge and distribution over the protected surfaces or area.
What is a Deluge Water Spray System?

NFPA-15: Standard for Water Spray Fixed

Systems for Fire Protection

Design of systems can vary considerably

Must consider the nature of the hazard and basic
purpose of protection
There are a wide variety of nozzles with different spray
characteristics
It is essential that the designer understand the limitations
and capabilities of the systems
Design density is typically .25 GPM over the entire
surface area of the transformer
How Does a Deluge System Work?

Water is released through open nozzles

The Deluge Valve is an integral part

of a deluge system

Specialty fire protection valve

Holds water supply back behind a
clapper or diaphragm
Water is released via an electric or
pneumatic detection system

Deluge Valve
How Does a Deluge System Work?
 Where to Begin?

What is the available water supply?

Fire pump flow test
Hydrant flow test
Available pressure and flow at the base of the riser

Determine the location of existing transformer deluge

valves and routing of existing feed mains
 Where to Begin?

Consider existing pipe stand foundations

Will the existing locations suit new

transformer dimensions?

Are they reusable? (Consult with Plant

Structural Engineers)

Are there currently or will there be fire

walls to isolate each fire area?
 Where to Begin?

What is the ground below the

transformer?
Absorbing pit with stone fill
or
Non-absorbing with exposed
concrete containment

Obtain any specific electrical

clearance requirements based
on Basic Impulse Level (BIL)
as specified in NFPA-15 or
other specific requirements
defined by Owner
 Design of Deluge Systems - Nozzles

The layout of nozzles is

based upon spray
characteristics:

Angle of spray and

associated positioning angle

Orifice size (how much

water can be sprayed out of
each nozzle
 Design of Deluge Systems - Nozzles

Nozzles are positioned to

provide complete water
spray impingement on all
exposed exterior surfaces,
such as:
Radiators
Conservator tank
Electrical cabinets, etc

Water spray should not

envelop energized
bushings or lightning
arrestors by direct
impingement.
Typical Nozzles
Spray Pattern Design
Design of Deluge Systems Pipe Support

Pipe support options

Can fire walls or other

structural elements be
utilized for support?

Are there existing

foundations for pipe
stands or are new ones
required?

Must locate stands to

avoid interferences with
cabinets, door swings, etc.
Design of Deluge Systems Piping Layout

Piping Layout Considerations

Transformer height dictates how

many rings are required

Rings are typically located around

the transformer with the possibility
of additional piping between
transformer casing and radiators

Avoid locating piping within

cabinet door swings

Design with consideration for

future maintenance access
Design of Deluge Systems Piping Layout

Piping Layout Considerations

Avoid running piping across the
top of the transformer tank

Determine electrical
clearance requirements and locate
piping the proper distance

Route piping so that it facilitates

automatic draining through open
nozzles

Determining the connection to

mains

Designing for effective drainage

 Design of Deluge Systems - Bracing

Bracing: significant forces are

incurred when a deluge valve trips
Piping must be braced to resist
these forces. Bracing is usually
provided at:
Corners of the main loop
Drops and/or rises more than 4
Bracing consists of pipe clamps
and swivels attached to steel
bracing pipe
 Design of Deluge Systems - Detection

Electric Detection
Can an existing releasing panel be
utilized or is a new one required?

Which type of electric detection is to

be utilized?
Spot Type Heat Detectors
Linear Protect-O-Wire Protectowire Linear
Heat Detector

VERTICAL DETECT-A-FIRE UNITS

(Hexagonal Head)

Spot-Type
Electric
Detection
 Design of Deluge Systems - Detection

Pneumatic Detection
Utilize dry pilot sprinkler head
Air supply plant air or local air compressor?
Which type of electric detection is to be utilized?
Implementing Alarm Systems

Manual Release stations to be provided at

hazard area?

New Notification Appliances such as Dry pilot

horn/strobe units to be used? sprinkler
Design Drawings and Documentation

Preparation of material data

sheets for Owners approval
of equipment to be utilized

Development of a
preliminary design
drawing showing nozzle
locations, pipe routing and
support locations along with
initial detailing

Hydraulic calculations are

performed for pipe sizing
Design Drawings and Documentation

Electrical drawings showing detection

and alarm devices along with
preliminary wiring diagrams

In some instances a partial design is

submitted for Owner review and
comments

Owner comments would then be

incorporated into the design package
submittal for approval
Design 3D Animation
 Pre-Construction Planning

Scheduling
Assist owner in schedule
development to be sure all activities
are captured and correct durations
are utilized
 Pre-Construction Planning

Scope

Meet with Project Manager to verify scope and ensure all aspects of
construction are discussed so that everyone is on the same page

Identify and plan for any required pre-outage work

Verify that the Owner is aware of items and services that are expected
to be Owner-provided:
Materials and equipment
Labor and services such as electrical install, painting, excavation
and backfilling, etc.
Construction-related requirements such as aerial lifts, scaffolding,
laydown requirements, job trailers, etc.
 Pre-Construction Planning

Safety
Prepare a job safety analysis for
specific work activities
Review installation sequence in
detail with Owners project manager
and field superintendent
 Installation

Coordination with other activities:

Access to work areas

Scaffolding erection

Aerial lift usage

 Installation

Pre-job briefing:

Work activities change

Safety concerns
Weather
Jobsite working conditions
change due to the type of
activities being undertaken by
others
 Installation

Typical installation sequencing

Demolition of existing piping
May require partial demolition prior to existing transformers removal
Other piping may need to be removed after the transformer is removed
Installation of pipe stands
Coordinate with the rigger for efficient installation
Install as many as possible before the new transformer is rigged
 Installation

Typical installation sequencing

Installation of main loops and feed mains

Coordinate with the rigger for efficient installation
One or more sides of loop may be able to be installed prior to the
new transformer being rigged into place

Installation of vertical nozzle piping and swing joints

Some nozzle piping may be made on to loop piping on the ground
to facilitate lifting into place with a crane.
Piping is installed with plugged nozzle outlets to facilitate
hydrostatic testing
 Installation

Typical installation sequencing

Hydrostatic testing of all deluge piping at 200 psi

Remove test plugs and install and orientate nozzles
Install bracing
Install linear heat detection and/or conduit that may be attached to
deluge piping
Detection system terminations are made at releasing control
panel
 Installation

Perform the spray test, also known

as a performance test:
Typically initiated through
detection system
All nozzles are viewed to assure
there are no obstructions
Water spray patterns are verified
to assure that all surfaces are
adequately protected
Pressure reading is observed at
remote nozzle to verify system is
putting out the required pressure
determined from hydraulic
calculations
Inspection, Testing and Maintenance

Developing a comprehensive inspection, testing and

maintenance program is essential to:

Ensuring systems are optimally functional when they are

needed in a fire

Maintaining compliance with industry, insurance and corporate

standards

Maximizing the life cycle of fire protection systems

Inspection, Testing and Maintenance

A deluge systems ITM program should be developed in

accordance with NFPA 25: Standard for the Inspection, Testing
and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems

Detection system ITM should follow the requirements set forth

in NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code

Documentation of all ITM work should be meticulously

maintained and readily available for review by the AHJ
Inspection, Testing and Maintenance

Critical elements of an ITM program include:

Annual tripping of deluge valve at full flow

Observation of water discharge patterns to confirm proper

positioning and absence of obstructions

Verification of water flow alarms

Pressure readings at the remote nozzle and deluge valve to

ensure hydraulic design requirements are met
Inspection, Testing and Maintenance

Critical elements of an ITM program include:

Annual operation of annual actuation devices

Cleaning of interior of deluge valve during annual testing

Draining of system low points

Internal inspection of strainers every five years at a minimum

 Summary

A transformer fire is not a frequent occurrence but the impact is

tremendous

In a fire the transformer will likely be destroyed immediately but

damage to adjacent equipment/structures can be mitigated

The consequences of an uncontained fire include:

Costly damage to the facility
Loss of revenue due to an unscheduled outage
Compromising the safety of facility inhabitants
 Summary

Fire protection systems can be effective in minimizing damage if:

Design Construction

Operation Inspection, Testing and Maintenance

are properly executed by an experienced professional with

the required experience.
Protecting People, Plant and Production

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