Fire Protection Solutions for Transformers
„TrafoProtect“ by Minimax
Fire Sprinkler International 2014
Name: Andreas Teckenburg
London, 20. May 2014
8 von 36
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
Agenda
1. Initial Situation
2. Goal setting
3. Trials
4. Fire Extinguishing Concept TrafoProtect
9 von 36
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
1) Initial Situation
„The risk“
 Protective goals:
 Avoid damage to persons
 Reduce damage to environment
 Reduce business interruptions
 Protect material asset
 Avoid loss of image
 Obtain jobs
 Malfunction mechanisms of transformers:
 Mechanical load by forces of electrical shortage in windings
 Electrical load by transient excess voltage
 Mechanical defects of the load level switch
 Defect of a conduct
 Thermical or electrical aging of the isolators
10 von 36
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
1) Initial Situation
Different Guidelines/ Rules
 US Approach:

NFPA 15
Water Spray fixed systems for fire
Protection

 VdS 2109
VdS-Richtlinien für Sprühwasser-Löschanlagen,
Planung und Einbau
NFPA 11
Low-, medium- and high Expansion
foam system

 European Approach:
FM 4-1N
 TS 14816
European technical Specification, Fixed fire fighting
systems - Water spray systems - Design, installation
and maintenance
Fixed water spray systems for fire
protection

FM 5-04 Transformers
10 von 36
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
1) Initial Situation
Different design parameters
national / international
VdS 2109 (12.4):

Water application: 15 - 30 mm/min

Operating time: 5 min (Step-in-time of the fire
department)
NFPA 15 (7.4.4):

Water application transformer and accessories:
10,2 mm/min

„Endangered terrain surface“: 6,1 mm/min

Operating time: „As long as the exposition stops.“
NFPA 11 Schaumlöschanlagen:

Protection of tansformers with medium foam. No
designing.
FM DS 5-04:

12 von 36
In rooms (2.2.1.2.2) with sprinkler at 15 mm/min or
FM-approved „Machine protective system“.
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
Agenda
1. Initial Situation
2. Goal Setting
3. Trials
4. Fire Extinguishing Concept TrafoProtect
9 von 36
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
2) Goal Setting
„The Scope“
„Creation of a protection concept valid and certified internationally which enables the
„economically priced“ fire protection of free-standing transforderms with preferably
small design parameter.“
 Protection of transformers; also for „decentral“ substations (municipial utilities, etc.)
 Influence of wind ?
 If no sufficient water supply (amount, pressure) is existing (existence, new building)
 Protection of transformers with less extinguishing water. Mostly the transformer is the „water determining“
component in the whole project.
 Reducing of „contaminated“ extinguishing water.
11 von 36
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
2) Goal setting
Inspection and Certification of the Installation Engineering
Course of the procedure:
Collocation of information and requirements of
the testing centers, but also the operators and
insurer (e.g. HDI Gerling)
Preparation of a test concept by DMT
Set-up DMT / UL
Execution of the tests at DMT
Creation of the planning and installation
instructions
12 von 36
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
Agenda
1. Initial Situation
2. Goal Setting
3. Trials
4. Fire Extinguishing Concept TrafoProtect
9 von 36
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
3) Trials
Experimental assembly in the fire tunnel at DMT, Dortmund
 Lateral view
 Topview
T1 und T3
T4
T2
F3
T1 und 3
T2
F2
T1 und T3
F1
T4
Size of the „Mock-up“:
2,8 x 2,2 x 2,5 m (W x D x H)
Wind direction
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
3) Trials
Experimental assembly in the fire tunnel at DMT, Dortmund
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
3) Trials
Fire tests and results (generic example)
 Trial
goal: Fire suppression
 Puddle,
Stream and spray fire under
different conditions
 Nozzles
installed on one side only in the
trial; safety factor
 Nozzle
pressure and water quantity were
lower in the trials than in the specific design
rule
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
3) Trials
Impressions of the fire tests
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
Agenda
1. Initial Situation
2. Goal Setting
3. Trials
4. Fire Extinguishing Concept TrafoProtect
9 von 36
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
4) Fire Extinguishing Concept TrafoProtect
The Minimax Protection Concept

Transformer is regarded as „lost“ in case of
fire

Fire suppression / Fire control; no
extinguishing necessary

No „special“ components; e.g. highpressure water fog = stainless steel, filter,
„special fittings“

Certificates without size restriction, testing
under „influence of wind“ !!
International: UL Verification
Deutschland: DMT Eignungsbestätigung

Water application with safety factor is lower
than according to the guideline
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
4) Fire Extinguishing Concept TrafoProtect
Approval and Certification
 Components
are all
UL listed
 Trial
results accepted
by UL and DMT
 Specific
planning and
installation instructions
checked an accepted by
UL und DMT
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013
Thank you for your attention!
Andreas Teckenburg
Division Energy
XXX
v. 1.0
© Minimax 2013